PAT Testing Course
Newcastle

The course opens by establishing a clear picture of what Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) actually is, why it exists and where it sits within an employer's broader approach to electrical safety. Key industry terms are introduced early so that delegates can follow every module that follows without uncertainty.

You'll be walked through the full range of electrical equipment categories you're likely to encounter — portable, movable, hand-held, stationary, fixed and IT equipment — and introduced to the equipment classes (Class I, Class II and Class III) that govern the level of protection an appliance provides against electric shock. Grasping these classifications is fundamental, because the class and category of an appliance determine which tests must be applied.

A solid understanding of electrical hazards is essential before any testing begins. This module explains the mechanisms by which electricity injures people — electric shock, burns and fire — and describes the conditions under which defective equipment becomes dangerous.

The module then works through the full legislative framework that makes PAT testing necessary in the UK. Delegates 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 associated duties they impose. A common misconception — that there is a direct legal requirement to PAT test — is addressed directly: the law requires duty-holders to keep electrical equipment safe, and PAT testing is how organisations demonstrate they have done so. Delegates leave knowing exactly who holds that responsibility and what "reasonably practicable" means in real-world terms.

The visual inspection is the first and often most revealing stage of any PAT process, capable of identifying the vast majority of faults before any instrument is connected. This module trains delegates to carry out a systematic, thorough formal visual inspection and to recognise the physical signs of damage, overheating, abuse and wear that mean an appliance must be withdrawn from service.

The module also covers the internal detail: correct plug wiring in line with BS 1363, appropriate fuse selection, the condition of cables and flexes, strain relief arrangements, and the integrity of casings and terminal connections. Delegates learn how an appliance's class affects what to look for, and the important distinction between the informal user checks that any member of staff should carry out and the rigorous formal inspection performed by a competent person.

This module marks the transition to fully hands-on learning. Working with professional PAT testing instruments, delegates become confident in setting up and operating the equipment accurately and safely. Coverage spans the range of instruments encountered in practice, from straightforward pass/fail units to more sophisticated models that record and download results for asset management systems.

Delegates practise connecting appliances correctly, learn why calibrated equipment is essential, and develop the practical fluency that can only come from repeated hands-on use. By the close of this module, picking up and using a PAT tester feels entirely natural.

This module introduces the formal test sequence and demonstrates how to apply it correctly to different types of appliance. The core instrument tests — earth continuity, insulation resistance, lead and polarity checks, and functional checks — are each explained in detail, with clear guidance on what each test is actually measuring and what a valid result tells you.

A key focus is the way the correct test sequence varies between Class I and Class II equipment, so delegates always apply the appropriate tests in the right order. Safe working practice runs through every element of this module, so that testing is not just systematic but genuinely safe.

Accurate test results are only useful when you know how to interpret them. This module teaches delegates to assess results against accepted limits, make a sound pass or fail judgement, and take the right course of action when an appliance fails. Correct equipment labelling and the maintenance of clear, auditable records are covered in detail.

Delegates also learn how to set sensible retest intervals using the risk-based methodology set out in the current IET Code of Practice, which replaced earlier rigid frequency tables with a more intelligent approach based on equipment type, working environment, frequency of use and the user population. Sound record keeping and a well-maintained asset register are presented as the cornerstones of provable ongoing compliance.

The final module brings everything together by placing the day's learning within its full regulatory context. Delegates examine the distinction between statutory requirements — the legal obligations they must meet — and non-statutory guidance, such as recognised codes of practice, that helps them show how those obligations are being satisfied.

Central to this module is the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition. Delegates learn what the Code says, how it supports the relevant primary and secondary legislation, and how to use it as their principal working reference. The course closes by making clear what "competence" means in this context, how delegates can demonstrate due diligence, and how to carry out PAT testing to a consistent, defensible professional standard.