How to Check an Electrician's Qualifications

Competent-person schemes

In England and Wales, many types of electrical work in homes are notifiable under the building regulations. A firm that is registered with a competent-person scheme can do that work and notify it through the scheme, instead of you applying to building control first. GOV.UK lists the schemes and explains that you can check a business on the scheme's register.

Ask for the scheme name and the membership or registration number. Open that scheme's register and search it yourself. A photocopy of a certificate, or a badge on a website, is not the same check. More than one scheme exists. There is not a single mandatory brand of electrician.

Inspection and testing

An EICR has to be carried out by a person who is competent to inspect and test. GOV.UK describes that person as qualified and competent for the inspection. Scheme membership is a common way to demonstrate that, and it is worth checking, but the question to ask is who will inspect, what their qualification is, and how you can confirm it. Do not treat a general builder's quote as an inspection.

A practical check before you appoint anyone

• The legal name of the business, matching the register and the invoice.
• Which parts of the job are included, and who notifies building control if notification is required.
• That the address they think they are attending is yours.
• Insurance, and a written price for a stated scope.

This site can pass your request to electricians. It does not check a membership number for you, and it does not carry out electrical work. HSE and Electrical Safety First both direct householders towards competent people for electrical work rather than attempting repairs themselves.

For an inspection, start at the EICR page. For other work, use the matching service page, such as rewiring or a consumer unit replacement.