Competent Person Schemes Explained: NICEIC, Gas Safe, FENSA, NAPIT

Summary

Competent person schemes (CPS) were introduced by the UK government in 2002 to reduce the burden on both tradespeople and local authority building control departments. When you join a scheme, you can self-certify notifiable work — meaning you confirm it meets Building Regulations and issue a compliance certificate directly to the homeowner, rather than paying for a separate building control inspection. Each scheme covers specific types of work under specific parts of the Building Regulations (Part P for electrical, Part J for combustion appliances, Part L for energy efficiency, Part G for sanitation and hot water, and so on). Membership typically involves an initial assessment of your competence, ongoing periodic inspections of your work, and an annual fee. For gas work specifically, registration with Gas Safe is not optional — it is a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and working on gas appliances without registration is a criminal offence.

Key Facts

• Competent person schemes are authorised by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) under the Building Act 1984
• Registration allows you to self-certify notifiable work instead of submitting a building notice or paying for building control approval
• Gas Safe Register is a legal requirement — all other schemes are voluntary but save you and your customers time and money
• There are over 20 authorised CPS operators covering electrical, gas, glazing, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and other building services
• Registered installers receive periodic inspections (typically every 1-2 years) to verify the quality of their work
• Scheme membership normally includes an insurance-backed warranty for domestic customers, which is a TrustMark requirement
• If you do notifiable work without being in a scheme and without building control sign-off, the homeowner is liable — and you may face enforcement action
• Costs range from roughly £200/year (Gas Safe sole trader renewal) to £800+/year (NICEIC Approved Contractor), depending on the scheme and scope of work

Comparison Table

Notes on costs: Prices are approximate and based on 2025/26 fee schedules. Most schemes charge a higher initial registration/joining fee in year one (covering your first assessment), with lower renewal fees in subsequent years. All figures exclude VAT unless stated. Contact schemes directly for a precise quote — fees vary by business size, number of operatives, and scope of registration.

Detailed Guidance

What is a competent person scheme?

A competent person scheme is a government-authorised programme that allows registered tradespeople to self-certify that certain types of building work comply with the Building Regulations. The legal basis is Section 11A of the Building Act 1984 and Regulation 20 of the Building Regulations 2010, which allow the Secretary of State to authorise schemes whose members can give a certificate confirming compliance.

Without CPS membership, any time you carry out "notifiable" work (work that requires Building Regulations approval), you or your customer must either submit a building notice to the local authority or appoint an approved inspector. This costs the customer additional money (typically £200-£400 for a building control inspection) and adds delays. With CPS membership, you self-certify, notify the scheme, and the scheme notifies building control on your behalf. The homeowner receives a compliance certificate and an insurance-backed warranty.

Schemes are authorised for specific types of work aligned to specific parts of the Building Regulations. You can only self-certify work that falls within the scope of your scheme registration. If you carry out work outside your registered scope, you still need building control sign-off for that work.

The full list of authorised schemes is maintained on GOV.UK and currently includes over 20 scheme operators covering electrical, gas, glazing, plumbing, heating, ventilation, solid fuel, microgeneration, and other building services.

Gas Safe Register — what does it cover?

Gas Safe Register is unique among competent person schemes because registration is a legal requirement, not a voluntary choice. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, it is illegal to carry out gas work unless you are on the Gas Safe Register (or are supervised by someone who is). Penalties include unlimited fines and up to two years in prison.

What you can do with Gas Safe registration:

• Install, service, and repair gas boilers, fires, cookers, and other gas appliances
• Work on gas pipework and flues
• Issue Landlord Gas Safety Records (CP12 certificates)
• The specific appliances you can work on depend on your individual ACS (Accredited Certification Scheme) qualifications — your Gas Safe ID card lists your exact categories

Registration categories include:

• CCN1 (core domestic gas safety) — the baseline for all gas engineers
• CENWAT (central heating wet — boilers and hot water)
• CKR (cookers)
• HTR (gas fires)
• MET (meters)
• LAU (laundry — commercial)
• And many more specialist categories

Costs (2025/26):

• New registration (sole trader, 1 engineer): approximately £370-£480 including VAT (includes joining fee + first year)
• Annual renewal (online): approximately £215 including VAT
• Annual renewal (offline): approximately £240 including VAT
• Additional engineers: extra fee per engineer
• Physical ID card: additional £18.42 including VAT

Assessment: New registrants undergo a 3-month probationary period with mandatory job notifications and potential site inspections. After probation, Gas Safe conducts annual inspections of your work throughout your registration. Failure to meet standards can result in suspension or removal from the register.

