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Our guide to PAT Testing

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Did you know that you don’t have to be a qualified electrician in order to carry out PAT testing?

As long as you’re competent to do so, absolutely anyone can check electrical appliances for safety. The most commonly accepted way to be seen as competent is to take a PAT training course and be presented with a Certificate of Competency in PAT testing.

What is PAT Testing? 

Portable Appliance Testing, also known as PAT testing, is the examination of portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use. It generally includes three steps; 

  1. Regular, informal checks by the electrical equipment’s user(s) 
  2. A formal visual inspection of the equipment 
  3. A manual examination of the equipment with a portable appliance tester device (the PAT test)

Any portable electrical appliance (anything with a lead and a plug) needs to be PAT tested. Some examples include laptops and computers, kettles, handheld drills, printers, microwaves etc.

Is PAT testing a legal requirement? 

PAT testing is not a legal requirement. The law does state that any electrical equipment in the workplace must be maintained to ensure it is safe and doesn’t pose any risk to the people using it. It doesn’t, however, specify how the equipment should be maintained, or how often. 

PAT testing is recommended by professionals as the best way to meet these health and safety obligations and to protect yourself and your employees. 

What does electrical PAT testing involve?

Generally, PAT testing involves three steps, user checks, a visual inspection and the manual PAT test using a portable appliance tester. 

User checks

All users should be trained on how to use the equipment safely. This includes understanding the risks associated with the equipment and how to look out for signs of danger. Every individual should be able to visually check the appliance for any signs of damage and understand whether or not it is safe for use. They should also be able to highlight potential hazards such as trapped cables or water hazards. 

Visual inspection 

A formal visual inspection should be carried out by a competent member of staff or a professional (an electrical engineer). The HSE says that this process normally flags up 90% of issues with electrical equipment. The equipment should be switched off and unplugged before carrying out this stage of the inspection. 

  • Check the plug for any signs of damage. This includes cracks, burns, or bent pins. When checking the wiring, you should ensure that the live, neutral and earth wires are all tightly connected. 
  • Check the cable for any signs of damage. This could be cuts or fraying. Any exposed wiring is a fail.
  • Check the appliance itself for damages. This includes cracks, burns, corrosion or other signs of wear and tear.
  • Check the mains socket for damages. This doesn’t relate to the appliance itself, but it’s worth checking for cracks, signs of overheating and any loose fittings on the plug socket. 
  • Residual current device (RCD) checks. The RCD’s test button will trip if the current flowing through the live conductor is different to that in the neutral. 

Manual Examination 

Once the visual inspection is complete, it’s time for the manual examination. This is the stage of the Electrical PAT Testing where the portable appliance tester device is introduced. This device will test the appliance for earth continuity, lead polarity and insulation resistance.

Depending on the results, the appliance will receive a pass or fail sticker. Failed appliances should not be used, and should be removed for disposal or repair. Once repaired, it must pass an additional PAT test to be considered safe for use. 

Who can carry out a PAT test? 

Electrical PAT testing can be carried out by any competent person with the relevant training and equipment. This will likely be a qualified electrician. Interested in learning how to perform PAT testing and other electrical procedures? You might want to consider completing an electrical course.Get in touch with The Skills Centre to learn more about becoming an electrical engineer, or read more about our courses on our website!

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Plumbing Courses Near Me: What to Look for in a Training Centre

Plumbing learner and tutor working on pipework in a training workshop

Typing "plumbing courses near me" into a search bar is a sensible first step. But the closest centre is not automatically the one that will get you job-ready. Plumbing is a practical trade, so the quality of the training space, the people teaching you and the way the course fits your life all matter as much as the postcode.

This guide walks through what to look for, wherever you are in the UK, so you can compare centres properly and choose with confidence.

Why the nearest course is not always the best fit

Distance is easy to measure, which is why it tends to dominate the decision. Yet a shorter journey only helps if the training behind it is right for you.

A course ten minutes away with limited hands-on time may leave you less prepared than one that takes a bit more planning to reach. On the other hand, a very long daily commute can wear you down over weeks of study. The aim is a sensible balance between quality and practicality.

Before you compare centres, write down what you need from a course:

  • Plenty of time working on real plumbing tasks, not just theory
  • A schedule you can realistically keep up
  • Clear information on what the course covers and how you are assessed
  • A journey, or a place to stay, that you can manage

Having that list makes it much easier to see which options genuinely suit you. If you want a wider look at what is out there, our guide to local training options is a useful companion to this one.

Workshop space and practical facilities

Plumbing is learned with your hands. You can read about soldering, pipework and fitting appliances, but confidence comes from doing them repeatedly under guidance. That makes the workshop one of the most important things to judge.

