The 18th Edition exam is now City & Guilds 2382-26, the Level 3 Award in Requirements for Electrical Installations BS 7671:2018, written for Amendment 4. It is one online multiple-choice test of 60 questions in 120 minutes, open book with the Amendment 4 IET Wiring Regulations, and the pass mark is set at approximately 60%. On 30 October 2026 we found UK prices from £168 including VAT for exam only to about £550 for a three-day course with the exam.
What is the current edition of BS 7671?
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026. NICEIC reports that the IET and BSI published Amendment 4 on 15 April 2026 and that it could be used immediately. The previous text, BS 7671:2018+A2:2022+A3:2024, was scheduled for withdrawal on 15 October 2026, and the IET's BS 7671 page now says the transition period has ended and Amendment 4 is the current edition.
What happened to Amendment 3? It was published in 2024 as an addition to the A2:2022 book. BSI says Amendment 4 incorporates Amendment 3 into the main document, so there is no separate A3 to learn. BSI lists the main new material as a chapter on stationary secondary batteries, a section on functional earthing for ICT equipment, a section on Power over Ethernet and a major revision of Section 710 (medical locations). Our Amendment 4 changes guide goes through them.
What is the 2382-26 exam format?
The City & Guilds 2382-26 qualification handbook sets it out plainly:
- One online multiple-choice test, 60 questions, 120 minutes, graded pass or fail, with the pass mark "set at approx. 60%".
- Open book. You take in BS 7671:2018 (Amendment 4:2026). Bookmarks, highlighting and short cross-references are allowed; sample questions, detailed notes or extra diagrams in the book are not. A non-programmable calculator is needed.
- No formal entry requirements, and it is approved for learners aged 16 and over. City & Guilds assigns 35 guided learning hours and 40 hours of total qualification time.
The question weighting shows where to spend revision time:
| Topic (unit 626 outcome) | Questions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Protection for safety (Part 4) | 15 | 25% |
| Selection and erection of equipment (Part 5) | 14 | 23% |
| Part 8 and the appendices | 8 | 13% |
| Special installations or locations (Part 7) | 7 | 12% |
| General characteristics (Part 3) | 6 | 10% |
| Scope, object and fundamental principles | 4 | 7% |
| Inspection and testing (Part 6) | 4 | 7% |
| Definitions | 2 | 3% |
Almost half the paper is Parts 4 and 5. Part 6 is only four questions, so do not over-revise testing for this exam; that is what 2391 covers.
How much does the 18th Edition exam cost in 2026?
Prices vary with format: exam only, a short update for existing holders, or a two- to four-day course. Each figure below is from the provider's own page on 30 October 2026.
| Provider | Option | Price shown | Format and place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technique Learning Solutions | 2382-26 exam only | £140 + VAT (£168) in centre; £200 + VAT (£240) remote | Chesterfield, or online invigilation from home |
| PASS Ltd | 1-day Amendment 4 update with 2382-26 exam | £195 + VAT (£234) | For holders of 2382-18 or 2382-22 |
| Buckinghamshire College Group | 2382-26 course | £395 (resit £38) | Two days |
| Able Skills | 2382-26 full course | £425 inc VAT (weekend option £450 inc VAT) | 3 days in a classroom, or two weekends |
| NAPIT Training | 2382-26 three-day course | From £445 + VAT (£534) | Bristol, Mansfield, Oldham, Potters Bar |
| Technique Learning Solutions | 2382-26 full course | £460 + VAT (£552) | 3 days, Chesterfield |
Two things are not in most prices: the Amendment 4 book itself, which you need for the open-book exam, and resit fees. Ask about both.
Where can you sit the 2382-26 exam?
At any City & Guilds approved centre that offers it: colleges, private training providers and some competent person scheme bodies such as NAPIT. Use the "Find a centre" option on the City & Guilds 2382 qualification page, then check the centre's own dates. Some centres, such as Technique, offer remote invigilated sittings, which saves travel if you already know the book.
City & Guilds says centres must use the 2382-26 version from 16 April 2026. The older 2382-22 had a last registration date of 31 July 2026 and a last certification date of 31 December 2026, so any new booking now should be for 2382-26, whose last registration date is 31 December 2029.
Do you need to upgrade from 2382-22?
There is no single national deadline that cancels a 2382-22 certificate; the pressure comes from whoever relies on it. The ECS Maintenance Electrician card requires a formal BS 7671 qualification in the current edition. Competent person schemes and employers set their own rules, and NICEIC's Amendment 4 announcement lists support resources rather than a qualification deadline. Ask your scheme or employer what they need.
Upgrade sooner if you design, certify or supervise work, if you are applying for a card or grade that names the current edition, or if job adverts in your area ask for "18th Edition to Amendment 4". The one-day update course is the cheapest route if you already hold 2382-18 or 2382-22.
How to prepare for the 18th Edition exam
Treat it as a test of finding things quickly in the book, not of memory. A revision plan that works for most people:
- Get the right book and tab it. Bookmark Parts 4, 5 and 7, Appendix 3 (time-current curves), Appendix 4 (current-carrying capacity) and the index. Highlighting is allowed; detailed notes are not.
- Learn the structure. Know which Part answers which kind of question, because a quarter of the paper is Part 4 alone.
- Practise lookups against the clock. Two minutes a question is the average pace; aim to answer quick definitions in under a minute to bank time.
- Study what changed. New battery, PoE and ICT earthing material is likely to appear because it is new.
- Take the City & Guilds sample test. The qualification page links an on-screen sample (2382-626); use it once you have revised.
How can you revise free with EDWartens?
Our free Wiring Regulations in Practice course teaches BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 through earthing, Zs, RCDs, cable sizing and special locations, ending in a final assessment. The free BS 7671 Inspection and Testing Essentials course covers Part 6 and certificates. Both are on the BS 7671 hub, with more on the electrical courses page. The optional certificate costs £19; it is not 2382-26 and not a regulated qualification, so book the exam itself through a City & Guilds centre.
If BS 7671 is a step towards controls work, see our ECS, JIB and AM2 guide, try the Maintenance Electrical Engineer job simulation (practice, not employment) and browse maintenance jobs.