How to join: You need valid ACS qualifications (obtained through an accredited assessment centre), appropriate public liability insurance, and must apply via the Gas Safe Register website or by calling their registration team.

NICEIC — what does it cover?

NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is the longest-established and most widely recognised electrical competent person scheme in the UK. It operates two main tiers:

Domestic Installer Scheme:

• Covers all notifiable Part P electrical work in domestic dwellings
• Aimed at electricians who work exclusively or primarily in homes
• Allows self-certification of new circuits, consumer unit replacements, rewires, and electrical work in kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoors
• Lower cost and less onerous assessment than Approved Contractor
• Approximate annual cost: £500-£700 depending on region and assessment requirements

Approved Contractor Scheme:

• Covers all electrical installation, testing, and inspection work across domestic, commercial, and industrial premises
• Required if you work in commercial or industrial settings and want CPS benefits
• Carries stronger brand recognition with commercial clients and main contractors
• Approximate annual cost: £700-£900+

Requirements to join:

• At least one qualified supervisor holding: BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations, currently C&G 2382), inspection and testing qualifications (C&G 2391 or equivalent), and a relevant Level 3 qualification (NVQ/C&G 2357 or equivalent)
• Adequate test equipment (calibrated and in date)
• Public liability insurance
• Pass an initial assessment visit — an NICEIC assessor inspects your paperwork, test results, and a sample of completed work

Assessment: After initial registration, you receive an annual surveillance visit where an assessor reviews your certificates, test results, and may inspect completed work. If issues are found, you are given an improvement plan and may face additional inspections.

Note on ELECSA: ELECSA was a separate electrical CPS operated by the ECA (Electrical Contractors' Association). Existing ELECSA Domestic Installers are being migrated to the NICEIC Domestic Installer Scheme. If you are currently ELECSA registered, you will transition to NICEIC. New applicants should apply directly to NICEIC or NAPIT.

NAPIT — what does it cover?

NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) is the main alternative to NICEIC for electrical competent person scheme registration. It holds the same government authorisation and legal standing — work certified under NAPIT is treated identically to NICEIC-certified work by building control.

Key differences from NICEIC:

• Generally £100-£200 cheaper per year than the equivalent NICEIC scheme
• Growing membership base, particularly among sole traders and smaller firms
• Covers multiple trades under one umbrella — electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and microgeneration
• Less "brand recognition" than NICEIC with some commercial clients, though this gap is narrowing

What you can self-certify (electrical):

• All Part P notifiable electrical work in domestic dwellings
• New circuits, consumer unit replacements, rewires
• Electrical work in special locations (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors)
• NAPIT also offers commercial/industrial scopes

Costs (2025):

• Initial registration: from £605 + VAT (electrical)
• Annual renewal: from £540 + VAT
• Optional extras: TrustMark registration (£125 inc VAT), third-party certification (£84 inc VAT)

Multi-trade registration: If you are a plumber, heating engineer, or ventilation installer as well as an electrician, NAPIT lets you register for multiple competent person scheme scopes under one membership. This can be more cost-effective than joining separate schemes for each trade.

How to join: Apply online or by phone. You will need to provide evidence of qualifications, insurance, and complete an initial assessment. The process is similar to NICEIC — an assessor visits to review your work, paperwork, and test equipment.

FENSA — what does it cover?

FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) is the dominant competent person scheme for window and door installers. It allows you to self-certify that replacement windows and doors meet the energy efficiency requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations.