When you look at a centre, think about:

  • Dedicated practical areas. Are there proper workshop bays or training rigs where you can build and test installations, rather than only a classroom?
  • Access to equipment. Will you use professional tools and materials, and is there enough for everyone to practise without long waits?
  • Realistic set-ups. Training areas that reflect real domestic installations help you transfer what you learn to a job site.
  • Tidy, safe working conditions. A well-organised workshop usually points to a centre that takes safety and standards seriously.

Photos and videos on a website can give you a feel for a centre, but they never tell the full story. Ask exactly how much of the course is spent in the workshop and what you will be working on.

Class sizes and instructor experience

Two things shape how much attention you get: how many learners share a tutor, and how much industry experience that tutor has.

Smaller groups generally mean more time to ask questions and get feedback on your work while you are doing it. In a large group, it is easier to wait around or miss a step. Ask a centre how many learners work with each tutor during practical sessions.

Tutors who have worked in the trade tend to teach with real-world detail: the shortcuts that cause problems, the mistakes newcomers commonly make and what customers and employers expect. Ask about the background of the people who will teach you, and whether they stay involved with current industry practice.

A good centre will be happy to answer these questions plainly. If the answers are vague, treat that as useful information.

Timetable options for work and family commitments

Many people training in plumbing are changing careers, so they are juggling a job, childcare or both. A course only works if you can attend it consistently.

When you look at timetables, ask:

  • Which days and times do sessions run?
  • Is attendance in blocks of full days, or spread across the week?
  • What happens if you miss a session because of illness or a family emergency?
  • Is there flexibility if your work pattern changes?

It also helps to understand the overall length of the course so you can plan ahead. Our article on how long a plumbing course takes explains what affects the timescale. If you are retraining later in life, our page on adult plumbing courses covers the options and what to expect.

Travel and accommodation considerations for UK-wide learners

Not everyone lives near a training centre, and that is fine. Plenty of learners travel some distance for the right course, so it is worth thinking through the practicalities rather than ruling a centre out on distance alone.

Daily travel

If you plan to commute, work out the real journey time at the hours you would travel, not just the distance on a map. Consider the cost of fuel or fares over the whole course, parking, and what happens if public transport is disrupted. Tools and workwear can be bulky, so check whether carrying them is realistic for your route.

Staying away

If the centre is too far for a daily journey, you may prefer to travel in for set blocks and stay nearby. Ask the centre whether it can suggest places to stay locally, and plan the cost of accommodation into your overall budget alongside the course fee.

Planning around your life

Think about who depends on you, whether you can take time off work, and how tiring the travel will be on top of practical study. A slightly longer journey you can sustain is better than a short one that is hard to fit around your commitments.

How to visit or speak to a centre before booking

Whatever you read online, speaking to the centre directly is the best way to judge it. Even a phone call can tell you a lot about how approachable and clear the team are.

Here are some questions worth asking:

  1. What qualification will I gain, and what does the course involve week to week?
  2. How much of my time will be hands-on in the workshop?
  3. How many learners are in a practical session, and who will teach me?
  4. What is included in the course fee, and is there anything extra to pay for?
  5. What support is there if I find a topic difficult?
  6. What are my options once I have finished?

If you can arrange a visit, take the chance to see the workshop, meet a tutor and get a feel for the atmosphere. If you cannot visit in person, ask whether there is another way to see the facilities and talk through the course.

It is also worth reading more widely about the trade before committing. Our plumbing course guide sets out the training routes and career paths, and if you are interested in gas work too, take a look at our gas plumbing course information.

Choosing with confidence

The best plumbing course for you is the one that gives you plenty of practical time, good teaching and a schedule and journey you can stick with. Distance is part of that picture, but it should not be the whole of it.

If you would like to talk through your options, get in touch with the Skills Centre UK team. We are happy to answer your questions about our plumbing training and help you work out what suits you, wherever in the UK you are based.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a plumbing course near me?

Look beyond distance. Compare how much hands-on workshop time each course offers, the experience of the tutors, the timetable and how practical the journey is. Speaking to the centre directly will tell you a lot.

What facilities should a plumbing training centre have?

A good centre should have dedicated practical areas where you can work on realistic installations, enough professional tools and materials for everyone to practise, and a safe, well-organised workshop.

Is it worth travelling further for a plumbing course?

It can be, if the training is a better fit for you. Check the real journey time, the cost of travel over the whole course and whether you could stay nearby for set blocks of study if needed.

What should I ask a training centre before booking a plumbing course?

Ask what qualification you will gain, how much of the course is practical, how many learners share a tutor, what the fee includes, what support is available and what your options are after you finish.

Can I fit a plumbing course around work or family?

Often you can, but it depends on the course. Ask about session days and times, how attendance is organised and what happens if you have to miss a session.