PAT Testing Course
Manchester

The course opens by laying solid groundwork for everything that follows. You'll gain a clear grasp of what Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) actually involves, why it is considered best practice, and how it sits within a broader electrical safety management programme. Key industry terminology is introduced early so that every subsequent module builds on a confident foundation.

The module also takes you through the full range of electrical equipment categories you are likely to encounter — portable, movable, hand-held, stationary, fixed and IT equipment — alongside the three equipment classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) that govern how an appliance is protected against electric shock. Grasping these distinctions at the outset is vital, because the class and category of a piece of equipment determines which tests must be applied to it.

Sound risk management begins with understanding what you are guarding against. This module examines the mechanisms by which electricity causes harm — including electric shock, thermal burns and fire arising from faulty equipment — together with the conditions that elevate the risk posed by defective appliances.

The module then walks through the statutory framework that underpins all electrical safety work 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 duties they impose. A commonly misunderstood point is addressed directly: no specific statute mandates PAT testing by name, yet duty-holders are legally required to keep electrical equipment safe, and systematic inspection and testing is the accepted means of evidencing that obligation. You'll leave the module clear on who carries that duty and what "reasonably practicable" demands in everyday terms.

The formal visual inspection accounts for the majority of faults found during any PAT regime — most problems are visible before a single test is run. This module teaches you to perform a thorough, structured visual examination and to spot the signs of physical damage, wear, overheating or misuse that mean an appliance should be withdrawn from service immediately.

The module takes you inside the appliance too, covering correct wiring of plugs to BS 1363, appropriate fuse selection, cable and flex condition, effective strain relief, and the integrity of casings and internal connections. You'll learn how equipment construction relates to its class, and understand the distinction between the routine user checks that all staff should carry out and the formal visual inspection that must be conducted by a competent person.

This is where the course becomes thoroughly practical. In the dedicated learning zone you'll handle real PAT testing instruments, gaining confidence in setting up and operating them safely. The module covers the range of testers you'll come across in practice — from straightforward pass/fail units to advanced instruments capable of storing and downloading results.

Through repeated practice you'll become comfortable connecting appliances correctly, appreciate the importance of using calibrated equipment, and develop the confident, consistent technique that can only be built through doing. By the close of this module, picking up a PAT tester and running through the procedure will feel entirely natural.

This module establishes the correct test sequence and demonstrates how to apply it to varying appliances. The full set of electrical checks is covered in turn — earth continuity testing, insulation resistance testing, lead and polarity checks, and functional checks — with each one explained in terms of what it tests, why it is performed and what a meaningful result looks like.

You'll also learn how the test sequence differs between Class I and Class II appliances, ensuring you always apply the appropriate battery of tests in the right order. Safe working practice is a constant thread throughout the module, so every test you perform is both technically sound and operationally safe.

Obtaining a reading is only part of the job — interpreting it correctly is what makes a test meaningful. This module develops your ability to compare results against accepted limits, make clear pass or fail judgements, and take the right action on a failure. You'll cover correct labelling of tested items and the maintenance of accurate, defensible testing records.

The module also tackles the question of retest intervals. Drawing on the risk-based methodology set out in the current edition of the IET Code of Practice — which replaced the old prescriptive frequency tables — you'll learn to determine appropriate inspection and testing intervals based on equipment type, operating environment, frequency of use and the people who use it. Robust record keeping and a well-maintained asset register are presented as the cornerstones of ongoing compliance and demonstrable due diligence.

The final module brings everything together within its proper regulatory context. You'll distinguish between statutory requirements — the law you are bound to follow — and non-statutory guidance, such as the IET Code of Practice, which represents recognised best practice and the accepted means of satisfying those legal duties. Understanding the relationship between the two is central to operating as a genuinely competent PAT tester.

The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th Edition, is examined in detail. You'll learn precisely what it says, how it supports and interprets the relevant legislation, and how to use it as your primary reference in practice. The course closes with a firm grasp of what competence means in this discipline, how to evidence due diligence, and what it takes to carry out PAT testing to a professional and legally defensible standard.