How to Build Your NVQ Level 3 Electrical Portfolio (Without Losing Your Marbles)
- Last reviewed:
- Changes: Complete rewrite expanding practical examples, evidence requirements, unit-by-unit guidance, and photographic evidence standards with real-world scenarios
Table of Contents
So, you’ve done your Level 2, Level 3, 18th Edition and now you’re ready to complete the second-to-last stage: the 2357 NVQ (please note AM2 is still needed after this stage).
You have searched high and wide trying to find examples of what you need and how it should look.
Fear not, we got you covered. Each unit comes with a downloadable PDF that gives you a working example of how it should look and what’s needed in each unit.
Don’t have your Level 2 or 3? We can help with a Fast Track Diploma.
What Is the NVQ?
The NVQ is a practical portfolio build which is in place to help you demonstrate your workplace competence. It can take anything from 6 months to 36 months to complete.
Most training providers use an online file management system such as OneFile, Smart Assessor or VQManager.
We use the OneFile management system.
Why Do I Need to Do the NVQ?
This is the part that links the theory you learnt in college or a training centre (2365-02 and 2365-03) to real work scenarios.
The NVQ is designed to make sure you can work safely and efficiently and to the high professional standards required to hold an ECS JIB Gold Card.
Also, without it you can’t become a fully qualified electrician.
The biggest question the portfolio is there to help answer:
Can you perform electrical work safely and consistently in real working conditions while making sure your work is aligned with national standards?
What’s Involved in the NVQ?
The 2357 NVQ is split into seven essential units. each unit needs to be passed before you can apply for your ECS JIB Gold Card.
Please note, you will have to pass your AM2 before applying for your ECS JIB Gold Card.
The Seven Practical Units to Success
There are 7 Practical Units to complete:
- 311: Health & Safety
- 312: Environment
- 313: Work Planning
- 315: Installing Wiring Systems
- 316: Terminations
- 317: Testing
- 318: Fault Finding
Unit 311 – Health & Safety Unit
This unit must be observed face to face on two separate occasions with a minimum of three months apart.
Before each site assessment you will need to complete a Risk Assessment, Method Statement and a Work Programme.
You will need to be doing a task working at height using access equipment, e.g. stepladders, ladders, platforms, MEWPs, or scaffolding.
Also, you should be wearing the correct PPE as per your Risk Assessment/Method Statement.
You will be asked questions about the task you are doing and H&S questions; your behaviour and conduct will also be observed.
During the assessment, you may also be able to show the assessor product evidence of the work you have installed. Product evidence means supporting proof of completed work, such as before, during and after photos, certificates, test results, installation records, or other documents that show the task has been completed correctly.
Recap — The three essentials:
- Correct PPE selection based on site-specific risk assessment
- Safe isolation procedure demonstrated in stages
- Controlled work areas with appropriate signage
Here is a working example:
Unit 312 – Environmental & Technologies
This unit is a written project, it’s split into two sections. The first section covers the environmental section where you will need to produce a written project about the use of hazardous materials and products in reference to jobs you have worked on:
- Environmental Protection Act
- Hazardous Waste Regulations
- Control of Pollution Act
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations
- Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015
- Environmental Act
- WEEE Regulations
The second part focuses on the technology that you might have used during the install (Please note: you may not have worked with every technology listed — speak to your advisor about your evidence.).
- Solar photovoltaic
- Wind Energy
- Micro Hydro
- Heat Pumps
- Grey Water Recycling
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Biomass Heating
- Solar Thermal Hot Water Heating
- Combined Heat & Power including Micro CHP
A typical example can be found below:
Unit 313 – Overseeing Work
This unit is about providing H&S information, details of the work activity you’re carrying out (e.g. job specification/quotation), how you liaise with other trades on site, and how you ensure the job is completed on time.
- Produce a Work Programme showing liaison with other tradespersons.
- Produce a Risk Assessment and Method Statement.
- Provide information on tools and equipment used.
- Materials collected or delivered to site – use of Delivery Note to check for correct quantities and to check that no materials are damaged.
Parts of this unit can be assessed during the face-to-face site assessment by direct questioning.
Download the Unit 313 Assessment Example.
Please note there is no Unit 314 for the NVQ 2357.
Unit 315 – Planning, Preparing & Installing
This unit is similar to Overseeing Work; in addition, you will need to provide information about how you make sure any equipment installed is safe to use.
