How to fill in an EIC: a step-by-step guide for electricians
To fill in an EIC, record the client, property and supply details, complete the schedule of test results for every circuit, then sign the design, construction, and inspection and testing declarations; one person who did all three can complete all three and sign once. This guide takes each section in order, from the electrician’s side.
Last updated 15 October 2026. Written by the CertSync team and checked against the standards.
The short answer
Filling in an EIC means working through four main sections in order: record the client, property and supply details; complete the design declaration (often the same person as construction on smaller jobs); record every circuit's test results in the schedule; then complete the three declarations — design, construction, and inspection and testing — before signing and issuing. Where one person carried out all three roles, they can complete all three declarations in solo mode and sign once.
How to fill in an EIC
This is the practical sequence for completing the certificate once the work is done — not the process of quoting or commissioning a job. See "How to fill in an EICR" for the periodic inspection equivalent.
- Record client, property and installation descriptionEnter the client's name and address, the property address if different, and a clear description of the installation or alteration you are certifying — enough detail that the certificate identifies the scope of work without ambiguity.
- Measure and record the supply characteristicsRecord the supply earthing arrangement, number of phases, supply voltage, and your measured prospective fault current and earth fault loop impedance at the origin — these confirm the supply conditions the installation design was based on. The earthing picker follows the BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 model form, which prints TN-C-S (PME) and TN-C-S (PNB) as separate options alongside TN-S, TN-C, TT and IT, so record the variant the supply actually uses rather than the unqualified form.
- Complete the design declarationThe design declaration records that the installation was designed to the current BS 7671 edition; enter the edition reference, your name, company and qualifications. On most small domestic jobs, the person who designed and built the installation completes both this section and the construction declaration.
- Complete the construction declarationThe construction declaration confirms the work was built to the design and to BS 7671. Enter the details of the person responsible for the construction phase. Where different people designed and built the installation, each signs for their own role. Where one person did both, solo mode lets them sign once for all three declarations.
- Record test results circuit by circuit in the scheduleFor each circuit, enter the live test results as you take them: continuity of protective conductors, insulation resistance readings, polarity, earth fault loop impedance, and RCD operating times where a device is fitted. Record them from your instruments before leaving site rather than from memory at the end of the day.
- Complete the inspection and testing declarationThe inspection and testing declaration confirms the installation was inspected and tested to BS 7671 and meets the standard. Enter the details of the person responsible for this phase — often the same as construction, or a separate inspector on larger sites or where different parties are involved.
- Review, sign and issueCheck the circuit schedule for missing or out-of-range entries before signing — once the EIC is locked on signature it becomes a fixed record and corrections require a new certificate. Issue a copy to the client and retain the original for your records.
Design, construction, and inspection — three roles, sometimes one person
The EIC carries three separate declarations because design, construction, and inspection and testing are three distinct responsibilities under BS 7671. On small domestic jobs, one electrician often carries out all three roles, and in CertSync they complete all three declarations in solo mode and sign once. A supervisor or admin starts in solo mode by default. On larger or more complex installations, different people may be responsible for different stages, and each signs for their own role.
Getting the split right matters because it records who is accountable for what, not just that the job was signed off by somebody. The declaration fields on the certificate are laid out to make this explicit.
A note on BS 7671:2018+A4:2026
The current edition of BS 7671 is BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, published 15 April 2026. The previous edition, A3:2024, is withdrawn on 15 October 2026, and an EIC dated on or after 15 October 2026 references A4:2026. CertSync certificate forms reference the current edition by default.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between an EIC and an EICR?
- An EIC certifies new electrical work — a new installation or a significant alteration — at the point it is completed. An EICR is a periodic condition report on an installation already in service, used to check it remains safe. They are not interchangeable: an EIC records what was built; an EICR records what was found.
- Do I need to complete the design section even if I did both the design and the build?
- The design declaration is still part of the certificate. Where you did the design, the build and the inspection and testing yourself, you can complete all three declarations in solo mode and sign once. Where someone else did one of the parts, they sign their own declaration.
- What insulation resistance readings do I need to record on an EIC?
- The BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 schedule of test results records insulation resistance in two columns for each circuit: live to live, and live to earth, at the test voltage the schedule states. Record the results as you measure them, not from memory at the end of the day.
- What if one circuit cannot be fully tested?
- Record the limitation against the relevant circuit — note what could not be tested and why — rather than leaving the field blank. A certificate that is honest about what was and was not checked is more useful to a future inspector than one with silent gaps.
- When does an EIC need to reference BS 7671:2018+A4:2026?
- From 15 October 2026, only the A4:2026 edition is current and an EIC dated on or after 15 October 2026 references it. An EIC dated between 15 April and 15 October 2026 may cite A3:2024 or A4:2026; note clearly which edition the installation was assessed against.
- Can I fill in an EIC without dedicated software?
- Yes — paper pads and document templates work, but you carry all the validation logic yourself and re-enter client and supply details from scratch on each job. Dedicated software pre-populates known client and site details, validates test values as you enter them, and produces a locked PDF on sign-off. The steps above are the same either way.
Disclaimer
This guide is general information, not professional advice, and does not replace professional judgement, training, scheme-body guidance or the current edition of BS 7671. CertSync does not verify the qualifications of the people using it. The contractor named on a certificate is responsible for what it certifies.
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