The Level 3 Installation and maintenance electrician, and the 97 providers delivering it.
Install, maintain and repair electrical systems in industrial, commercial and residential environments.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to install, maintain, and repair electrical systems across industrial, commercial, and residential settings. The training covers low voltage electrical and electronic equipment including switchboards, motors, cables, fuses, protective devices, heating, lighting, air conditioning, and metering equipment. Property and life safety installations, renewable energy technologies, and emerging green and low carbon technologies are also included. Apprentices develop the technical knowledge to work from drawings and specifications, requisition materials, carry out initial verification and testing, and ensure all completed work meets BS 7671 and relevant statutory requirements including the Electricity at Work Regulations.
Day-to-day responsibilities
On site, an apprentice works alongside qualified electricians to first assist with, then independently carry out, installation and maintenance tasks. This includes running and terminating cables, fitting consumer units and distribution boards, testing and inspecting completed installations, and completing the associated certification paperwork. They read technical drawings, interpret specifications, and select the correct materials for each job. As the apprenticeship progresses, they are expected to work with greater independence, manage their own tools and materials, and interact directly with site managers, other trades, and end clients.
Career outlook
On completion, most apprentices work as installation or maintenance electricians. From there, common progression routes include moving into a supervisory or team leader role, specialising in areas such as renewable energy installations, building management systems, or high voltage work, or becoming a self-employed contractor. Employers span house builders, specialist electrical contractors, facilities management companies, industrial manufacturers, and public sector organisations. Experienced electricians can progress into estimating, contracts management, or electrical project management roles.
97 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS College) delivers a broad apprenticeship offer alongsi...
The Sheffield College is a large further education provider offering a wide range of technical, voca...
Lincoln College is part of the Lincoln College Group, encompassing Lincoln and Newark colleges, and ...
Trafford College is part of The Trafford & Stockport College Group and offers a wide range of techni...
Stoke on Trent College is the largest provider of further education in Stoke and North Staffordshire...
Buckinghamshire College Group is a further education college with campuses in Aylesbury, Amersham an...
South Essex College, part of South Essex Colleges Group, is a further and higher education provider ...
Warrington & Vale Royal College is a large further education college serving Warrington, Northwich, ...
City of Wolverhampton College is a further education provider offering apprenticeships, full-time an...
Lakes College is a further and higher education provider in West Cumbria offering a wide range of te...
The City of Liverpool College is a leading education provider for around 12,000 students aged 16 and...
Swarm Training (CIC) is a Community Interest Company within the Swarm Group that focuses on deliveri...
The Isle of Wight College is a further and higher education college established in 1951 that provide...
Telford College is Telford & Wrekin’s only further education college and works closely with local an...
Southport College is a centre of technical excellence and a leading provider of vocational and techn...
West Thames College is a further and higher education college offering a wide range of vocational co...
The College of West Anglia is a large further and higher education college providing education and t...
Nottingham College is a general further and higher education college based in Nottingham, offering a...
Tungsten Training Centre is a construction industry training and qualification provider based just o...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to roles such as Electrician, Installation Electrician, or Maintenance Electrician. Day-to-day responsibilities include wiring, testing, and commissioning low-voltage systems, fault-finding on existing installations, and ensuring compliance with BS 7671 and relevant safety regulations. Some qualified electricians move straight into self-employment as sole traders or small contractors, taking on domestic or commercial work independently.
Progression paths
With several years' experience, electricians commonly move into Senior Electrician or Approved Electrician roles, taking on more complex projects and supervising apprentices or small teams. Those who prefer a leadership track often progress to Electrical Supervisor, Contracts Manager, or Site Manager. The deep-specialist route includes positions such as Electrical Project Engineer, Building Services Engineer, or roles focused on renewable energy systems and low-carbon technologies, sometimes supported by further qualifications such as Level 4 or Level 5 building services or engineering programmes.
