Landlord electrical safety certificate

That is a little more complex Simon. If I engage an "electrician", I can reasonably expect a degree of competence, and if he then gives me a professional report it is his duty and risk that it is compliant. This is why most professions and some trades are regulated by external bodies, the FCA for financial advisors, the SRA for solicitors, Gas Safe for gas men etc. It is unfortunate that the electrical clubs do not have a regulatory body, and worse that they clearly do not wish to set a suitable standard themselves. Passing the 18th edition exam is nothing like sufficient competence for inspection, as is endlessly proved by comments on here, and by EICR reports which are basically rubbish. There is no simple redress against incompetent electricians, and there are a great many of them about. Various attempts have been made by various groups to make the 3rd level exams (2391, 2395, 2396) easier because the previous pass rate was quite low, less than 50%. Apparently this dissuades students from taking the exam, but means that many of those who took it are sadly lacking in knowledge and experience. It also means that the more modern versions of these qualifications are worthless, because they no longer prove very much, a multiple-choice exam with a pretty low pass mark is not sufficient to assess competence and knowledge. It is true that many found the older exam (2391) very hard, because it needed full calculations and essay answers, but that is what is required to Inspect an installation. Why not prove it in the exam? Inspection needs understanding and judgment, would you like a Doctor who had only learned a first-aid book? I think not.

That is a little more complex Simon. If I engage an "electrician", I can reasonably expect a degree of competence, and if he then gives me a professional report it is his duty and risk that it is compliant. This is why most professions and some trades are regulated by external bodies, the FCA for financial advisors, the SRA for solicitors, Gas Safe for gas men etc. It is unfortunate that the electrical clubs do not have a regulatory body, and worse that they clearly do not wish to set a suitable standard themselves. Passing the 18th edition exam is nothing like sufficient competence for inspection, as is endlessly proved by comments on here, and by EICR reports which are basically rubbish. There is no simple redress against incompetent electricians, and there are a great many of them about. Various attempts have been made by various groups to make the 3rd level exams (2391, 2395, 2396) easier because the previous pass rate was quite low, less than 50%. Apparently this dissuades students from taking the exam, but means that many of those who took it are sadly lacking in knowledge and experience. It also means that the more modern versions of these qualifications are worthless, because they no longer prove very much, a multiple-choice exam with a pretty low pass mark is not sufficient to assess competence and knowledge. It is true that many found the older exam (2391) very hard, because it needed full calculations and essay answers, but that is what is required to Inspect an installation. Why not prove it in the exam? Inspection needs understanding and judgment, would you like a Doctor who had only learned a first-aid book? I think not.