AM2
AM2, or Achievement Measurement 2, is a practical performance skills test for electricians in the UK. It serves as an industry-standard assessment to demonstrate occupational competence. It is a mandatory final assessment for apprentices and other aspiring electricians to earn their professional certification and the ECS Gold Card, which is highly valued by employers as proof of a high-quality, safe standard of work.
Who is the course for?
The AM2 should be undertaken by those aiming to achieve their ECS Gold Card and demonstrate full competence as an Installation or Maintenance Electrician.
Apprentices who are enrolled onto the Apprenticeship Standard should undertake the AM2S assessment and those enrolled onto the experienced worker qualification should undertake the AM2E assessment.
Important: For learners registered on the Level 3 NVQ (C&G 2357 or EAL 1605) the AM2 is the final unit within the NVQ and should not be taken until all other units have been completed, to ensure the candidate is prepared and has the best chance of success. NET will check registration dates and gateways will be referred for awarding body EQA checks where necessary.
Preparation
The best way to prepare for the AM2 is to use the resources available on the NET website:
- Download the AM2 Readiness for Assessment Checklist which details everything you’ll need to do and ensure you’re confident in each area before you take the assessment.
- Download NET Pre-Assessment Manual for more help on how to prepare.
- Watch NET Top Tips Videos for hints and advice on each section of the assessment
How to book
If you need to book your AM2 assessment, please fill out this form with your details.
If you’re ready to book your AM2 re-sit, please use this form to get started.
Once you submit either form, a member of our team will contact you shortly to confirm your booking and guide you through the next steps.
All paperwork must be submitted for gateway approval to facilitate your AM2 booking. Upon gateway approval, your assessment must be booked within 14 days of the date of approval. Failure to do so may result in your forfeiture of this assessment.
Mandatory evidence
As the Assessment of Competence for the electrical industry, candidates are not permitted to sit the AM2 without evidence that they have the required foundation of experience, knowledge and performance qualifications. In all cases, please check with ECS before booking if you will be applying for a gold card in Installation or Maintenance.
From 01 September 2022, all AM2 applicants must submit evidence of one of the following:
- Current registration on the City & Guilds 2357 series (2357-13, -23, -44, -91), or certificate of unit credit (using Walled Garden evidence in PDF or Word format)
- Current registration on the EAL 501/1605/8 Electrotechnical or certificate of unit credit (from EAL Learner History in PDF or Word format)
- Current registration on the EAL 501/1604/6 Electrotechnical Maintenance, or certificate of unit credit (from EAL Learner History in PDF or Word format)
- City & Guilds 2356 Certificate (NVQ)
- City & Guilds 2355-03 Certificate (NVQ)
- EAL 100/4720/7 Certificate in Electrotechnical Services (NVQ)
- City & Guilds 2356-99 – JIB Mature Candidate Assessment route
- EAL ETS3 – JIB Mature Candidate Assessment route
- City & Guilds 2360 Part 1 and 2
- Level 3 or Level 4 Diplomas in Electrotechnical Studies and Practice (Military Engineering)
- Appropriate Level 3 Engineering NVQ and Tech certificate, to include an Electrical bias (please note: This may not be sufficient for an Installation Electrician ECS gold card. We advise you check your qualifications in advance with ECS).
SkillSearcher cannot advise on ECS eligibility, therefore if your aim is to apply for an ECS gold card, please also refer to the ECS website to ensure your qualifications will be accepted before booking an AM2.
Re-sits
The number of re-sits that can be taken by the candidate will be at the discretion of their employer.
NET would require the candidate to provide evidence of additional training to be carried out after 3 re-sits to facilitate a further booking.
NET may restrict re-sit approval if verifiable training has not been completed and may contact the Training Provider, employer or candidate for confirmation. NET has the right to block candidates if suitable training has not taken place or there have been an excessive number of re-sits.
Please also read the NET article, “Section A Re-sits from 01 April 2021”.
What do I have to do?
The AM2 Assessment is broken down into the sections below. During some of the practical sections, you’ll be watched by the assessor. This can seem intimidating, so try to practice beforehand with a colleague watching you to get used to it.
