PAT Testing Course

Duration 1-2 hours

Last audited 12th September 2023

CPD Approved RoSPA Approved
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
For me
For teams
  • 100% online training

  • Start when you like

  • Learn on any device (desktop, mobile or tablet)

  • Instant assessment and result

  • 1 learner per course

  • Train teams of all sizes

  • Bulk discounts starting at 10% off 10 courses

  • Learn on any device (desktop, mobile or tablet)

£31 +VAT

include vat

Includes a 10% discount for 10+ courses

Electrical equipment is present in virtually all workplaces, and that includes portable appliances. Managers and responsible persons in low risk environments have a duty to carry out visual and pre-use checks on equipment.

This PAT testing course will familiarise you with the task of portable appliance testing and ways you can help minimise the risk of electrocution, electric shock, and electrically-initiated fires in the workplace. You will learn about the basics of PAT so you're able to offer your support and ensure electrical equipment does not put people's health and safety at risk while at work.

Note that this course provides awareness level knowledge. In low risk environments, such as offices, it provides sufficient knowledge to allow the learner to conduct PAT Tests but, in higher risk areas, a greater level of knowledge is required and this course is not suitable.

100% online training

Access anywhere

Same day digital certificate

Printed certificate posted next working day

Full audio voiceover

Unlimited assessment attempts

Developed by health and safety professionals

Accredited by CPD and assured by RoSPA Qualifications

What you'll learn

By the end of this course, you will understand:

  • What kind of electrical equipment is classed as portable and the two main classes of portable equipment.
  • What the law requires of workplaces that use portable electrical equipment.
  • How to carry out a risk assessment of portable electrical equipment and how to use the hierarchy of control.
  • What risks portable electrical equipment and certain work environments can pose.
  • How to safely select and use portable electrical equipment, including their cables and plugs.
  • How to carry out pre-use checks, visual inspections, and combined visual inspections and tests (including PATs).
  • What to do if equipment is faulty or fails an inspection or test.
  • How to determine appropriate inspection and test frequencies.
  • What emergency procedures should be in place.

PAT for home workers

If your employees are working from home and use portable electrical equipment (such as laptop computers, display screens and cameras) as an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that their equipment is safe and without risks, including portable electrical equipment.

While there are no UK PAT Testing Regulations, employers have a legal duty to ensure that electrical equipment used for work purposes is safe under the following legislation:

  • Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
  • Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (MHSWR)
  • Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
  • Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)

Employers of home workers must maintain any equipment used for work purposes. This may involve arranging for someone to go to their home to check the equipment or having the employee send equipment to a central office for inspection, testing, and maintenance where required.

Employers need to ensure that those who use electrical equipment have received sufficient instruction, information and, where necessary, training to use the equipment safely and so they know to report any issues. This PAT course will be useful training for anyone who may be involved in checking the work equipment of home workers and carrying out PAT tests, based on the employer's risk assessment.

Training you can trust

  • Course Content
  • Assessment
  • Suitable for

Module 1: Introduction

What is portable electrical equipment, what are the safety risks, legislation and legal duties, and duties on manufacturers, importers or distributors.

Module 2: Risk Assessment

What is a risk assessment, who should carry out risk assessments, step 1: identify the hazards, step 2: determine who may be harmed, step 3: evaluate the level of risk, step 4: record your findings, and step 5: review and update.

Module 3: Safe Selection and Use

The hierarchy of control, elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment, instruction, information and training instructing employees in use and storage, cables and connection points, faulty equipment, risks from particular equipment, harsh work environments, hired and loaned equipment, emergency procedures, and fire safety.

Module 4: Inspections and Testing

Class I and Class II equipment, pre-use checks, visual inspections, combined inspections and tests, inspection and test frequencies, failed inspections and tests, and recording findings.

The online assessment is taken on completion of the training material. You will be asked 20 multiple choice questions with a pass mark of 90%. The answers are marked automatically so that you’ll instantly know whether you passed. If you don't pass don't worry! You can take the test as many times as you need with no extra charge.

This course is suitable for anyone with a responsibility for health and safety in low risk workplaces such as offices. It is suitable for all employees at any level of the business, as it introduces the learner to and gives them basic knowledge of portable appliance testing; it does not require any previous training.

This course is not suitable for employees working in environments that are considered higher than low risk. This includes schools, gyms, and any industrial premises.

All portable appliances require a different method of testing. It is within our best interest to provide you with accurate advice and information, but it's the duty of the individual responsible for appliance testing to apply the techniques discussed in this course safely and with full confidence.

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