NICEIC and NAPIT are the two largest competent-person schemes for electricians in England and Wales. Both are authorised by the government to run Part P self-certification under the Building Regulations, both are recognised by TrustMark, and both assess members annually against BS 7671. NICEIC is operated by Certsure LLP (which also runs the ELECSA brand) and is the older, better-known name with homeowners and commercial clients; NAPIT is a trade association and scheme operator that covers electrical alongside other building services trades. STROMA and BSI also operate authorised electrical schemes. There is no legal difference in what a registered electrician can do; the choice comes down to the work you do, the registration level you need and how each scheme's assessment and support suits you.
- NICEIC, NAPIT, STROMA and BSI are all government-authorised for Part P; none is legally superior.
- NICEIC Approved Contractor covers commercial and industrial work; Domestic Installer covers dwellings only.
- Assessment is annual and always includes a review of your certificates and a visit to recent jobs.
- Assessors check certificates for completeness, correct form, real test results and correct coding.
- Costs are an annual registration plus a per-job notification charge; check current figures with the schemes.
What is a competent-person scheme?
A competent-person scheme is a government-authorised body that assesses tradespeople as competent to self-certify that their work complies with the Building Regulations; for electrical work in England and Wales, that means Part P. A registered electrician notifies notifiable jobs to the scheme, which issues the compliance certificate and informs the local authority. Without registration, notifiable work goes through building control, with a fee and an inspection. See Part P notification explained.
Registration is not a licence to practise; there is no legal licensing of electricians in England and Wales. It lets you self-certify Part P work, lists you on the Registered Competent Person Electrical register, and gives customers and main contractors a third-party check on your competence.
Which schemes are there?
| Scheme | Operator | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NICEIC | Certsure LLP (owned by the Electrical Safety Council and the ECA) | Largest and best-known; Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor registrations; also runs the ELECSA brand, which merged into Certsure |
| NAPIT | NAPIT Registration Ltd, part of the NAPIT Group | Electrical plus plumbing, heating, ventilation, renewables and other trades under one registration; strong with sole traders and multi-trade firms |
| STROMA | Stroma Certification | Electrical scheme alongside energy assessment and other building certification; smaller and often chosen for price or speed |
| BSI | British Standards Institution | Kitemark-branded electrical installer scheme; smaller in the domestic market, recognised name in commercial |
ELECSA was a separate scheme that became part of Certsure; its members were brought under the NICEIC umbrella and new registrations go to NICEIC.
How do NICEIC and NAPIT compare?
| NICEIC | NAPIT | |
|---|---|---|
| Part P authorised | Yes | Yes |
| TrustMark recognised | Yes | Yes |
| Registration levels | Domestic Installer; Approved Contractor | Domestic (Part P) registration; full-scope registration for commercial and industrial |
| Other trades | Electrical focus (plus some related schemes) | Electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, renewables, EV, and more |
| Brand recognition with customers | Highest in the sector | Good, growing; strong TrustMark link |
| Assessment | Annual, office and site | Annual, office and site |
| Technical helpline and publications | Yes | Yes |
| Certificate stationery and software | Own certificates and online certification | Own certificates and online certification; third-party software accepted |
| Cost | Annual registration fee plus per-notification charge; varies by registration level | Annual registration fee plus per-notification charge; generally positioned as the more economical option |
Both schemes accept certificates produced by third-party software as long as the forms follow the BS 7671 model in Appendix 6. Neither obliges you to use its own pads or online system. Both charge an annual registration fee (varying by level and size of business) plus a small per-notification charge, with an application and assessment fee on entry; the schemes publish current figures and they change annually, so check the schemes' own pages.
Where NICEIC tends to suit
Contractors doing commercial and industrial work where a client or main contractor specifies "NICEIC Approved Contractor" in the tender, and firms that want the strongest consumer brand on the van.
Where NAPIT tends to suit
Sole traders and small domestic firms who want a scheme used to dealing with one-person businesses, and multi-trade companies who can register electrical, heating, ventilation and renewables under one roof.
Beware of forum anecdote on this. Assessment experience depends far more on the individual assessor and on how well prepared you are than on which logo is on the letterhead.
What is the difference between Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor?
NICEIC's two main electrical registrations are aimed at different businesses.
Domestic Installer (DI) is the Part P registration. It covers electrical work in dwellings and their outbuildings and gardens, and lets you self-certify notifiable domestic work. Requirements centre on the current BS 7671 qualification (City & Guilds 2382 or equivalent), an inspection and testing qualification (2391 or equivalent) and demonstrated competence on site.
