This 3-month programme is non-credit-bearing and non-accredited, delivered by ECT’s affiliated institute, EIT, and therefore your certificate of completion will be awarded by EIT. This professional certificate is distinct from ECT’s undergraduate and postgraduate degree programme offerings.
This professional development course is designed for engineers and technicians who need to understand the different types of protection, maintenance of safety equipment, and requirements for working with hazardous areas.
This course provides a comprehensive technical approach to hazardous areas. It offers detailed explanations of the principles involved, the techniques used, the management structures, and the requirements to comply with the harmonized international standards that are now in place. It also explains the subject of explosion protection applied to electrical equipment in such areas. Where potentially flammable atmospheres are encountered in industrial processes, area classification is mandatory as part of a risk assessment for the management of health and safety. These issues are examined by providing you with the opportunity to apply this process and understand the importance and extent of the cooperation of the disciplines involved. Requirements of inspection and maintenance are discussed to show the importance of their effectiveness once the correct installation has been adequately achieved, and to enable management to form a structured and effective regime to ensure safety. While this course is aimed at those who work in technical roles, supervisors and managers are also encouraged to take it, as we outline management responsibility to complement and accommodate the needs of your staff.
The course is composed of 12 modules, covering topics such as the responsibilities of hazardous area owners and equipment suppliers, how apparatus is made safe and suitable for use in hazardous areas, and understanding the requirements for the maintenance of equipment and inspection of hazardous areas.
To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars. Detailed summaries/notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance. In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes. If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.
Please note: This 3-month programme is non-credit-bearing and non-accredited, delivered by ECT’s affiliated institute, EIT, and therefore your certificate of completion will be awarded by EIT.
You will be required to pay your tuition fee upfront before the programme start date.
For a limited time, a promotional fee of £599 applies to new applications submitted between 1 July 2026 and 30 November 2026. The standard tuition fee is £933.
Payment can be made by credit card (Visa and Mastercard only). Upfront payments must be received prior to the programme’s start date.
Please note that if the course does not proceed, you will be issued with a full refund.
The promotional fee cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. We reserve the right to amend, extend or withdraw this promotion after the advertised closing date.
Our courses are delivered by experienced engineers and technical experts from around the world. Many have tackled real-world engineering challenges and bring practical, applied knowledge directly into the classroom.
We draw from a global pool of instructors and lecturers across our organisation. Explore our full team of expert educators on the Instructors & Lecturers page here.
Please note: Not all lecturers and instructors listed on this page will teach every course. The team teaching your course will be confirmed as part of your course enrolment.
You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This program has a 65% attendance requirement in the live webinars in order to graduate from the program. If you are unable to attend the live webinars, you have the option of watching the recording of completed webinars and sending a summary of what you have learnt from the webinar to the Learning Support officer. The summaries go towards your attendance requirement for the program.
This program is run online on an intensive part-time basis and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.
We understand that sometimes work commitments and personal circumstances can get in the way of your studies, so if at any point you feel that you are struggling with the pace of the course or finding a particular module challenging, you are encouraged to contact your designated Learning Support Officer for assistance.
Registrations are open for our upcoming intakes. Please ensure you book your place at least one week before the start date of the program.
If the course is not currently scheduled, please contact us.
