Do I legally need to be in a competent person scheme to do electrical work?

No. There is no legal requirement to be a member of a competent person scheme to carry out electrical work in the UK. However, if you are not in a scheme, you (or the homeowner) must notify Building Control before starting any notifiable electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations. This applies in England and Wales. Notifiable work includes new circuits, consumer unit changes, work in special locations (bathrooms, kitchens), and work in new builds. Building Control notification adds cost (typically 200 to 300 pounds per job) and delays. Most professional electricians join a scheme to avoid this.

What is the difference between NICEIC and NAPIT?

Both are government-authorised competent person scheme providers and allow you to self-certify the same types of electrical work. The main differences are: NICEIC is the older and more widely recognised brand — many homeowners specifically look for NICEIC-registered electricians. NAPIT is generally slightly cheaper in annual fees and some electricians find their assessment process less prescriptive. In terms of what you can legally do, there is no difference — both allow full self-certification under Part P. The choice often comes down to cost, brand recognition, and personal preference.

What qualifications do I need to join a competent person scheme?

The core requirements are: C&G 2382 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations), a practical qualification demonstrating installation competence (NVQ Level 3 in Electrotechnical Services, C&G 2357, C&G 2365, or equivalent), and C&G 2391 (Inspection and Testing) or C&G 2394/2395 (Initial Verification and Periodic Inspection). Most schemes also require evidence of public liability insurance and relevant work experience. Some schemes accept alternative qualifications — check with your chosen provider for their specific entry requirements.

How much does it cost to join NICEIC?

NICEIC fees depend on your business type and the level of registration. For a sole trader Domestic Installer, expect to pay approximately 500 to 700 pounds for the first year (which includes the initial assessment fee) and approximately 400 to 600 pounds per year thereafter. For larger companies with multiple operatives, fees are higher. NICEIC also offers an Approved Contractor scheme for commercial and industrial work, which is more expensive. Fees are reviewed annually — check the NICEIC website for current prices.

How often am I assessed?

All competent person schemes require at least one assessment visit per year. During the assessment, an assessor reviews a sample of your recent work — including the installation, testing, and certification. They check that your work complies with BS 7671 and that your documentation (EICs, EICRs, minor works certificates) is completed correctly. If issues are found, you are given time to correct them. Persistent non-compliance can result in suspension or removal from the scheme. The first assessment is the most thorough; annual assessments are typically shorter.

Can I join a competent person scheme as a sole trader?

Yes. All the main schemes (NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, STROMA) accept sole traders and one-person businesses. The qualification requirements are the same as for larger companies. The fees are typically lower for sole traders than for companies with multiple electricians. You will need public liability insurance and must be able to demonstrate that you carry out notifiable electrical work regularly enough to justify scheme membership.

What happens if I fail the assessment?

If the assessor finds issues with your work, you are given an opportunity to correct them. Minor issues (documentation errors, missing labels) typically result in an action plan with a deadline for correction. More serious issues (unsafe installations, significant code violations) may result in a re-assessment visit at your expense. In extreme cases, persistent failure to meet standards can lead to suspension or removal from the scheme. Most electricians pass their assessments without major issues — the assessors are looking for competent work, not perfection.

Does competent person scheme membership cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Part P of the Building Regulations applies to England and Wales only. Scotland has its own Building Standards, and Northern Ireland has separate Building Regulations. However, the competent person schemes generally operate across the UK, and membership is still valuable in Scotland and Northern Ireland for credibility and marketing purposes. In Scotland, electrical installations in new dwellings must comply with the Building Standards, and scheme membership can simplify the compliance process.

CAREER GUIDE

Competent Person Scheme Guide: Self-Certify Your Electrical Work

Everything you need to know about competent person schemes for electricians. NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, and STROMA — what they mean, what they cost, and which one to choose.

Start 7-day free trial

Free for 7 days · No charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime · Used by 1,000+ UK electricians

12 min readUpdated 2026-05-18Andrew Moore, Founder of Elec-Mate

Written and reviewed by Andrew Moore, founder of Elec-Mate, against BS 7671:2018+A4:2026, IET Guidance Note 3 and the IET On-Site Guide.

ShareX in W

1,000+

UK electricians

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer — DP Electrical

Key Takeaways

1A Competent Person Scheme (CPS) allows you to self-certify your own electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. Without it, you must notify Building Control before starting notifiable work, which costs the homeowner time and money.
2The main electrical CPS providers are NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, and STROMA. All four are authorised by the government and allow you to self-certify the same types of work. The differences are in cost, assessment approach, and additional services.
3To join, you need the C&G 2382 (18th Edition), a practical qualification (NVQ Level 3 or equivalent), and the C&G 2391 (Inspection and Testing) or equivalent. Most schemes also require evidence of relevant work experience.
4Annual costs range from approximately 400 to 900 pounds depending on the scheme and your business type (sole trader vs company). This includes the annual subscription and one assessment visit per year.
5Being a member of a competent person scheme is a powerful marketing tool — homeowners increasingly look for scheme membership as proof of competence and accountability.