Provide evidence of four different types of cables you have installed:
- PVC/PVC cable (T&E)
- SWA cable
- FP200 cable (fire resistance)
- Single insulation cable
- Flexes
- SY cable
- Data cable (e.g. Cat 5e)
Provide evidence of four different types of containment you have installed:
- PVC conduit
- Metal conduit
- PVC trunking
- Metal trunking
- Cable tray
- Ladder systems
- Ducting
- Busbar systems
- Modular wiring systems
Provide evidence of five different types of equipment you have installed:
- Isolators
- Socket outlets
- DBs
- Consumer unit
- Luminaires
- MCBs
- Earth terminals
- Control panels
- Electric motors and control equipment
- Heating systems
- Data sockets
Unit 316 – Terminations & Connections
Provide information/evidence that you have connected four types of equipment (as above).
Provide evidence of the use of 3 types of connections:
- Screwing
- Crimping
- Soldering
- Non-screw compression (Wagos)
Unit 317 – Inspection & Testing
You will need to provide information on how you carried out the Safe Isolation Procedure.
- Complete 2 Electrical Installation Certificates complete with the schedules (use the On-Site Guide to assist you) for 2 jobs you have tested under supervision.
- Complete a Minor Works Certificate for a job where you carried out alterations to a circuit or replaced an accessory.
- Provide a Witness Testimony from your Work Supervisor/Employer that you carried out the testing under supervision.
- Provide information on how you handed over the installation to the customer/client.
Unit 318 – Fault Finding
One of the most important parts that students get wrong is demonstrating/providing information on how you carried out the Safe Isolation Procedure prior to fault finding. This part is essential to show you can work safe!
Other parts covered in this unit:
- Liaise with the customer/client prior to starting the fault finding.
- Provide information on 3 different types of faults you have rectified from this list:
- Loss of supply
- Overload
- Short circuit and earth fault
- Transient voltage (Professional Discussion)
- High resistance joints/loose connection
- Incorrect phase rotation
- Accessory/equipment faults
For the faults above you will need to provide evidence of the tools and test instruments used.
- Provide a Witness Testimony from your Work Supervisor/Employer that you located and corrected the faults.
Provide evidence of documentation you provided after the fault finding.
*Witness testimony is a written statement from a competent person, usually a qualified supervising electrician, confirming they have seen you carry out the work. It should explain what task you completed, where and when it was done, and confirm that you worked safely and competently.
Unit 399 – AM2
The AM2 is not delivered as a normal portfolio unit. It is a separate, externally assessed competence test that you must complete at an approved NET AM2 Centre.
Once you have completed the seven practical units, we will support you with applying to an approved AM2 Centre to sit your AM2 assessment. This is an additional cost.
The AM2 is a practical assessment carried out over approximately two and a half days. It is designed to test your occupational competence and includes key areas such as installation, inspection and testing, fault diagnosis, safe isolation and understanding of electrical working practices.
You can find further information at: www.netservices.org.uk
Once you have passed the AM2, your portfolio can then be completed and signed off by City & Guilds. When you receive your 2357-44 NVQ, you will then be able to apply to ECS for your Gold Card.
Summary of Documentation Required to be Completed
At Elec Training this is what we expect from students:
- 2 Risk Assessments
- 2 Method Statements
- 2 Work Programmes
- 2 Electrical Installation Certificates
- 1 Minor Works Certificate
- 2 Witness Testimonies for the Inspection/Testing and completion of Electrical Installation Certificates
Use of Photographic Evidence
This task was to terminate a TV point using the screwed method.
During
Strip back the outer sheathing, exposing the braided cable, which is to be connected to the clamp on the back of the plate.
After
Completed installation of the terminated TV point, with the plate securely fitted and the cable connection enclosed neatly behind the faceplate.
Struggling to get site experience?
For many learners, the hardest part of the 2357 NVQ is getting access to genuine electrical site work where the evidence can actually be collected.
To complete the NVQ, you need real workplace evidence across the seven practical units. That means you need to be working on suitable electrical tasks, taking before, during and after photos, collecting witness testimony, completing site paperwork, and being observed by an assessor where required.
Elec Training supports learners with this through our electrical paid work placement route. Our recruitment team, works with contractors to help suitable learners access real site opportunities and start building the evidence needed for their NVQ portfolio.
This support is a major part of the Elec Training route. We understand that adult learners and career changers often do not already have electrical contacts, which can make the NVQ feel difficult to start. Our placement process is designed to help our enrolled students bridge that gap by helping learners become more employable, more prepared for site, and better positioned to complete their NVQ evidence.
Learn more about our guaranteed work placement support:
NVQ Support
Still not sure what to do next? We can help!
Enquire Now
By Charanjit Mannu
Director, Elec Training
Based on real training delivery, learner outcomes, and current UK electrical regulations.
- City & Guilds Approved
- 4.8★ Google Reviews
- 1000+ Electricians Trained
Prefer a callback?
- City & Guilds
- 4.8 Trustpilot
- JIB Recognized
- 1,000+ Trained