We’ve shown the length of time allocated to complete each section but you’ll be given additional time to read the instructions and prepare before starting the test.
This is just an overview, so if you are close to taking your AM2 Assessment and want more detail, select a heading below for a step by step guide to each section.
Key Details
Who it’s for
- The AM2 assessment is designed for those aiming to achieve their ECS Gold Card and demonstrate full competence as an Installation or Maintenance Electrician.
Qualification
- Assessment of Occupational Competence certificate
- The AM2 assessment is the final unit of the Level 3 NVQ in Electrotechnical systems (City & Guilds 2357 and EAL 1605)
- Become eligible for Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) gold card
Entry requirements
- As the Assessment of Competence for the electrical industry, candidates are not permitted to sit the AM2 without evidence that they have the required foundation of experience, knowledge, and performance qualifications (see mandatory evidence).
AM2 Fee
- AM2 assessment fee is £860
- For the period 01/04/2025 – 31/03/2026, the price for re-sits is:
| Section A1, C, E | £185 |
| Section B, D | £260 |
| Section A2, A6 | 1 Section £240 |
| 2 Section £375 | |
| 3 Section £445 | |
| 4 Section £540 | |
| 5 Section £590 |
Please note that all prices listed are exclusive of VAT.
Please also read the NET article, “Section A Re-sits from 01 April 2021” for background information if necessary.
AM2 Section Details
Section A1: Safe Isolation and Risk Assessment
In this section, you need to demonstrate that you can carry out a safe isolation procedure in the correct sequence to ensure the safety of not only yourself but everyone else on site. You’ll also undertake and document an assessment of any risks to safety that may be present.
Sections A2-A5: Composite Installation
Following the diagrams and instructions you’re given, you’ll prepare, install, connect and terminate conductors at a TP&N Distribution Board and equipment outlets to industry standards. To complete this section, you must demonstrate occupational competence in accordance with statutory and non-statutory regulations and approved industry working practices.
Section B: Inspection, Testing and Certification
During this section, you’ll carry out a visual inspection of your installation and complete a series of tests following practices and procedures that take into account electrically sensitive equipment. You can change any part of your installation that you find is incorrect or not complete.
Section C: Safe Isolation of Circuits
This second safe isolation test covers three specific scenarios: the replacement of single-phase equipment, three-phase equipment and the isolation of the distribution board.
Section D: Fault Diagnosis and Rectification
From information provided, you will identify faults in a circuit. You’ll need to record the type of fault and its specific location, then recommend how each fault could be corrected, including any works needed to prove the fault has been rectified.
Section E: Assessment of Applied Knowledge
This is an online test consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions designed to assess your knowledge of the health and safety regulations, building regulations and BS 7671 – so make sure you revise these.
Maximum Time Allowed: 45 Minutes
You will be allowed a minimum of 10 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment.
To demonstrate your occupational competence, you’ll carry out the correct sequence for safe isolation of a distribution board to allow you to safely complete an installation.
This section will be fully observed by the Centre Assessor. This is the only way that they can see what you are doing. It can seem intimidating at first, so try and practice with a colleague watching you carry out some tasks on-site.
Safe Isolation Procedure
This is very important as if this is not done correctly on site it could result in someone getting an electric shock and, in the worst-case, death.
- Identify your point of isolation
- Inform the customer that you will be isolating the supply.
- Operate the isolator and lock off and fit warning notice
- Select approved test equipment and prove that it is working.
- Test on the outgoing side of isolator all combinations:
- L1 and L2
- L1 and L3
- L1 and Neutral
- L1 and Earth
- L2 and L3
- L2 and Neutral
- L2 and Earth
- L3 and Neutral
- L3 and Earth
- Neutral and Earth
- Re-prove your test equipment is working.
Risk Assessment
This is a careful examination of the risks associated with both working practices and candidate and centre staff activities.
- A hazard is anything that may cause harm.
- A risk is a chance, great or small, that someone will be harmed by a hazard.
The aim is to make sure that no one becomes ill or gets hurt at the facility. There are three steps to achieve this:
1. Identify the Hazards
Look at what may cause harm to candidates, centre staff, or other people, because of a work activity.
2. Decide Who Might be Harmed and How
Look at who may be affected by the work activity, how they may be affected; this may include other candidates and centre staff.
