I’m Sezai Aramaz, a practising electrician in my 40s and a lecturer with over 20 years of teaching experience. At Learn Trade Skills (LTS) we train electricians every week who want to move into renewables: EV charge‑point installation, solar PV and electrical energy storage systems (EESS).
This guide pulls together the official rules and requirements from regulated and government bodies – not marketing – and explains how the City & Guilds renewable installation qualifications (which we deliver at LTS) fit into that framework in 2025.
1. Why renewable installation skills matter now
The UK’s climate law commits us to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 That target drives big changes in:
- how we power homes (solar and batteries),
- how we heat and cool buildings, and
- how we move around (EVs instead of petrol and diesel).
The government’s official guidance on electric vehicles states clearly that the transition to EVs is a crucial step towards achieving the UK’s net zero target, and provides dedicated guidance on EV charging and infrastructure.
At the same time, the Department for Transport publishes quarterly electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics. The latest release (October 2025) shows continued growth in publicly available EV charging devices across the UK, with data broken down by local authority. That expansion only happens if there are enough qualified installers.
On the skills side, the government’s Clean Energy Jobs Plan, published in 2025, highlights electricians and other skilled trades as central to delivering clean power and net zero, and positions clean energy as a major source of “good jobs” across the UK.
So if you’re an electrician thinking about EV charging, solar PV or battery storage, you are right in the middle of a long‑term national priority – not a short‑term trend.
2. Who actually sets the rules? (Qualifying and regulatory bodies)
Before we talk about courses, we need to be clear who does what.
2.1 Government and Ofqual
- The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) leads on the UK’s Net Zero Strategy and wider climate policy.
- Ofqual is the regulator for qualifications in England and Northern Ireland. It runs the public register where you can “find a regulated awarding organisation” and “find a regulated qualification”, so you can check that a qualification and its awarding body are officially recognised.
In Ofqual’s published dataset of recognised awarding organisations, The City and Guilds of London Institute (City & Guilds) appears as a recognised awarding organisation.
That means City & Guilds qualifications – including the EV, PV and EESS courses we deliver at LTS – sit inside the UK’s regulated qualifications framework.
2.2 City & Guilds – the qualifications themselves
City & Guilds has developed a suite of Level 3, CPD‑style renewable installation awards for practising electricians:
- EV charging
- City & Guilds 2921 – Level 3 Award in the Requirements for the Design and Installation of Domestic and Small Commercial EV Charging Installations (2921‑34), plus a related large‑scale EV charging design award (2921‑32).
- Solar PV
- City & Guilds 2922‑34 – Level 3 Award in the Installation and Maintenance of Small Solar Photovoltaic Systems.
- Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS / batteries)
- City & Guilds 2923‑34 – Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Small Electrical Energy Storage Systems.
The handbooks for these qualifications make three key points that matter for you:
- They are supplementary short courses aimed at practising, competent electricians – not entry routes for complete beginners.
- Entry requirements are aligned to the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) – the industry benchmark for competence used by Competent Person Schemes (CPS) and others.
- City & Guilds explicitly links these qualifications to net zero and sustainability, stating that it is committed to reducing its own emissions and supporting qualifications that help organisations understand their environmental footprint.
2.3 ECS Gold Card and industry competence
The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS) and Joint Industry Board (JIB) set the occupational benchmark for electricians working unsupervised:
- ECS states that the industry expects unsupervised electricians to hold the ECS Gold Card, underpinned by an industry Level 3 electrotechnical qualification (usually NVQ/apprenticeship) plus current BS 7671.
A City & Guilds EV/PV/EESS course is not a substitute for that Level 3 core qualification – it builds on it.
2.4 Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS)
The EAS is published through the IET and Electrical Safety First. It sets out the competence requirements that government‑authorised Competent Person Schemes (CPS) must use when they register electrical enterprises and Qualified Supervisors for self‑certification under the Building Regulations
The City & Guilds entry requirements we’ll look at in a moment explicitly reference the EAS qualification tables.
2.5 Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
For solar PV and EESS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the key quality mark.
- MCS describes itself as the UK quality mark for small‑scale renewable technologies like solar PV and battery storage, with two main roles: setting and maintaining standards, and providing consumer protection.
- For solar PV, MIS 3002 sets technical requirements for MCS‑certified contractors, covering design, installation, commissioning and handover of PV systems up to 50 kWp.
- For battery storage, MIS 3012 (the Battery Installation Standard) does the same for EESS up to 50 kW, referencing the IET Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems.
These standards apply mainly to businesses (contractors) rather than individual electricians, but they shape the skills and qualifications the industry expects.
3. Entry requirements: what you actually need before you book
You asked specifically:
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“I think for any renewable course you need either be registered to a CPS or fully qualified gold card holder (please recheck this info).”
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Let’s go to the official City & Guilds documentation and see what it really says in 2024–2025.
3.1 The common pattern
For all three City & Guilds renewables qualifications (EV, PV and EESS), the learner entry requirements are very similar. In summary, the handbooks state that:
- The course is intended for practising electricians.
- Eligibility must be confirmed against specific entry requirements.
- Centres must keep evidence for 3 years that each learner meets those requirements.
Then they list the acceptable qualifications.
3.2 EV charging – City & Guilds 2921‑34 (Domestic & Small Commercial)
The 2921‑34 handbook (updated January 2025) requires learners to hold one of the following.
