PAT Testing Course
Bournemouth

The first module lays the groundwork for everything that comes after. You'll get a clear picture of what Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) actually is, why it exists, and how it sits within an organisation's overall approach to electrical safety. We introduce the key terms and definitions used across the industry so nothing later in the day catches you off guard.

You'll also be introduced to the main categories of electrical equipment you'll encounter in the field — portable, movable, hand-held, stationary, fixed and IT equipment — as well as the equipment classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) that govern the level of protection each appliance offers against electric shock. Getting these distinctions straight from the outset is vital, because both the category and the class of an appliance determine which tests need to be carried out.

Before you begin testing equipment, you need a firm understanding of the hazards you are working to manage. This module examines how electricity causes harm — taking in electric shock, burns, and the very serious risk of fire from faulty appliances — as well as the conditions that make defective equipment a genuine danger.

The module then walks through the legal framework that gives PAT testing its authority in the UK. You'll study the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and the related duties they place on employers. We also clear up a widely held misconception: no specific regulation demands that you PAT test, but the law absolutely requires duty-holders to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition — and inspection and testing is the recognised route to demonstrating that. You'll leave understanding who bears that responsibility and what "reasonably practicable" looks like in the real world.

The visual inspection is the most critical single step in the PAT process — it uncovers the majority of defects before any test instrument is connected. This module teaches you how to carry out a rigorous formal visual inspection and how to spot the signs of damage, deterioration and misuse that mean an appliance must be taken out of service.

We look inside the equipment too, covering correct plug wiring to BS 1363, fuse selection, the condition of cables and flexes, strain relief arrangements, and the soundness of casings and connections. You'll also see how an appliance's construction links to its equipment class, and learn the difference between the routine user checks that all staff should perform and the formal visual inspection that only a competent person should carry out.

This is where the course becomes genuinely practical. Working directly with real PAT testing instruments in the learning zone, you'll build ease and confidence in setting up and operating the equipment correctly and safely. We look at the range of testers you are likely to come across — from straightforward pass/fail units to more advanced instruments capable of downloading and transferring results.

You'll practise connecting appliances properly, understand why calibrated equipment matters, and develop the muscle memory and sureness that only comes from repeated hands-on practice. By the end of the module, picking up and operating a PAT tester will feel entirely natural.

This module covers the formal test sequence and how to apply it correctly to different types of appliance. You'll work through the key electrical tests in turn — earth continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, lead polarity checks and functional checks — with a clear explanation of what each test does and what a result actually tells you about the state of an appliance.

A particular focus is placed on understanding how the correct test sequence varies between Class I and Class II appliances, so you always apply the right tests in the right order. Safe working practice runs through everything, ensuring every test you perform is both valid and safe.

A test result is only as useful as your ability to interpret it. This module teaches you how to assess your readings against accepted limits, make sound pass or fail decisions, and respond appropriately when an appliance fails. You'll learn correct labelling practice and how to keep clear, accurate, defensible records.

We also tackle the question of how to set sensible retest frequencies. Drawing on the risk-based approach in the current edition of the IET Code of Practice — which moved away from the old prescriptive timetables — you'll learn to set inspection and testing intervals that reflect the type of appliance, its working environment, frequency of use, and the people using it. Thorough record keeping and a well-maintained asset register are shown to be the cornerstone of demonstrating ongoing compliance and due diligence.

The final module brings everything together and places your new skills firmly in their legal and regulatory context. You'll understand the difference between statutory requirements — the law you must comply with — and non-statutory guidance, the recognised best practice that helps you show compliance, and why both are important to a competent PAT tester.

Central to this module is the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, now in its 5th edition. We explain what the Code covers, how it supports the underlying legislation, and how to use it as a day-to-day reference. You'll finish the course with a clear understanding of what "competence" means in this field, how to demonstrate due diligence, and how to carry out PAT testing to a professional and fully defensible standard.