3. Evaluate the Risks and Decide on Precautions
If you find a hazard, there may be a risk to other people; you need to decide what steps must be taken to eliminate or reduce those risks as far as is reasonably practical. Bear in mind:
- What needs to be done depends on whether the hazard is low risk or high risk.
- You can determine this by looking at what type of injury may occur and how often it may happen.
- It may be possible to remove the hazard altogether or to take steps to reduce this risk to an acceptable level.
- If there is no risk present, then you do not need to take any action.
- Record ‘No action required’ on the Risk Assessment document.
You also need to carry out a review of safe working practices and undertake a risk assessment in accordance with organisational requirements and procedures prior to commencing the Composite Installation. Record your findings on the relevant documentation.
Maximum Time Allowed: 8 Hours 30 Minutes
You will be allowed a minimum of 15 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment
To demonstrate your occupational competence, you will be asked to:
- Apply industry working practices and procedures in keeping with relevant statutory and non-statutory regulations.
- Interpret the drawings and diagrams.
- Prepare, install, connect and terminate conductors and cables to industry standards.
- Terminate and connect at a TP&N Distribution Board and the identified equipment outlets as detailed in the handbook and diagrams you will have been given.
You’ll work across the following sub-sections:
- Installation of Lighting and Ring Final circuits
- Installation of 3-phase circuits
- Installation of Central Heating control circuit
- Installation of Main Protective Bonding, Safety and Data circuits
To complete this section of the assessment you must demonstrate occupational competence in accordance with statutory and non-statutory regulations and approved industry working practices.
You need to make sure that you follow all of the instructions given in the candidates’ handbook and drawings.
Maximum Time Allowed: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
You will be allowed a minimum of 20 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment
This section will be observed by the Centre Assessor.
You will be provided with the following documentation for use throughout the section:
- BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
- IET Guidance Note 3. Inspection & Testing
- IET On-Site Guide
To demonstrate occupational competence, you’ll carry out a visual inspection of your installation and complete the following tests:
- Continuity of protective conductors, including main and supplementary bonding
- Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
- Insulation resistance
- Polarity
- Earth fault loop impedance
- Additional protection (effectiveness of RCDs)
- Prospective fault current
- Check of phase sequence
- Functional testing
You also need to correctly complete an Electrical Installation Certificate, Schedule of Circuit Details and Schedule of Test Results using the documentation provided.
You can download blank template forms if you wish to familarise yourself with these documents before your assessment.
You’ll be expected to follow practices and procedures that consider the presence of voltage sensitive equipment.
Faults / Alterations
During and within the time allowed for this section, you may correct any part of your installation that you decide is incorrect or faulty.
Maximum Time Allowed: 30 Minutes
You will be allowed a minimum of 5 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment
The safe isolation procedure will be observed by the Centre Assessor.
To demonstrate occupational competence, you will carry out safe isolation in the correct sequence to allow for the following tasks:
Note: for tasks 1 & 2 all other circuits must remain energised.
- Task 1: To replace a single-phase piece of equipment
- Task 2: To replace a three-phase piece of equipment
- Task 3: To isolate the distribution board in your fault diagnosis bay.
Maximum Time Allowed: 2 Hours
You will be allowed a minimum of 5 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment
To demonstrate occupational competence, you will identify the fault in each circuit from the information provided by the Centre Assessor.
You must state and record:
- The type of each fault (short or open circuit; high resistance or mis-connection).
- The specific location of each fault (between what 2 points or on what piece of equipment).
- How each fault could be rectified, plus any additional works required to prove that the fault has been rectified.
Maximum Time Allowed: 1 Hour
You will be allowed a minimum of 5 minutes to read this section and prepare for assessment
You will complete an on-line assessment consisting of 30 multiple-choice questions.
You’ll be assessed on your application of knowledge associated with the following:
- Health and Safety
- BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
- Building Regulations
You will be provided with the following publications:
- BS 7671 Requirements for Electrical Installations
- IET Guidance Note 3. Inspection & Testing
- IET On-Site Guide
- IET Electrician’s Guide to the Building Regulations.
You are not allowed any other documentation.