01 · Career Guide

What Is a Competent Person Scheme?

A Competent Person Scheme (CPS) is a government-authorised scheme that allows qualified tradespeople to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations — without needing to involve Building Control.

For electricians, this means you can carry out notifiable electrical work (new circuits, consumer unit replacements, work in bathrooms, etc.) and issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate directly to the homeowner, without them having to pay for a separate Building Control inspection.

This is a significant commercial advantage. It saves your customers time and money, makes your quotes more competitive, and positions you as a professional who is accountable for the quality and compliance of their work.

Free download

Get the BS 7671 A4:2026 Cheat Sheet — free

Every key change in the 2026 amendment on one page. AFDDs, TN-C-S protection, new schedule columns, model forms. Pinned on your van dash.

Every regulation change summarised
New model forms (EIC + MEIWC)
Free PDF — no subscription

02 · Career Guide

Part P and Self-Certification

Part P of the Building Regulations (England and Wales) covers electrical safety in dwellings. It requires that certain types of electrical work are either:

With CPS Membership

You self-certify the work. You issue a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate (Part P certificate) directly to the homeowner. The certificate is registered with the local authority through your scheme provider. No Building Control involvement needed.

Without CPS Membership

The homeowner (or you on their behalf) must notify Building Control before starting notifiable work. Building Control will inspect the work and issue a completion certificate. This costs the homeowner 200 to 300 pounds per job and adds delays.

Notifiable work includes: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit (fuse board), any electrical work in a bathroom or shower room, any electrical work in a kitchen within a new build, and any addition or alteration to existing circuits in special locations.

03 · Career Guide

NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, and STROMA

There are four main competent person scheme providers for electrical work in England and Wales:

NICEIC

The oldest and most widely recognised scheme. Offers Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor levels. Strong brand recognition with homeowners. Generally the most expensive option but the name carries significant credibility.

NAPIT

A well-established alternative to NICEIC. Generally slightly lower fees. Covers electrical, plumbing, heating, and ventilation trades. Good support for smaller businesses and sole traders. Growing brand recognition.

ELECSA

Part of the Certsure group (which also includes NICEIC). Offers a more affordable entry point than NICEIC while providing the same self-certification authority. Less well-known to homeowners but fully government-authorised.

STROMA

Originally focused on energy performance certificates, STROMA now offers electrical competent person scheme membership. Competitive pricing. Less brand recognition in the electrical sector but fully authorised for self-certification.

For a detailed side-by-side comparison, see the NICEIC vs NAPIT vs ELECSA comparison guide.

04 · Career Guide

Costs and Fees

Competent person scheme costs include an initial registration fee, an annual subscription, and assessment fees. Here are approximate costs for 2026:

NICEIC Domestic Installer~550-700/year

NAPIT Domestic Installer~400-550/year

ELECSA~400-500/year

STROMA~350-450/year

The first year is typically more expensive because of the initial assessment fee. Ongoing annual costs cover the subscription and one assessment visit per year. Additional assessment visits (if required due to non-compliance) may incur extra charges.

The cost is tax-deductible as a business expense. When you consider that each job where you self-certify saves the homeowner 200 to 300 pounds in Building Control fees (making your quote more competitive), the scheme membership pays for itself within a few jobs.

05 · Career Guide

Assessment Process

The initial assessment involves:

Qualification check — the assessor verifies your qualifications (2382, 2391, NVQ, etc.) and public liability insurance.
Site inspection — the assessor visits one or more of your recent installations to check that the work complies with BS 7671. They look at cable routing, connections, consumer unit installation, earthing, bonding, labelling, and overall workmanship.
Documentation review — the assessor reviews your certificates (EICs, minor works, EICRs) to check they are completed correctly, test results are recorded, and the documentation matches the installation.
Technical discussion — the assessor may ask technical questions about your work, BS 7671 requirements, and your approach to design and testing.

The assessment is not an exam — it is a review of your real work. If you are doing competent work and keeping good records, you will pass. The most common issues flagged are documentation errors (missing test results, incomplete schedules) rather than installation faults.

Try Elec-Mate free for 7 days

16 certificate types, 70+ calculators, RAMS, quoting, invoicing, AI agents, and 46+ training courses — from £5.99/mo.

Start free trial

06 · Career Guide

Which Scheme Should You Choose?

