Your final year. AM2 assessment, End-Point Assessment, portfolio completion, and the transition from apprentice to qualified electrician. Everything you need to finish strong and start your career.
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Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.
2,600+
UK electricians
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
01 · Apprentice Guide
Year 4 is the culmination of everything you have worked towards. The theory, the site experience, the exams, the portfolio — it all comes together in your final year. By the end of year 4, you will have finished your Level 3 qualification, passed your end-point assessment, and earned the right to call yourself a qualified electrician.
This year is demanding. You are balancing the final units of your Level 3 qualification, preparation for the end-point assessment, and continuing site work. The workload is heavy, but the reward is significant — a skilled trade qualification that will support your career for decades.
This guide covers the key milestones of year 4: gateway, the end-point assessment and its AM2S practical, finishing your qualification evidence, registering with competent person schemes, and making the decision between staying employed and going self-employed.
Free download · PDF
Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.
02 · Apprentice Guide
The AM2S is the practical part of your end-point assessment, run by NET at approved assessment centres. It takes 17 hours over no more than 3 working days and is graded pass or fail.
Practise each part at its real time limit. Your employer and training provider book the assessment once you are through gateway.
03 · Apprentice Guide
The end-point assessment is the final stage of your apprenticeship. It is run by NET, the only end-point assessment organisation for the Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship (ST0152). Under the current plan, version 1.2, it has three parts.
Every part is graded pass or fail, and you need a pass in all three. There is no merit or distinction, and no interview, professional discussion or portfolio review. If you started before 21 July 2025, your training provider will confirm which version of the plan applies to you.
04 · Apprentice Guide
If your training provider assesses part of your Level 3 qualification through a portfolio of work evidence, it has to be finished before the qualification can be signed off, and the qualification is needed for gateway. The portfolio itself is not reviewed at the end-point assessment. Do not leave it to the last minute.
Organise your portfolio logically — group evidence by unit or by work type. Make it easy for the assessor to find what they need. A well-structured digital portfolio with clear labels and descriptions is far more impressive than a box of loose photos and scribbled notes.
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Digital portfolio management for apprentices. Photograph work with structured templates, collect witness testimonies…
05 · Apprentice Guide
Passing the AM2 and EPA marks the transition from apprentice to qualified electrician. It is a significant milestone — you have earned a trade qualification through years of hard work, study, and on-site experience. Take a moment to appreciate what you have achieved.
The practical transition involves several steps:
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AI-generated mocks, instant marking, and explanations on every question — targeted at your weakest topics. From £6.99/mo.
06 · Apprentice Guide
If you plan to work independently (self-employed or running your own business), you will need to register with a competent person scheme to self-certify notifiable electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations.
If you are staying employed, your employer will typically be registered with a scheme and your work is certified under their registration. Individual registration becomes important when you go self-employed or start your own business.
07 · Apprentice Guide
This is one of the biggest decisions you will make after qualifying. Both paths have clear advantages and drawbacks. Here is an honest comparison:
Steady income with regular pay. Holiday pay, sick pay, pension contributions. Employer provides van, tools, and materials. Continued mentoring from experienced electricians. Less admin — no invoicing, tax returns, or chasing customers. Good for building experience in the first 1 to 2 years after qualifying. Typical employed rates: £18 to £24 per hour depending on region and employer.
Higher earning potential: day rates of £200 to £350+ for domestic work. Full control over your schedule, customers, and the jobs you take. Tax efficiency through self-employment or a limited company. Build your own brand and reputation. But: no guaranteed income, you buy your own tools and van, you pay for insurance, registration, and qualifications, and you handle all business admin. Start-up costs: van (£5,000 to £15,000), tools (£2,000 to £5,000), insurance (£500 to £1,000/year), registration (£400 to £500/year).
Many successful self-employed electricians started by staying employed for 1 to 2 years after qualifying. This builds experience, confidence, and savings. When you do go self-employed, you have a financial cushion and the competence to work independently. There is no shame in taking the secure route first — it is the smart approach.
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When you are ready to go self-employed, Elec-Mate handles quoting, invoicing, certification, scheduling, and customer management.
08 · Apprentice Guide
Whether you are looking for a new employer or planning to go self-employed, preparing for the job market should start before you qualify.
List your qualifications (AM2, 18th Edition, Level 3 Diploma), the types of work you have experience in (domestic rewires, commercial installations, consumer unit changes, testing), and any additional skills (EV charging, fire alarm, data cabling). Keep it to two pages maximum. Employers want to see what you can do, not a life story.
Tell people you are about to qualify. Family, friends, neighbours, tradespeople you have met on site — word of mouth is the most powerful marketing tool for electricians. Join local trade groups on social media. If going self-employed, start building a presence on Checkatrade, MyBuilder, or Google Business Profile before you qualify so you have enquiries from day one.
Research local rates for qualified electricians — both employed and self-employed. Use the Elec-Mate day rates guide and talk to qualified electricians in your area. Do not undersell yourself, but be realistic about your experience level. You are qualified, but you are also just starting your career as a qualified electrician.
09 · Apprentice Guide
Year 4 is intense, but it is also the most rewarding year of your apprenticeship. Here is how to finish strong:
You are about to join a skilled trade with strong demand, good earning potential, and a career that can take you anywhere — from domestic work to commercial projects, from the UK to overseas. The hard work of the last four years pays off now.
Verified reviews from the UK App Store.
Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.
I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.
I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.
Real feedback from electricians and apprentices
“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”
Daniel Palmer
Sole Trader · DP Electrical
“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”
Nathan Perry
Electrician · NP Electrical Services
“The study centre got me through my AM2. Mock exams and flashcards are brilliant.”
Jake Pizey
3rd Year Apprentice · Apprentice
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