Quick answer
The 18th Edition is BS 7671:2018, the current edition of the UK wiring regulations. When people talk about an "18th Edition certificate", they mean one of two things:
- An electrician's qualification in the 18th Edition, usually City & Guilds 2382. It shows the electrician knows the current regulations.
- A certificate for an installation, such as an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), Minor Works Certificate or EICR, completed to the 18th Edition standard.
The 18th Edition qualification (City & Guilds 2382)
The 2382 qualification covers the content of BS 7671. Electricians take it, or an update, when a new edition or amendment is published. It is important, but on its own it isn't an inspection and testing qualification. Carrying out EICRs calls for a Level 3 inspection and testing qualification such as City & Guilds 2391-51 or 2391-52, and from October 2026 inspectors must personally meet that requirement, plus two years' experience and ongoing CPD. See the 2026 changes.
Certificates issued under the 18th Edition
| Certificate | When it is issued |
|---|---|
| Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) | New installations, new circuits, rewires and consumer unit replacements |
| Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate | Small additions or alterations that don't add a new circuit, such as an extra socket on an existing circuit |
| Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) | Periodic inspection of an existing installation. See EICR testing |
All three are completed to BS 7671. If someone asks for an "18th Edition certificate" for a property, they usually mean proof that the electrics meet the current standard. For an existing property, that is a satisfactory EICR.
Amendments to the 18th Edition
BS 7671:2018 has been updated by a series of amendments covering things like RCD protection, surge protection, arc fault detection and solar and battery systems. From 15 October 2026, Amendment 4 is the current version. An EICR is carried out against the version current on the day of the inspection, but a new amendment doesn't cancel existing reports.
Do I need an 18th Edition certificate to let a property?
Landlords need a satisfactory EICR, carried out to the current edition of BS 7671, at least every five years. A new-build or fully rewired property will have an EIC, which can be relied on until it is five years old. See landlord EICR.