To become an EV charger installer in the UK you first qualify as an electrician, then add a Level 3 EV award, and from 1 October 2026 the updated EAS rules expect every person fitting a charge point to hold that qualification personally, not just the firm (Elec Training, 2026).
This guide sets out the route for 2026: the foundation qualifications you need, the City and Guilds 2921 EV awards that replace the old 2919, what the October 2026 EAS deadline changes, how to register with a competent person scheme, what training costs, what you can earn, and the order to do it in.
Key Takeaways
- You need a full electrical qualification first: the 18th Edition, an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, and Part P registration before any EV award (Elec Training, 2026).
- The City and Guilds 2921 EV qualifications have replaced the older 2919 award for design and installation of charge points (Elec Training, 2026).
- From 1 October 2026 the EAS expects each installer to hold their own Level 3 EV qualification, not rely on the company's (IET, 2026).
- An EV award typically costs about 300 to 700 pounds plus VAT for a one to two day course (Total Skills, 2026).
- Qualified EV installers commonly earn 300 to 500 pounds per day, with salaried roles around 34,500 pounds and experienced installers above 45,000 pounds (Access Training, 2026).
What qualifications do you need to become an EV charger installer?
You need to be a qualified electrician before adding an EV award, which means holding the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671), an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installation or equivalent, and registration with a Part P competent person scheme (Elec Training, 2026).
The reason is that an EV charge point is a demanding electrical circuit, not a plug-in appliance. It needs correct earthing arrangements, the right RCD type, and often load management on the main supply. Without the underpinning electrical knowledge, the EV-specific course has nothing to build on, which is why every reputable provider gates it behind the core qualifications.
PEN fault protection is a good example of why the foundation matters. Most UK charge points sit on a PME supply, where an open neutral can make exposed metalwork live, so the installer has to select a charger with built-in protection or fit an earth rod to an approved design. That judgement calls on core electrical training, not a one-day EV add-on, which is exactly why the sequence runs electrician first, EV award second.
If you are not yet a qualified electrician, that is the first milestone, and the route mirrors other trade certifications. Our guides on how to become MCS certified and how to become an ECO4 installer show how a similar accreditation ladder works in adjacent parts of the sector.
What is the City and Guilds 2921 EV qualification?
The City and Guilds 2921 suite is the current set of EV charging qualifications, introduced to replace the older 2919 award and split across domestic, small commercial and large-scale installation (Elec Training, 2026). Most installers start with the domestic and small commercial unit.
The three units cover different scopes:
- 2921-31: design and installation of domestic and small commercial EV charging installations, the common starting point for most electricians.
- 2921-32: design and quality assurance of large-scale EV charging installations, aimed at those specifying bigger schemes.
- 2921-33: installation and maintenance of large-scale EV charging installations, for engineers delivering commercial and depot projects.
An EV installer course is short but assessed. A regulated Level 3 EV award cannot be completed purely online, because it requires a practical assessment on a test rig or real installation observed by a qualified assessor, plus a written examination (Elec Training, 2026).
Be wary of any provider promising a full EV qualification through home study alone, because a certificate without observed practical assessment will not satisfy a competent person scheme. The assessment is the point of the award, not an obstacle to it, since it proves you can set the charger's earthing and protection correctly on a live rig rather than just describe it on paper.
What does the October 2026 EAS deadline mean?
The October 2026 change makes EV competence personal. From 1 October 2026 the updated Electrotechnical Assessment Specification expects each person physically installing a charge point to hold their own Level 3 EV qualification, rather than relying on one qualified colleague in the business (Elec Training, 2026).
For firms this is a scheduling issue as much as a compliance one. If several electricians in a team fit chargers, each now needs the award before the deadline, so booking assessment slots early matters as demand rises through 2026 (IET, 2026).
The practical takeaway is to treat the qualification as a per-installer credential and plan training across the whole team. Leaving it to one nominated person no longer meets the expectation, and a competent person scheme assessment after October 2026 will look for individual EV awards.
There is a commercial upside to acting early rather than treating this as a burden. Firms whose whole team holds the award can take on more EV work without a bottleneck around one qualified colleague, and they can tender for larger contracts that ask every attending electrician to be individually competent. The deadline is a chance to widen capacity, not just a box to tick.
Registering with NICEIC or NAPIT
You register through a Part P competent person scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT, which lets you self-certify your electrical work including EV installations. Membership is the step that turns a qualified electrician into one who can legally sign off notifiable work without a separate building control inspection (Total Skills, 2026).
