PAT Testing Certificate: What It Needs + Free Template

A PAT testing certificate or report records what equipment was inspected or tested and the findings on that date. It is different from a learner’s training certificate, which records their course assessment.

The template below is a suggested reporting format. Adapt it to the work and any applicable legal, licence or contractual requirements.

What is a PAT testing certificate?

A PAT testing certificate is a written record (usually one page or a short multi-page report) confirming that a defined set of appliances was tested on a specific date, by a specific competent person, and what the results were.

It's distinct from:

• Individual appliance labels: the small pass/fail stickers on each tested item
• The asset register: the running list of every appliance and its test history
• The test results data file: the raw downloaded results from the PAT tester

The certificate is the summary document that pulls everything together for one testing session.

Is a PAT testing certificate legally required?

There is no universal statutory PAT certificate format. HSE does not require a general PAT record or label under the Electricity at Work Regulations. Specific housing, licensing, inspection or contractual duties can still require records.

Useful information for a PAT testing report

A complete PAT testing certificate should include all of the following:

Tester identification

• Name of the person who carried out the tests
• Their qualifications
• Company name (if testing as a business)
• Contact details

Premises identification

• Full address of the premises tested
• Specific area within larger premises (where applicable — e.g. "Office wing, ground floor")
• Client name and contact

Date of testing

• The actual date(s) the testing was carried out
• Where testing spans multiple days, the date range

Tester equipment details

• Make and model of PAT tester used
• Serial number
• Date of last calibration of the tester
• Calibration certificate reference number

Identify the instrument and retain calibration, verification and maintenance evidence appropriate to the procedure and any applicable requirements. A generic certificate layout does not by itself establish that the equipment was suitable.

Standards applied

• Reference to the IET Code of Practice (5th edition currently)
• Reference to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
• Any specific industry standards applied (e.g. for construction, healthcare)

Summary of results

• Total number of appliances tested
• Number passed
• Number failed
• Number requiring remedial action

List of tested appliances

Either as part of the certificate or as a separate appended schedule:

• Asset/identifier number
• Description (make, model where known)
• Location within premises
• Class (1 or 2)
• Test result (pass/fail)
• Recommended next test date

Failed item details

For any failed items:

• Why they failed (visual defect, electrical test fail, both)
• What action was taken (removed from service, repaired, replaced)
• Whether retesting is required after remediation

Recommendations

• Suggested next test date for the property as a whole
• Any general observations or recommendations
• Items requiring more frequent testing

Tester signature and date

• Physical or digital signature of the tester
• Date of certificate issue (which may differ from the test date)

Sample PAT testing certificate template

You can download this certificate template here.

What about individual appliance labels?

Each tested appliance also gets a small label or sticker. These should show:

• The pass/fail status (usually colour-coded: green pass, red fail)
• The test date
• The next test date (where appropriate)
• The tester's identifier (name, initials or ID number)
• The asset number (where used)

Individual labels are NOT certificates in themselves — they're a quick visual indicator. The actual record of the test is the certificate plus the asset register.

Common formats for PAT testing certificates

Single-page summary certificate with appended schedule

The most common format. The certificate is a one-page summary with all the high-level details, and the full appliance list is appended as a separate document (often spreadsheet-formatted).

Software-generated comprehensive report

Many PAT testing software packages generate full reports automatically — typically 5-20 pages depending on appliance count. These integrate the certificate, schedule and any failure details into one document.

Digital/electronic certificates

Increasingly common. The certificate is delivered as PDF (often digitally signed) and stored in cloud-based asset management systems. Same content, paperless format.

All three are equally valid provided the required information is present.

How long is a PAT testing certificate valid?

A report records the condition and results at a particular time. A suggested next-test date does not guarantee safety until then, and newly reported damage needs action immediately. Follow the appropriate maintenance schedule and any specific statutory interval.

How long should you keep certificates?

Keep current reports accessible and retain historical records under a documented policy that reflects the relevant law, licence, contract and business need. A civil-claim limitation period does not create a universal PAT-certificate retention period.

Common certificate problems

Missing calibration details

Keep the instrument identification and relevant calibration or verification references available with the job records. Check what the customer, scheme or applicable requirements specify for the report itself.

Vague premises descriptions

"Office building" isn't enough. The certificate should identify exactly which premises (full address) and ideally which area within if larger premises are tested in sections.

Missing tester qualifications

A PAT course can help develop inspection and testing skills. Competence also depends on practical ability, experience, the equipment involved and understanding the results. Successful learners on our classroom course receive a Skills Training Group certificate within one working day. Check the course scope and arrange additional training or specialist assistance for work outside it. See the course details and available locations.

Inadequate failure details

If items failed, the certificate should record what action was taken. "Failed: 3 items" without further detail is insufficient. Specify what failed, why, and what happened to it.

Missing signature

Digital or physical, the certificate needs a tester signature. Unsigned certificates can be questioned.

Who should sign the certificate?

The competent person who carried out the testing — not their manager, employer or anyone else not personally involved. If multiple testers worked on the same job, either:

• One tester signs as the primary responsible person, or
• Multiple testers each sign with the items they personally tested

Don't have a third party sign on behalf of the tester unless they were also involved in the testing.

Templates and software

For occasional in-house testing, the simple template above is fine — fill it in manually after each testing round. For regular professional testing, software solutions (PATGuard, SimplyPats, manufacturer-specific options) automate certificate generation entirely.

The middle ground for most landlords and small businesses: a customised spreadsheet template that pulls together the certificate and appliance schedule. Our record sheet template post has a free downloadable template that pairs with the certificate format above.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as a training certificate?

No. An appliance test report records work on equipment. A learner certificate records successful completion of a course or assessment.

Can I use my own report format?

Usually, provided it accurately records the work and meets any applicable specific requirements. A blank template is not evidence that equipment has passed.

Does a report prove the equipment will remain safe?

No. It records findings at the time. Equipment can be damaged later and needs ongoing care.

Can reports be digital?

Digital records can support the maintenance system. Confirm any particular recipient’s format and signature requirements.

The takeaway

A valid PAT testing certificate isn't complicated — it just needs the tester's identification and qualification, the premises tested, the date of testing, the calibration status of the tester used, the standards applied, the results summary and details of any failures.

For occasional in-house testing, a simple template like the one above does the job. For regular professional testing, software handles the formatting automatically. Either way, the content matters far more than the design — get the required fields right and the document does its job.

Choose work that matches your actual training and practical ability. Check any customer-specific qualification requirement, and refer specialist tasks beyond your competence.