What you can self-certify:

• Replacement windows (not new openings — those need building control)
• Replacement doors (external)
• Replacement roof windows
• The installation must meet Part L thermal performance requirements (minimum Window Energy Rating or U-value)

What FENSA does NOT cover:

• Creating new window or door openings (requires building control)
• Structural alterations
• Work in listed buildings or conservation areas (requires planning permission)

Costs (2025):

• One-off application fee: £267.40
• Annual registration fee: £172
• Per-job notification fee: £2.05 (ex VAT) per installation
• Average installer doing ~40 jobs/year pays under £506 ex VAT total annually

How it works in practice: After each installation, you log the job on the FENSA portal. FENSA notifies building control on your behalf and issues the homeowner a certificate confirming Part L compliance. This certificate is important for the homeowner — without it, they may have difficulty selling their property.

Why it matters: If you install replacement windows without FENSA (or CERTASS) registration and without building control sign-off, the homeowner has no proof of compliance. Conveyancing solicitors routinely ask for FENSA certificates during property sales. Missing certificates create problems and costs for your customers.

CERTASS — what does it cover?

CERTASS is the main alternative to FENSA for glazing installers. It covers the same scope of work — replacement windows, doors, and roof windows under Part L — and has the same legal standing.

Key differences from FENSA:

• Monthly subscription model: £24.95/month (~£300/year) — simpler pricing
• Often perceived as more affordable for lower-volume installers
• Also offers TrustMark and PAS 2030 certification scopes
• Smaller market share than FENSA but growing

What you can self-certify: Identical scope to FENSA — replacement windows, doors, and roof windows meeting Part L energy efficiency requirements.

HETAS — what does it cover?

HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme) is the UK's official competent person scheme for solid fuel, biomass, and wood-burning appliance installations.

What you can self-certify:

• Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves
• Biomass boilers
• Open fires and fireplaces (where the installation involves a new or modified flue)
• Flue systems and chimneys
• Hearth construction
• Compliance with Part J (combustion appliances and fuel storage) and Part L (conservation of fuel and power)

Costs:

• Initial registration: typically £800-£2,000 (includes assessment fees and may include mandatory training if you do not already hold HETAS qualifications)
• Annual renewal: approximately £500-£800 depending on scope and number of installers
• Contact HETAS directly for current pricing: info@hetas.co.uk or 01onal 684 215255

Requirements: You need HETAS-approved qualifications for the categories of appliance you want to install (dry appliances, wet appliances, flue systems), appropriate insurance, and must pass an initial assessment.

Why it matters: Since October 2010, the installation of solid fuel appliances is notifiable work under the Building Regulations. Without HETAS registration (or building control sign-off), the installation is technically non-compliant. Insurance companies may refuse to pay claims on properties with unregistered stove installations.

OFTEC — what does it cover?

OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association) is the competent person scheme for oil-fired heating systems. Unlike Gas Safe, OFTEC registration is not a legal requirement for oil work — but it is strongly recommended and is required by most manufacturers for warranty purposes.

What you can self-certify:

• Oil boiler installation (pressure jet and vaporising)
• Oil storage tank installation and replacement
• Oil supply pipework
• Commissioning and servicing of oil-fired appliances
• OFTEC also offers solid fuel and renewable heating scopes

Costs (approximate):

• Initial registration (sole trader, 1 technician): approximately £475 (joining fee £215 + first year registration £260), all ex VAT
• Annual renewal: approximately £260 ex VAT (sole trader, 1 technician)
• Additional technicians: approximately £100 each per year
• The joining fee is one-off and is not charged on renewal (provided no break in registration)

How to join: You need relevant OFTEC qualifications (OFT 101 for servicing, OFT 105 for installation, OFT 600 for tanks), appropriate insurance, and apply through the OFTEC website or portal.

APHC — what does it cover?

The APHC (Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors) operates a competent person scheme for plumbing and heating work.

What you can self-certify:

• Unvented hot water systems (Part G)
• Foul water drainage and sanitation (Part H)
• Heating and hot water systems (Part L)
• Water efficiency (Part G)
• Oil-fired combustion appliances (Part J) — if qualified

Costs (2025):

• Initial membership: £510 including VAT
• Per-job notification: from £2.95 + VAT per online notification
• This is competitive compared to paying for building control sign-off on each job

BESCA — what does it cover?

BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment) runs a competent person scheme covering a broad range of building services including plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

What you can self-certify:

• Heating and hot water systems (Part L)
• Mechanical ventilation and air conditioning (Part F and Part L)
• Plumbing and sanitation (Part G)
• Combustion appliances (Part J)

BESCA is particularly popular with larger firms and those working across multiple building services disciplines. Contact BESCA directly for current membership fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be in a competent person scheme?

For gas work, yes — Gas Safe registration is a legal requirement. For all other trades, CPS membership is voluntary but highly recommended. Without it, every notifiable job requires a separate building control application (costing your customer £200-£400 per job and adding delays). Most professional tradespeople consider CPS membership a basic cost of doing business.

Can I join more than one scheme?

Yes. Many tradespeople hold multiple registrations — for example, Gas Safe plus OFTEC (if you install both gas and oil boilers), or NICEIC plus NAPIT plumbing (if you do electrical and plumbing work). Some scheme operators like NAPIT offer multi-trade registration under one membership, which can save money.

What happens if I do notifiable work without being in a scheme?

If you carry out notifiable work without CPS membership and without building control sign-off, the work is technically non-compliant. The homeowner cannot prove compliance, which causes problems when selling the property. They can apply retrospectively for a regularisation certificate from building control, but this involves an inspection, a fee (often £300-£500+), and possible remedial work if the installation does not meet standards. You could also face enforcement action from your local authority.

Is NICEIC better than NAPIT?

Both hold the same government authorisation and your self-certification carries identical legal weight regardless of which scheme you are registered with. NICEIC has stronger brand recognition, particularly with commercial clients, main contractors, and housing associations. NAPIT is typically cheaper and many sole traders and small firms find it excellent value. Choose based on your customer base and budget — there is no technical or legal difference in the certification you issue.

What qualifications do I need to join a CPS?

This varies by scheme and trade. For electrical schemes (NICEIC/NAPIT), you typically need: a Level 3 electrical qualification (NVQ or C&G 2357 equivalent), BS 7671 18th Edition (C&G 2382), and inspection and testing (C&G 2391 or equivalent). For Gas Safe, you need valid ACS qualifications. For glazing (FENSA/CERTASS), there are no specific qualifications but you must demonstrate competence through assessment. For HETAS, you need HETAS-approved solid fuel qualifications. For OFTEC, you need relevant OFT qualifications.

Regulations & Standards

• Building Act 1984, Section 11A — empowers the Secretary of State to authorise self-certification schemes

• Building Regulations 2010, Regulation 20 — allows competent person schemes to self-certify compliance

• Approved Document Part P — electrical safety in dwellings (England and Wales)

• Approved Document Part J — combustion appliances and fuel storage systems

• Approved Document Part L — conservation of fuel and power (covers glazing, heating efficiency)

• Approved Document Part G — sanitation, hot water safety, and water efficiency

• Approved Document Part F — ventilation

• Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 — makes Gas Safe registration a legal requirement for gas work

• BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations, 18th Edition) — the standard for electrical installation work

• BS 5440 — flues and ventilation for gas appliances

• BS EN 12831 — heating system design

• OFTEC Technical Standards OFS T100/T200 — oil-fired appliance installation standards

• GOV.UK — Competent person schemes

• GOV.UK — Current schemes and how schemes are authorised

• GOV.UK — Building regulations approval: Use a competent person scheme

• Gas Safe Register — Registration fees

• Gas Safe Register — Apply for registration

• Registered Gas Engineer — 2025/26 fees

• Registered Gas Engineer — 2026/27 fees

• NICEIC — Domestic Installer Scheme

• NICEIC — Approved Contractor Scheme

• NICEIC — CPS Fee Sheet (April 2025)

• NAPIT — Competent Person Scheme

• NAPIT — Electrical membership application

• FENSA — Installer benefits

• FENSA — How much it costs to join

• FENSA — Scheme fees (January 2025)

• CERTASS — Competent Person Scheme

• HETAS — Installer Scheme

• HETAS — Price list

• OFTEC — Registration requirements

• OFTEC — Price calculator

• APHC — Competent Person Scheme

• BESCA — Competent Person Scheme

• Planning Portal — Competent person self-certification schemes

• IET — Part P certification schemes

• part p notifications — Part P electrical notification requirements

• building control — When building control sign-off is needed

• landlord certificates — Landlord certificate requirements