What is the law on PAT testing?

[Mortartube]

Can anyone perform an electrical PAT test or do you legally have to have a piece of paper to say that you can do it? For instance, can the average man go out, but his PAT testing machine and stickers and then just go ahead?

I am interested in the law rather just opinions.

Thanks

[PhilLew]

As far as I'm aware any 'competent' person can carry out PAT testing. They certainly don�t need to be an electrician.

We have a machine at work and all those who use it had to sit a one day training course provided by the supplier, we didn�t get any formal qualification, just an attendance certificate.

I presume if someone set themselves up as a �PAT tester� and anything went wrong it would be up to the person who had carried out the testing to prove to the HSE that they were �competent�

Hope this helps

[CheekyChops]

It explains here who can do the testing.

[Mortartube]

Thank you, it does. I thought that this was the case, but I had an electrician try to convince me otherwise. I have PAT tested for a company that I freelance for using their machine and needed to clarify things. BTW, I consider myself competent enough to use it, as do others luckily.