The schemes assess your qualifications, your insurance and a sample of your work before enrolment, then reassess periodically. A NICEIC EV qualification in practice means holding the Level 3 EV award and being registered with the scheme, so the two sit together rather than being separate badges.
Choosing between providers comes down to fees, support and local reputation, and the comparison mirrors the certification choices installers face elsewhere. Our NICEIC vs NAPIT guide walks through the trade-offs, and the principles carry across to EV work.
How much does EV charger installer training cost?
An EV installer course is one of the cheaper trade qualifications, typically around 300 to 700 pounds plus VAT for a one to two day Level 3 award, with some specific units advertised near 369 pounds (Learn Trade Skills, 2026). It usually pays for itself within a couple of installations.
The wider cost depends on your starting point:
- Already a qualified electrician: just the Level 3 EV award, roughly 300 to 700 pounds plus VAT.
- Need the 18th Edition too: add the wiring regulations course before the EV award.
- Starting from scratch: the full electrical route to NVQ Level 3 is the main investment, with the EV award a small final step.
Set against a day rate of 300 to 500 pounds, the EV award is a fast payback (Access Training, 2026). The larger cost for a newcomer is always the underlying electrical qualification, not the EV top-up.
EV charger installer earnings in 2026
EV charger installers commonly earn 300 to 500 pounds per day self-employed, while salaried roles average around 34,500 pounds a year and experienced installers can exceed 45,000 pounds (Access Training, 2026). The demand backdrop is strong with the public network past 121,000 chargers (Zapmap, 2026).
A standard domestic installation takes three to five hours, and the customer charge is often 800 to 1,500 pounds depending on complexity, so a well-run day of two installs turns over solidly (Total Skills, 2026). Commercial and fleet work carries higher day rates but longer lead times.
Earnings track efficiency more than headline price. Accurate quoting, tidy load-management design and quick certification are what let an installer fit more jobs per week, which is where a modern proposal and design workflow earns its keep.
Specialising lifts the ceiling further. Installers who move into commercial and fleet work, or who add solar and battery skills alongside EV, command higher day rates and steadier pipelines than those fitting only domestic wallboxes. The EV award is the entry ticket, but the earnings come from the breadth of work you can confidently quote and sign off.
The step-by-step route to becoming an EV charger installer
The route is a fixed ladder, and following it in order avoids wasted course fees. Each rung builds on the last, from core electrical competence up to the EV award and scheme registration that lets you self-certify work under the October 2026 EAS expectation (IET, 2026).
- Step 1: qualify as an electrician through an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent.
- Step 2: hold the current 18th Edition Wiring Regulations.
- Step 3: complete a Level 3 City and Guilds 2921 EV award with practical assessment.
- Step 4: register with a Part P scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT to self-certify.
- Step 5: add manufacturer approvals for the charger brands you will fit most.
Once qualified, the work shifts to running jobs well. Reonic's installer platform helps with the survey, load-management design and customer proposal, so a newly qualified installer spends less time on paperwork and more on chargeable work. For the pricing side, see our EV charger installation cost guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an electrician to install EV chargers?
Yes. You must be a qualified electrician holding the 18th Edition, an NVQ Level 3 or equivalent, and Part P registration before adding an EV award. An EV charge point is a demanding circuit needing correct earthing, RCD selection and load management, so the electrical foundation is not optional.
Which EV qualification do I need in 2026?
The current award is the City and Guilds 2921 suite, which replaced the older 2919. Most electricians take the 2921-31 unit for domestic and small commercial work, while 2921-32 and 2921-33 cover large-scale design and installation for commercial and depot projects (Elec Training, 2026).
What changes on 1 October 2026?
From that date the updated EAS expects every person fitting a charge point to hold their own Level 3 EV qualification, rather than relying on one qualified colleague. Firms should book assessment slots early and treat the award as a per-installer credential across the whole team.
How much does EV installer training cost?
A Level 3 EV award is typically 300 to 700 pounds plus VAT for a one to two day course, with some units near 369 pounds. If you also need the 18th Edition or the full electrical route, those add more, but the EV top-up itself is a small, fast-payback investment.
How much do EV charger installers earn?
Self-employed installers commonly earn 300 to 500 pounds per day, salaried roles average around 34,500 pounds a year, and experienced installers can exceed 45,000 pounds (Access Training, 2026). Efficiency and accurate quoting matter more than headline price.
