18th Edition Course Portsmouth

18th Edition Wiring Regulations in Portsmouth — BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 | City & Guilds 2382-26

Portsmouth sits at the heart of one of the most significant defence and regeneration programmes on the South Coast, and electricians across the city are well placed to benefit. If you’re based in Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham, Havant, Waterlooville, or anywhere across South Hampshire, MJ Electrical Training delivers the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification entirely online — with our Portsmouth exam centre located at Kingston Crescent, North End, PO2 8FA. Whether you’re working on the naval base regeneration programme, fitting out one of the city’s major coastal and housing schemes, or running a domestic installation business across the area, the City & Guilds 2382-26 is the qualification that underpins your work.

Why the 18th Edition Matters in Portsmouth

The current UK standard for electrical installation work is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, and the qualification that demonstrates competency against it is the City & Guilds 2382-26. Amendment 4 was published in April 2026 and is the version examined in all current sittings. If your certificate carries the older 2382-22 qualification number, your knowledge of BS 7671 is now out of date.

For electricians working across Portsmouth’s defence, construction and coastal infrastructure sectors, current certification underpins membership of NICEIC and NAPIT competent person schemes, and is the baseline expectation of principal contractors on major commercial, industrial and MOD-related projects across the city.

See full course details, exam options and pricing on our national 18th Edition course page.

Portsmouth’s Construction and Defence Sector — What’s Driving Demand

Portsmouth’s economy is built around its naval base — the largest of its kind in Western Europe — and a substantial pipeline of infrastructure investment is now underway across the city.

At HM Naval Base Portsmouth, a Building Investment Programme worth an estimated £40–60 million over six years is regenerating five operationally key buildings within the base, including the Grade-listed Sail Loft, Cochrane Building and The Wardroom, alongside the C/D Lock Office and 3-188 Store. Work is being delivered in phases, with survey and design work running through to late 2026 ahead of design-and-build contract awards. Separately, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation has been progressing plans for major redevelopment of personnel accommodation across the base, covering new and refurbished living quarters, heritage building refurbishment, and supporting site infrastructure — all generating sustained M&E demand for contractors with current site clearance and qualifications.

Away from the naval base, Portsmouth City Council is delivering the £180 million Southsea Coastal Scheme — the UK’s largest local authority-led coastal defence initiative — alongside a major city centre regeneration scheme expected to deliver more than 900 homes in its early phases, with a wider masterplan of up to 2,300 homes. The Hilsea Lido redevelopment is set to reopen in 2026 as a year-round leisure destination with a new sauna and café facilities, while a new leisure centre featuring a 25-metre pool, learner pool, gym and relocated GP surgery is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2026. At the Historic Dockyard, Boathouse 6 is being transformed into the new Royal Marines Museum, due to open in summer 2026. The University of Portsmouth’s ongoing Estates Masterplan adds a further source of commercial fit-out and refurbishment work across the city centre.

For electricians working across any of these projects — defence, coastal infrastructure, leisure or education — a current 18th Edition certificate registered against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 is the expected baseline, underpinning NICEIC and NAPIT scheme membership and the site access requirements common across MOD and major contractor sites.

Exam Centres Serving Portsmouth

Portsmouth — Kingston Crescent, North End, PO2 8FA
MJ Electrical Training’s Portsmouth exam centre is located at Kingston Crescent in North End, with weekly sittings available. For candidates based in Portsmouth, Gosport, or the surrounding areas, this is the natural first choice, with no need to travel out of the city. North End is well served by local bus routes connecting to Portsmouth & Southsea and Fratton stations, and on-street parking is available near the venue. Full address, parking details and joining instructions are confirmed on booking.

Southampton — Eastgate Street, SO14 3HB
Southampton is approximately 20 miles north-west of Portsmouth, typically a 30–40 minute drive via the M27, or around 1 hour by direct train connecting Portsmouth & Southsea and Southampton Central. This is a strong alternative for candidates based towards Fareham or the western side of the Portsmouth area, with Southampton’s city centre venue easily reached by rail.

Guildford — High Street, GU1 3BJ
Guildford is around 35 miles north-east of Portsmouth, accessible via the A3, with a typical journey time of around 50–60 minutes by road, and direct rail connections also available. This option suits candidates working on contracts further into Surrey or the Hampshire/Surrey border, including Petersfield, Haslemere and the surrounding area.