All four schemes give you the same self-certification authority. The choice comes down to:

Brand recognition — NICEIC is the most recognised by homeowners. If marketing to domestic customers is important to you, the NICEIC name on your van and website carries weight.
Cost — NAPIT and ELECSA are generally cheaper than NICEIC. STROMA is often the cheapest. If cost is your primary concern, compare current prices directly.
Commercial work — if you do commercial and industrial work as well as domestic, NICEIC's Approved Contractor scheme is the most recognised in the commercial sector. NAPIT also offers commercial-level registration.
Assessment experience — ask other electricians about their experience with each scheme's assessors. Some electricians prefer NAPIT's assessment approach; others prefer NICEIC. This is subjective but worth considering.

07 · Career Guide

Ongoing Obligations

Once you join a scheme, you have ongoing obligations:

Annual assessment visit — the scheme will inspect your work once per year.
Notification of completed work — you must register each notifiable job through the scheme's online portal within 30 days of completion.
Maintain qualifications — keep your 2382 and other qualifications current.
Maintain insurance — public liability insurance must remain in force.
Pay annual fees — keep your subscription current to maintain your registration.

08 · Career Guide

For Electricians: Professional Certification Made Easy

Your competent person scheme assessment reviews your certificates and documentation. Make sure they are always up to standard.

Professional certificates for your scheme assessment

Elec-Mate's EIC, EICR, and minor works certificate apps produce professional documentation that passes scheme assessments.

Try it free for 7 days

Frequently Asked Questions About Competent Person Schemes

What electricians say

Verified reviews from the UK App Store.

One App for Everything!

Elec-Mate is my go to app for business and electrical work. It's feature rich without feeling cluttered. A true all in one app for quotes, certs, calculations, RAMS, EICRs, and more. I use it every day without fail, and it makes my workflow much smoother since I'm not jumping between apps anymore. The price-to-feature ratio is excellent. Any issues I've had, the developer responds within the hour and usually fixes them the same day. 100% recommend.

Fantastic app for electricians

I've used the app and the web based version for a while now and it's well worth the investment. If you're an apprentice or experienced Spark give it a go, you won't be disappointed.

Absolutely amazing

I've been using Elec-Mate for a while now, and honestly, it's one of the best apps I've ever downloaded. Every aspect of it feels thoughtfully designed, from the clean and intuitive interface to the powerful features that make everything so easy to manage. It's clear that a lot of care and attention went into building this app, and it shows in every detail.

Trusted by electricians across the UK

Real feedback from real sparks

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer

Sole Trader · DP Electrical

“I've won two contracts this month because I could turn quotes around same-day with the AI cost engineer.”

Nathan Perry

Electrician · NP Electrical Services

“The study centre got me through my AM2. Mock exams and flashcards are brilliant.”

Jake Pizey

3rd Year Apprentice · Apprentice

7-Day Free Trial — Cancel Anytime, No Hassle

Professional Certificates for Scheme Assessments

Join 1,000+ UK electricians using Elec-Mate for EICs, EICRs, and minor works certificates. Professional documentation that passes every assessment. 7-day free trial.

“Replaced three separate apps with Elec-Mate. Certs, quotes, and scheduling all in one place.”

Daniel Palmer, DP Electrical

From £5.99/mo after trial — less than a coffee a week

or download the app

7 days free, then from £5.99/moCancel in one tap — no calls, no hassleiOS, Android & WebBS 7671 compliant

Competent Person Scheme Guide: Self-Certify Your Electrical Work

Key Takeaways

What Is a Competent Person Scheme?

Get the BS 7671 A4:2026 Cheat Sheet — free

Part P and Self-Certification

With CPS Membership

Without CPS Membership

NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, and STROMA

NICEIC

NAPIT

ELECSA

STROMA

Costs and Fees

Assessment Process

Try Elec-Mate free for 7 days

Which Scheme Should You Choose?

Ongoing Obligations

For Electricians: Professional Certification Made Easy

Professional certificates for your scheme assessment

Frequently Asked Questions About Competent Person Schemes

Do I legally need to be in a competent person scheme to do electrical work?

What is the difference between NICEIC and NAPIT?

What qualifications do I need to join a competent person scheme?

How much does it cost to join NICEIC?

How often am I assessed?

Can I join a competent person scheme as a sole trader?

What happens if I fail the assessment?

Does competent person scheme membership cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Continue reading

NICEIC vs NAPIT vs ELECSA

C&G 2382 Exam Guide

ECS Card Types

EIC Certificate App

EICR Form App

Inspection and Testing Course

What electricians say

One App for Everything!

Fantastic app for electricians

Absolutely amazing

Trusted by electricians across the UK

Professional Certificates for Scheme Assessments

Cookie Preferences