AM2


FICA


NET and the AM2 assessment (Scottish FICA)

 

Background

For more than 25 years, electrical installation apprentices have been required to demonstrate their occupational competence via the independent assessment called the AM2 (FICA in Scotland), a formal unit of the electrotechnical apprenticeship. AM2 is a robust, timed practical assessment in five sections, requiring candidates to perform a set of common tasks and procedures that a full scope electrical operative might face when working in commercial or industrial premises as well as dwellings. It assesses candidates on installation, inspection & testing and fault-finding; their work must comply with the current British Standard (BS7671: 2008) and be in line with relevant Health & Safety legislation.


The purpose of the AM2 is to ensure all qualified electricians achieve a single standard that has been agreed by the employers in the industry as meeting their needs from qualified personnel. The content, structure and marking of the assessment is designed to evidence that a candidate has gained all the relevant safety critical competencies during their training process. Assessment centres are not accessible for training purposes and assessors are not involved in the training or work experience of candidates. Accordingly, the AM2 provides a reliable and trusted guarantee of safe, high quality workmanship for the electrotechnical industry and is highly valued by employers, who regard it as evidence of competence for an electrician.


While integral to the completion of an apprenticeship since 1985, the AM2 was not a unit of the equivalent NVQ Level 3 qualification, primarily because NVQs were structured to include the work-based assessment of candidates. With the overhaul of the qualifications structure in 2010 under the Qualifications and Credit Framework, an independent unit has been added to the revised qualification to deliver the AM2 Assessment of Occupational Competence to all operatives seeking to attain the status of an electrician via the new NVQ 3 Diploma. This aligns the UK with Scotland, where the FICA assessment is included in the structure of both apprenticeship and Level 3 SNVQ qualifications.


As a result of this development, an AM2 is compulsory not just for apprentices, but for any adult trainee or upskilling worker in the industry who seeks to gain qualified status; raising overall safety and skill levels and ensuring that candidates from various routes have the skills employers need.


As the independent charity set up by the industry to oversee the assessment in the UK, NET delivers, manages and assures the quality of the AM2 and FICA assessments. The AM2 assessment was extensively revised in 2010 to reflect current industry standards and best practice, following an independent consultation process with employers and other industry parties.

 

Our objectives

As a registered charity, NET's role is to enable the electrotechnical industry to maintain safe, high level skills and to safeguard and administer the Assessment of Occupational Competence on the industry's behalf.

These objectives are achieved in the following ways:

 

  • By working closely with employers and other industry bodies to ensure the assessment remains fit for purpose and by carefully monitoring the assessment in the industry environment and reviewing or revising as appropriate

  • By working closely with NET’s centre network to facilitate effective nationwide provision and to maintain the quality assurance and correct operation of all AOC centres

  • By implementing effective policies and procedures across our operations to ensure equal, fair assessments for all candidates

  • By contributing to relevant industry projects and developments and co-operating with other industry organisations to progress the standards of the electrotechnical industry

  • By supporting initiatives which positively promote careers, best practice and skills achievement in the industry

 

NET is governed by a Board of industry representatives chaired by Mr Bob Harris and supported by the organisation’s Chief Executive, Mr Iain Macdonald (see NET Profiles)

Safeguarding the independence of the AOC

The independence of the Assessment of Occupational Competence is fundamental to the integrity and status of the assessment within the electrotechnical industry. NET licenses a network of 41 AM2 centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and 3 FICA centres in Scotland.

Assessment centres are contractually bound to maintain this independence by:

 

  • Having an AOC facility which is physically separate from the training areas in establishments where electrical installation is taught

  • Strictly controlling access to the AOC centre premises, permitting entry only to those needing to be present for AM2 assessment or operational purposes, i.e. candidates in session (following identity verification procedures), delivery and maintenance personnel and AOC examiners and administration/management. Entry by others only on prior permission from NET

  • Employing trained AOC assessors to invigilate and mark the assessments, who are not involved in any way in the training and/or work based assessment of candidates

  • Operating on a public access basis i.e. a training organisation cannot have an AOC facility for the purpose of delivering the AOC only to its own candidates only