- City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Installing Electrotechnical Systems and Equipment (Buildings, Structures and the Environment) – 2357
- City & Guilds Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Electrotechnical Services (Electrical Maintenance) – 2357
- City & Guilds Level 3 Electrotechnical Qualification – 5357
- City & Guilds Level 3 Electrotechnical Services Experienced Worker – 2356
- City & Guilds Level 3 Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification – 2346
- City & Guilds Level 3 Electrotechnical in Dwellings Experienced Worker Qualification – 2347
- Other awarding‑organisation equivalents
- Equivalent historical qualifications as listed in the EAS Qualifications Guide
- OR an ECS Gold Card (Installation Electrician, Maintenance Electrician or Domestic Electrician) issued by JIB or SJIB
Plus:
- Qualifications must normally be no more than 5 years old, unless the learner holds the latest BS 7671 wiring regulations qualification.
There is no requirement in the City & Guilds handbook to be registered with a Competent Person Scheme (CPS) to take the EV charging course.
3.3 Solar PV – City & Guilds 2922‑34
The 2922‑34 handbook (February 2025) describes the qualification as a supplementary short course supporting the CPD of competent electricians who meet EAS entry requirements
Entry requirements are, again, that learners must hold one of the same Level 3 electrotechnical qualifications (2357, 5357, 2356, 2346, 2347 or equivalent), or an ECS Gold Card (Installation, Maintenance or Domestic Electrician).
Again, no CPS membership is required by City & Guilds.
3.4 Electrical Energy Storage Systems – City & Guilds 2923‑34
The 2923‑34 handbook uses the same pattern:
- Intended for practising electricians
- Requires a Level 3 electrotechnical NVQ or equivalent or ECS Gold Card, again referencing the EAS qualification tables and allowing other awarding‑organisation equivalents.
However, CPS and MCS schemes use the EAS and MCS standards to set their own membership rules, which usually expect:
- a Level 3 electrotechnical qualification,
- current BS 7671, and
- appropriate renewables training (such as City & Guilds 2921/2922/2923 or equivalent).
In practice, many electricians will:
- Gain Level 3 NVQ and ECS Gold Card.
- Complete City & Guilds renewables short courses.
- Use those qualifications as part of an application to a Competent Person Scheme and, if relevant, MCS certification for their business.
4. What each qualification actually covers
4.1 EV charging installations – City & Guilds 2921
City & Guilds 2921 is split into:
- 2921‑32 – large‑scale EV charging design and quality assurance
Both are aimed at practising electricians, aligned with the IET Code of Practice for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Installation and the latest edition of BS 7671.
In broad terms, learners cover:
- Regulations and documentation – statutory and non‑statutory documents relevant to EV charging, including BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice.
- Types of EV charge points – modes of charging, connector types, smart charging and communication features.
- Design considerations – load assessment, cable selection, earthing and bonding, open‑PEN fault protection, diverted neutral currents, site layout and accessibility.
- Installation, testing and commissioning – inspection, testing and handover specific to EV supply equipment, including documentation and client instructions.
- Prosumer’s installations – using EVs and EESS as part of a prosumer arrangement, including potential for vehicle‑to‑home/grid operation in line with emerging standards.
Assessment typically includes:
- a written/online test, and
- a project or practical assignment, depending on the specific 2921 unit.
4.2 Solar PV installations – City & Guilds 2922‑34
The PV qualification is structured around one online knowledge test and one practical assignment, with 22 guided learning hours and 30 Total Qualification Time, reflecting its CPD nature.
The handbook shows coverage of:
- Key documentation and legislation – including Building Regulations and BS 7671 Section 712.
- PV modules, inverters and balance of system components – characteristics, architectures (strings, optimisers, micro‑inverters).
- Design and installation – array layout, mounting systems, roof structure, shading analysis, DC and AC design, protection, and interface with the grid.
- Testing, commissioning and handover – documentation, performance estimates (aligned with MCS MIS 3002), maintenance and safety.
4.3 Electrical Energy Storage Systems – City & Guilds 2923‑34
The EESS award is closely linked to both PV and EV work, and references the IET Code of Practice for Electrical Energy Storage Systems as permitted material in the assessment.
It covers:
- Key documentation and legislation for EESS and PV.
- Battery technologies and components – lithium‑ion and other chemistries, inverters, BMS, protection devices.
- Design and installation – siting and ventilation, fire safety, AC‑ and DC‑coupled configurations, integration with PV and the wider installation.
- Prosumer operation – self‑consumption, time‑of‑use tariffs, backup supply, and interaction with the grid.
This lines up with MCS MIS 3012, which sets out requirements for MCS‑certified EESS contractors, again referencing the IET Code of Practice.
5. How Competent Person Schemes (CPS) and MCS fit in
5.1 CPS and the Building Regulations
For domestic work in England and Wales, certain electrical work is “notifiable” under the Building Regulations. Instead of applying to Building Control each time, an enterprise can register with a CPS (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT, Stroma) authorised by government.
The government’s Electrotechnical Assessment Specification appendices set the competence criteria CPS operators must use when registering contractors and Qualified Supervisors for domestic electrical work.
Typically, CPS schemes require:
- Level 3 electrotechnical qualification (NVQ or equivalent)
- Current BS 7671
- Inspection and testing competence
- Appropriate insurance and test equipment
For renewables, CPS membership is about self‑certifying compliance with Building Regulations – it is not a precondition in the City & Guilds rules for taking EV/PV/EESS courses.
5.2 MCS for PV and EESS
To offer MCS‑certified PV or battery installations (which many finance and export tariff products require), a business must be certified under MCS standards such as MIS 3002 (solar PV) and MIS 3012 (battery storage).
These standards require that the contractor:
- has competent staff with suitable qualifications and experience,
- follows defined design, installation, commissioning and handover processes, and
- is audited regularly by a certification body.
In practice, City & Guilds 2922 and 2923 are widely used to evidence individual competence for PV and battery systems within an MCS‑certified company.