18th Edition Amendment 4 and PAT Testing: What You Need to Know This Winter
If you’ve had a call from a principal contractor asking for your “current 18th Edition” lately, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions our 18th Edition and PAT trainers have been asked this autumn, and there’s a good reason for it.
On 15 October 2026, the old version of the Wiring Regulations was withdrawn. BS 7671:2018 with Amendment 4 is now the only current book. Plain and simple.
At the same time, a lot of clients checking certificates are also taking a hard look at who inspects and tests their electrical equipment. So let’s tackle both.
1. Amendment 4 Is Live. Is Your Certificate?
I’ve already written about who needs the 18th Edition now Amendment 4 is here. If you haven’t read it, the short version is this: it’s not just domestic sparkies any more.
This post is about the practical bit. What’s actually new, and which course gets you current with the least time off the tools.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) and the British Standards Institution (BSI) published Amendment 4 on 15 April 2026. The headline changes are:
- Battery storage: a new chapter on stationary secondary batteries, which you’ll meet more and more alongside solar and electric vehicle (EV) charging.
- Information and communication technology (ICT): a new section on functional earthing and bonding for ICT equipment.
- Power over Ethernet (PoE): a new section, as more lighting and building systems are powered down a data cable.
- Medical locations: a major revision of Section 710, with a new schedule of test results for supplementary bonding.
- Amendment 3 folded in: the 2024 changes are now part of the main book.
None of this changes how you terminate a socket on a Monday morning. But if you design, install, inspect or certify, you need to be working to the current book. And your clients want proof that you are.
2. Pick the Right Route. Don’t Pay for Three Days If You Only Need One
The current City & Guilds qualification is 2382-26. We offer three ways to get it.
| Your situation | Course | Duration | Price |
| New to the Wiring Regulations, or your last qualification was the 17th Edition | 18th Edition Full Course (2382-26) | 3 days | £485 +VAT |
| You already hold 2382-18 or 2382-22 | 18th Edition 1 Day Update including Exam | 1 day | £240 +VAT |
| You know the regulations and the new amendment inside out | 18th Edition Exam Only | Exam | £150 +VAT |
I need to be direct with you here: if you already hold 2382-22, don’t book the full three days. The 1 day update was built for you. We focus on what’s new, then you sit the 2382-26 exam the same day.
Thinking about exam only? It’s open book, but it’s against the clock. If you don’t know your way around the new chapters, the book won’t save you. A day in the classroom is cheap insurance against a resit.
3. PAT Testing: Bring It In-House and Take Control
We’ve covered the myths around annual PAT testing before, so I won’t repeat them here. What I will say is this. The duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 sits with you, the duty holder. Not with whoever you pay to stick labels on kettles once a year.
Strictly speaking, what most people call PAT testing is In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE). It covers far more than portable appliances: site transformers, power tools, IT kit, fixed and built-in equipment.
That’s why so many of our clients are training their own people:
- Your timetable: test when it suits the job, not when a contractor can fit you in.
- Before it goes back out: new or repaired equipment gets checked before it’s used.
- Site kit done properly: cabins, tool stores and welfare units get the attention they need, not a rushed visit.
- Cost: over a year or two, it usually works out cheaper than an outside contractor.
If you’re weighing up the numbers, our post on PAT testing course costs breaks it down.
4. What the City & Guilds 2377-77 Course Gives You
Our City & Guilds 2377-77 In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment course runs over 2 days and costs £400 +VAT. It follows the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
You’ll come away able to:
- Inspect: carry out formal visual inspections, which find most faults before you ever plug in a tester.
- Test: use a PAT tester properly and understand what the readings are telling you.
- Plan: set sensible, risk-based inspection and testing frequencies.
- Record: keep records and labelling that stand up to scrutiny.
It’s ideal for electricians adding ISITEE to their services, and for maintenance staff, site managers and facilities teams who look after equipment day to day.
5. Doing Both? Plan Them Together
If you’re an electrician updating to 2382-26, adding 2377-77 is a natural next step. Facilities and maintenance clients often send one person on PAT and another on the 18th Edition in the same month. Plan both at once and you only lose people from site once.
6. Test Yourself Before You Book
Not sure how much you remember? Try our free Electrical Practice Quizzes first. They’ll show you quickly whether you’re ready for the exam only route, or whether the 1 day update is the safer bet.
They’re also a handy refresher before you sit the 2382-26 exam or start the 2377-77 course. And if you’re after more practice, our guide to free City & Guilds mock tests points you to the best places to find them.
Let’s Get Your Team Current
All our City & Guilds electrical courses run at our training centre at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, right in the heart of the Midlands. For company groups, we can also bring some courses to your site. No fuss, and no travel bill for your staff.
Not sure which one you need? Call us on 01926 674340 or email support@pragmatic-consulting.co.uk and we’ll point you to the right course, even if it’s the cheaper one.
Let’s get your team compliant with Amendment 4, and in control of your equipment, before the new year.
Frequently asked questions
Is my 2382-22 certificate still valid? Your certificate doesn’t expire, but it shows you qualified against an older version of the regulations. Many contractors now ask for 2382-26, so the 1 day update is the quickest way to get it.
Do I need to be an electrician to do PAT Testing? No. The 2377-77 course suits maintenance staff, facilities teams and site managers as well as electricians.
How often should equipment be PAT tested? It depends on the type of equipment and where it’s used. The IET Code of Practice gives suggested starting points, and the course shows you how to set your own based on risk.
Can you train our team on site? Yes, for some courses and group sizes. Email support@pragmatic-consulting.co.uk with numbers and dates and we’ll let you know.