Approved Contractor (AC) covers commercial, industrial and domestic work. The business nominates a Qualified Supervisor holding a Level 3 electrical qualification (or equivalent experience) plus the BS 7671 and inspection and testing qualifications, who takes responsibility for the technical standard of all the firm's work. It is what larger clients, housing associations and main contractors usually ask for.
NAPIT, STROMA and BSI are similar in effect, with a domestic Part P registration and a wider registration for commercial and industrial work. Most sole traders start at domestic level and move up once they have a qualified supervisor and commercial work to show an assessor.
What does the assessment process involve?
Every scheme assesses on entry and then annually; the shape is the same.
Before the visit
You submit qualifications, proof of public liability insurance at the level the scheme requires, instrument calibration certificates and details of recent jobs. The scheme allocates an assessor and a date.
At the office
The assessor checks:
- Qualifications of the Qualified Supervisor or principal duty holder.
- Insurance certificate and expiry.
- Test instruments: calibration certificate in date and a check on a known reference (many assessors ask you to test the calibration checkbox in front of them).
- Reference library: the current BS 7671 (A4:2026 from 15 October 2026, when A2:2022 is withdrawn; see Amendment 4: what changes), the On-Site Guide and Guidance Note 3.
- Certificates: a sample of EICs, Minor Works Certificates and EICRs you have issued since the last visit, checked in detail (see below).
- Notification records matching the certificates, and any complaints.
On site
The assessor visits one or more recent jobs, usually chosen from your certificates, and inspects the work against BS 7671: the consumer unit or distribution board, earthing and bonding (Chapter 54), RCD provision (Regulations 411.3.3 and 411.3.4), cable installation and labelling, with spot tests to compare against the values on your certificate. A Zs you recorded as 0.35 Ω measuring 1.2 Ω on the day means you either did not test or wrote it down wrongly.
Outcome
Non-conformances must be closed out within a set period, sometimes with a re-visit. Persistent or serious failings lead to suspension or removal from the register.
What do assessors check on certificates?
This is where most assessment problems occur, and it is entirely within your control.
| Check | What the assessor wants to see |
|---|---|
| Correct form for the work | EIC for new circuits and consumer unit changes, Minor Works Certificate for single-circuit alterations, EICR for periodic inspection; never a Minor Works Certificate for a board change |
| BS 7671 edition | The edition stated matches the date and the work |
| Client and installation details | Complete, including the extent of the work and any limitations |
| Supply characteristics | Earthing system (TN-C-S, TN-S, TT), Ze, prospective fault current, nominal voltage recorded, not left blank |
| Earthing and bonding | Main earthing conductor and main protective bonding sizes and confirmed present; not "N/A" in a dwelling with gas and water |
| Schedule of inspections | Attached to every EIC and EICR, every item ticked, N/A or LIM with a reason |
| Schedule of test results | Every circuit with a measured value in every applicable column: R1+R2 (or r1, rn, r2 for rings), insulation resistance, polarity, Zs, RCD time |
| RCD results | Recorded wherever an RCD protects the circuit, at IΔn; a blank RCD column on a socket circuit is a typical non-conformance |
| Maximum Zs comparison | Recorded Zs is within the maximum for the device, with the 80% rule of thumb or temperature correction applied |
| EICR observations | Each observation with a location, a description, a code (C1, C2, C3 or FI) and a regulation reference; overall assessment consistent with the codes (any C1, C2 or FI is unsatisfactory) |
| Signatures and dates | Signed by the right person at the right level (Qualified Supervisor where required), dated, with the next inspection recommendation |
| Consistency with notification | The job notified matches the certificate: address, date, description |
Two habits fix most of it: never issue a certificate with an empty box that should have a value, and keep every certificate in one place with the job record and notification reference so you can produce a sample for the assessor in a minute. For more on coding, see EICR codes explained.
How Certio helps
Certio produces the EICR, EIC, Minor Works certificate and PAT records on the BS 7671 model forms and turns them into branded PDFs. Photograph the consumer unit and the circuit schedule drafts itself; point the phone camera at a Megger MFT-X1 and the reading goes straight into the schedule of test results, or dictate it while your hands stay on the probes. Suggested observation wording with the regulation reference is there for you to check and confirm. The judgement stays yours; the typing goes. Starter is free for 7 days, then £5 a month.