Where these roles sit
Electrical installation and maintenance roles appear across a wide range of UK industries. Housebuilders, commercial fit-out contractors, and industrial engineering firms are consistent employers. Facilities management companies hire maintenance electricians to service offices, hospitals, schools, and retail estates. Social housing providers, local authorities, and NHS trusts employ electricians directly. Renewable energy developers and data centre operators represent a growing part of the market, particularly for candidates with experience in low-carbon and emerging technologies.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Throughout the apprenticeship, learning takes place on the job alongside structured training with a provider. The apprentice builds competence across the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of a qualified electrician, covering areas such as electrical installation, testing and verification, maintenance, and compliance with regulations including BS 7671. Before moving to final assessment, the apprentice must pass a readiness check, often called the gateway, confirming they are prepared to demonstrate full occupational competence. Final assessment then confirms whether the apprentice can perform the role to the required standard. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Gathering workplace evidence as the apprenticeship progresses is far easier than reconstructing it later. Apprentices should keep records of the installations, tests, fault-finding tasks and maintenance work they carry out on site, noting the context and the decisions they made. Working closely with both the employer and training provider to monitor progress against the standard means gaps in knowledge or practical skills can be addressed before the gateway, rather than under pressure at the end.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile; for a 54-month apprenticeship with a £23,000 funding band, that figure reflects real retention and completion, not just enrolment numbers. Employers should check that providers offer practical training facilities where apprentices work on actual wiring, switchgear, and testing equipment rather than diagrams alone. Given the regulatory weight of this standard, a good provider will have tutors who hold current BS 7671 knowledge and can speak to the latest edition of the Wiring Regulations, plus up-to-date coverage of low carbon technologies such as heat pumps, EV charging points, and solar PV systems.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious if a provider has high learner volumes but a falling achievement rate over two or three years; dropout on a 54-month programme is expensive for everyone. Providers who give vague answers about how they cover BS 7671 updates, initial verification and testing, or Building Safety Act duties are a concern. If off-site practical workshop time is minimal or shared across multiple unrelated trades without dedicated electrical facilities, apprentices will arrive at end-point assessment under-prepared. Also ask whether the employer satisfaction score on the FATP profile reflects multi-site or sole-trader employers, not just large contractors.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What practical workshop facilities do you have specifically for electrical installation and testing, and how much time will the apprentice spend in them?
- Which edition of BS 7671 does your delivery cover, and how quickly do you update your materials when amendments are issued?
- How does the programme cover emerging technologies such as EV charging, heat pump connections, and solar PV, given the standard's low carbon requirements?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it trended over the last three years?
- Can you show examples of apprentices from similar employers, such as small contractors or maintenance teams, who have completed and moved into qualified electrician roles?
- How do you structure off-the-job training across the 54 months, and what does a typical block or day-release pattern look like?
- What support is in place if an apprentice's employer placement changes mid-programme?
Common questions
What qualifications or experience does someone need to start this apprenticeship?
There are no nationally fixed entry requirements, so employers and training providers set their own. In practice, most expect GCSEs in maths and English at grade 4 or above, or equivalent. Some providers accept functional skills qualifications instead. Prior experience in construction or a related trade can strengthen an application but is not usually required. Apprentices must be employed for the duration, so having a confirmed employer is essential before enrolment.
How long does the apprenticeship take and what does the time commitment look like for the employer?
The typical duration is around 54 months. Throughout that period, the apprentice is employed and works in the role while completing off-the-job training alongside their normal duties. The split between on-the-job and off-the-job learning is set out in the current funding rules, which are subject to change under ongoing Skills England reforms. Check gov.uk for the latest requirements before planning your training agreement.
How is the apprentice assessed and when are they considered competent?
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through gateway, where the employer and provider confirm the apprentice has met all occupational requirements and is ready to be assessed. The assessment itself tests whether the apprentice can work to the standard expected of a qualified electrician. Assessment models for many standards are currently being reviewed. Visit the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education page on gov.uk for the current assessment plan for this standard.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship, and what does it cost?
The funding band for this standard is £23,000, which is the maximum government contribution toward training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw down costs through their digital apprenticeship service account. Smaller employers who do not pay the levy contribute 5 per cent of the funding band, with the government covering the remainder. Employers taking on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 may pay nothing at all if they have fewer than 50 employees. Additional incentive payments may also apply in some circumstances.
What does an apprentice in this role actually do during the working day?
Day-to-day work covers installing, testing, maintaining, and repairing low-voltage electrical systems across industrial, commercial, and residential sites. Practical tasks include wiring switchboards, fitting protective devices, installing heating and lighting systems, and working on renewable and low-carbon technologies such as heat pumps and EV charging points. Apprentices read drawings and specifications, source materials, carry out initial verification and commissioning, and comply with BS 7671 and relevant health and safety legislation. They may work alone or as part of a small site team.
What can an electrician do after completing this apprenticeship?
Qualified electricians can work across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors as employees or move into self-employment as contractors. Progression routes include supervisory or site management roles, moving into design and estimating, or specialising in areas such as renewable energy systems or building management. Further qualifications such as the 18th Edition wiring regulations, inspection and testing certificates, or a higher-level engineering apprenticeship are common next steps for those wanting to broaden their scope or move into technical leadership.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 5.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.