2394 and 2395 replaced the old 2391-10 back in 2012. It followed the same format but entailed more exams, 1 multiguess and 1 each for initial and periodic, but i guess you all know that anyway.
C&G are/were losing business to EAL. EAL have always been open book, so they aligned with them. Both awarding bodies call it the 2391 now, and there are 3 options, 2391-50, initial verification, 2391-51 Periodic I&T, 2391-52 I&T that covers both. All are now open book. Irrespective of which awarding body you choose and whatever they choose to call it, the qualification has a QAN number and it is the same, so C&G and EAL are of equal value.
C&G requires 1 practical assessment, 1 visual inspection from photos, 1 online multiguess exam. 1 written exam.
EAL is the same but they dont have the written exam, and to be fair C&G's exam offers no meaningful value.
Some may say it is now easier. At face value it would appear so, but believe me it is far from easy. The short written exam, which is now marked in centre by the assessor against strict marking criteria has a pass mark of 100% and it involves giving accurate codings and quoting regs.
As is usual with C&G i dont know what the pass mark is for the online multiguess but i have seen a fail at 76%, and some the questions are complicated. There is a sample test for each on C&G website, but i have found this to be nowhere realistic compared to the real thing, it is far more difficult than the 2394/5 multiguess.
It is in no way a watered down qualification, it is more realistic in that you can find out what you cant remember in preference to doing it all from memory. I passed the old 2391, 2394 and 2395 the hard way. I have tought I&T for 7 years now and in that time i have seen some top class sparkies fail open and closed book exams. My opinion is, not being able to pass an exam does not make a bad spark, it merely means you cant pass an exam.
Cheers.....................H
