Required certification · United Kingdom
NICEIC
Electrical contractor certification from Certsure LLP, including a Part P competent person scheme for domestic work
Market position
NICEIC is a trading name of Certsure LLP and runs certification schemes for electrical contractors, including the Approved Contractor and Domestic Installer schemes, plus fire alarm, MCS renewables, hazardous areas and rented sector schemes. Certsure is on the government's list of authorised competent person schemes for electrical work in dwellings, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC. NICEIC says over 40,000 businesses are certified with it.
United Kingdom-specific note
Competent person schemes let installers self-certify certain building work instead of getting building regulations approval, and NICEIC says its Domestic Installer scheme helps contractors comply with Part P. To join, NICEIC asks for a Level 3 electrical installation qualification or equivalent, at least two years' experience responsible for electrical work, and public liability insurance of at least £2 million.
Pros
- + Authorised competent person scheme for electrical work in dwellings
- + Published fees for its main schemes, with interest-free monthly payments
- + Schemes for domestic, commercial, fire alarm, MCS and hazardous-area work
- + Direct debit renewals cost less
Cons
- − Fees recur every year, plus £430 for each extra assessment
- − Approved Contractor costs £1,285 ex VAT in the first year
- − Needs a Level 3 qualification, two years' experience and £2 million public liability cover
- − Fees for the MCS, fire and combined schemes sit in separate scheme documents
Typical United Kingdom pricing
Ex VAT (inc VAT): Domestic Installer: application £95 (£114) plus first-year certification £600 (£720), renewal £595 (£714) or £575 (£690) by direct debit. Approved Contractor: application £95 plus first-year certification £1,190 (£1,428), renewal £615 (£738) or £595 (£714) by direct debit. Extra assessments £430 (£516)
Why this matters for United Kingdom trades
Gas Safe Register is the register approved by HSE: a business must be on it to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical work in dwellings, NICEIC (Certsure) is one of several authorised competent person schemes, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC, that let installers self-certify instead of getting building regulations approval, and OFTEC is one of six schemes authorised for oil appliances. The payroll tools listed here are on HMRC’s list of recognised payroll software, while CIS returns may need an add-on or a separate product; insurers such as Hiscox and AXA note that employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.
UK trades vendor selection is shaped by the Gas Safe Register for gas work, competent person schemes such as NICEIC and OFTEC that let installers self-certify building work, payroll duties (HMRC RTI reporting, workplace pension auto enrolment and, in construction, CIS returns), VAT, and lead services such as Checkatrade, MyBuilder and TrustATrader.
Frequently asked
Is NICEIC a good fit for United Kingdom trades?
NICEIC is a trading name of Certsure LLP and runs certification schemes for electrical contractors, including the Approved Contractor and Domestic Installer schemes, plus fire alarm, MCS renewables, hazardous areas and rented sector schemes. Certsure is on the government's list of authorised competent person schemes for electrical work in dwellings, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC. NICEIC says over 40,000 businesses are certified with it. Competent person schemes let installers self-certify certain building work instead of getting building regulations approval, and NICEIC says its Domestic Installer scheme helps contractors comply with Part P. To join, NICEIC asks for a Level 3 electrical installation qualification or equivalent, at least two years' experience responsible for electrical work, and public liability insurance of at least £2 million.
What does NICEIC cost in United Kingdom?
Ex VAT (inc VAT): Domestic Installer: application £95 (£114) plus first-year certification £600 (£720), renewal £595 (£714) or £575 (£690) by direct debit. Approved Contractor: application £95 plus first-year certification £1,190 (£1,428), renewal £615 (£738) or £595 (£714) by direct debit. Extra assessments £430 (£516). Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current United Kingdom pricing on the vendor's site before committing.