Full venue addresses, parking details and joining instructions are provided on booking confirmation for all centre-based options. The home-based, webcam-invigilated exam is also available weekly for candidates who prefer not to travel at all.

Who Books From the Portsmouth Area?

The typical candidate booking from Portsmouth and South Hampshire spans several groups:

• Site electricians and industrial electricians working on the naval base regeneration programme and associated defence infrastructure projects, where site access requirements and a current 18th Edition certificate are standard
• Domestic and commercial installers running sole-trader or small-business operations across Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham and the surrounding towns, working towards or maintaining NICEIC or NAPIT competent person scheme registration
• Maintenance electricians working across the city’s expanding leisure, education and coastal infrastructure projects, including Hilsea Lido, the new leisure centre, and the University of Portsmouth estate
• Electricians updating from the 17th Edition or the old 2382-22 certificate, looking to align with the current 2382-26 standard against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026
• Apprentices approaching completion who need the 18th Edition alongside their NVQ Level 3 to complete their qualification pathway

The online, self-paced format suits this audience well. Most candidates are working full-time on site or running their own businesses, and the flexibility of a local exam venue, weekly alternatives in Southampton or Guildford, and a home-based webcam option means the final step fits around a busy working week.

How to Enrol

The course is delivered entirely online through MJ Electrical Training’s learning platform. Study is self-paced across an estimated 30–40 hours, with immediate access from enrolment. Everything is included in the single price of £288.00 Inc VAT — course access and the City & Guilds 2382-26 examination, with no additional charges.

When you’re ready to sit, choose the Portsmouth exam centre at Kingston Crescent, a centre-based sitting at Southampton or Guildford, or the home-based webcam-invigilated exam — available weekly with no travel required. Results are typically issued on the same day.

You will need a copy of BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 — the new orange book — for use in the open-book exam. Full details of how to obtain it are available from the IET.

Book Now — 18th Edition Wiring Regulations Course

Other Qualifications Worth Considering

While you’re updating your 18th Edition, it’s worth checking whether any of the following are also due:

• City & Guilds 2391-52 — Inspection & Testing — available at MJ Electrical Training’s centre-based venues in Manchester and West London
• City & Guilds 2383-10 — Part P Domestic Building Regulations — online, available UK-wide
• SHEA Power, ECS Card and CSCS Card — available through our sister company MJ Training Solutions, delivered weekly online via MS Teams for electrical and construction professionals across Hampshire and the UK

Frequently Asked Questions — Portsmouth and South Hampshire

Is there an exam centre in Portsmouth itself?
Yes. MJ Electrical Training operates an exam centre at Kingston Crescent, North End, PO2 8FA, with weekly sittings available. If you’d rather not travel at all, the home-based webcam-invigilated exam is also available weekly — both options are included in the standard £288.00 Inc VAT price.

Does working on the naval base regeneration programme require a specific version of the 18th Edition?
All UK electrical installation and maintenance work is governed by BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, and the current qualification demonstrating competency against it is the City & Guilds 2382-26. Amendment 4 came into force in April 2026. With the Building Investment Programme now underway across HM Naval Base Portsmouth and further defence infrastructure projects in the pipeline, current certification is essential for site access and contractor compliance. Electricians holding the older 2382-22 will need to update before their next scheme renewal or contract submission.

If Portsmouth doesn’t suit me, what are my other options?
Southampton is the closest alternative centre at around 20 miles, with a direct rail link from Portsmouth & Southsea. Guildford is also available weekly for candidates further north or working towards the Surrey border. The home-based exam remains the most flexible option if none of the centres suit your schedule.

Start Today

MJ Electrical Training is a City & Guilds Approved Centre delivering the 18th Edition Wiring Regulations qualification entirely online, with an exam venue in Portsmouth and further options in Southampton and Guildford. The current qualification is the 2382-26 against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, updated to reflect Amendment 4 published in April 2026. Full course details, exam dates and pricing are on our national course page.

Enrol Now — £288.00 Inc VAT, Course and Exam Included

MJ Electrical Training — City & Guilds Approved Centre | Online Courses | Portsmouth & UK-Wide

Need your ECS Card, CSCS Card or SHEA Power Card? Visit MJ Training Solutions — weekly online training via MS Teams for construction and electrical professionals across Hampshire and the UK.