PAT testing must be carried out by a “competent person” — but that does not have to be a qualified electrician. Competence means having the knowledge, training and experience to do the checks safely, use any instrument correctly, and interpret the results properly.
For simple visual checks, a sensible member of staff with brief training is usually enough. For combined inspection and testing with a PAT tester, the person needs specific training in what the tests mean.
What does “competent person” actually mean?
The term appears throughout UK health and safety law and is deliberately not tied to a particular qualification. In this context, a competent person can:
- Recognise the hazards of the equipment and the work
- Carry out the appropriate level of inspection or test safely
- Understand what the readings mean — not just whether a light goes green
- Decide whether equipment passes, fails, or needs further examination
- Recognise the limits of their own knowledge and escalate when something is beyond them
That last point is the one most often missing. A person who records “pass” because the tester displayed a tick, without understanding what was measured, is not competent — regardless of what certificate they hold.
Who can do each level of check?
| Level | Who can do it | Training needed |
|---|---|---|
| User check Look for obvious damage before use |
Any user of the equipment | Brief instruction on what to look for |
| Formal visual inspection Systematic check, including plug and fuse |
A trained member of staff | Short, focused training — no electrical qualification required |
| Combined inspection and testing Visual plus instrument tests |
Person trained in the use of a PAT tester | Specific training in the tests, the instrument and interpreting results |
Notice how much can be done without an electrician. The HSE’s position is that a great deal of useful maintenance — arguably the most useful part — comes from people simply looking at equipment properly.
Do you need to be an electrician?
No. There is no legal requirement for a PAT tester to hold an electrical qualification.
That said, an electrician brings genuine advantages in harder cases: unusual equipment, borderline readings, equipment that keeps failing, three-phase items, or anything requiring repair. Repair work is a different matter entirely — if equipment fails and needs fixing, that should be done by someone qualified to do it.
A practical split many organisations use:
- In-house trained staff handle routine user checks and formal visual inspections
- A trained tester (in-house or contracted) handles combined inspection and testing
- An electrician handles repairs, unusual equipment and anything ambiguous
Can you do PAT testing in-house?
Yes, and for many organisations it is both cheaper and better — because in-house people are on site continuously and can act on damage the day it happens rather than at the next annual visit.
To do it credibly in-house you need:
- Trained people — who understand the equipment classes, the tests and the limits of their role
- A suitable, calibrated tester — an instrument that is out of calibration produces numbers nobody can rely on
- A record system — inventory, results, dates, actions taken
- A clear escalation route — what happens when something fails or looks odd
What about contractors?
Using an external company is perfectly legitimate. Two cautions worth applying:
1. Check what you are actually buying. Some contracts amount to sticking labels on equipment at speed. Ask how much time is spent per item, whether formal visual inspection is included, and what happens to items that fail.
2. Beware “we’ll test everything annually” as a default. As covered in how often PAT testing should be done, blanket annual testing is a convention, not a legal requirement. A good contractor will discuss risk-based intervals with you; one selling volume may not.
Remember that the legal duty stays with you as the employer. You can contract out the work, but not the responsibility.
What training is appropriate?
For people doing user checks and formal visual inspections, training should cover:
- What damage looks like — cables, plugs, casings, scorching, strain relief
- Class I versus Class II equipment and why it matters
- Fuse ratings and cord grips
- What to do with equipment that fails — labelling, isolating, reporting
- Recording findings
For combined inspection and testing, add the instrument itself: earth continuity, insulation resistance, what typical readings mean, and when a “pass” should still prompt a closer look.
Further reading
Train your team
Our PAT Testing Awareness course builds the underlying understanding — equipment classes, what the checks find, and where the legal duty really sits.
Related reading: What is PAT testing? · Is it a legal requirement? · How often?
£9 per course. CPD accredited, 100 % online, verifiable e-certificate on completion. Pay for 2, get 3 — any 3 courses for £18.
Please note: this is a CPD awareness course, not a qualification in electrical testing. Where your role or scheme requires a regulated qualification or licence, that must come from an approved provider — always check your employer’s or scheme’s specific requirements.