Competent person scheme
A government-authorised scheme whose registered members can certify that their own work meets the building regulations. It's part of the system in England and Wales, and Wales treats more electrical work as notifiable; Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own. For notifiable electrical work under Part P, the two main lawful routes are an electrician registered with a competent person scheme, who certifies and notifies it, or a householder who tells local authority building control before starting, and England also has a registered third-party certifier route. Each scheme assesses its own members, so no course, lesson or glossary page can register anyone.
Using Competent person scheme in context
Reviewed
A distinction worth remembering
The current teaser names the interfaces between sources, loads, controls and protection. The Low-Carbon Electrics part of the electrical course goes further on charge points, heat pumps and the supply, and the electrical foundations are what it builds on.
Questions to take further
- How can I revise Competent person scheme beyond the definition?
- Explain what Competent person scheme describes, compare it with a related term and use it in a topic question. State any assumptions and what evidence you would need before applying the idea to real work.
Sources
- HSE: electrical safety questions — Isolation, competence and precautions before electrical work.
- IET: current BS 7671 edition and updates — BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 and the main subject areas updated by Amendment 4.
- IET: automatic disconnection of supply for island mode prosumer installations — Prosumer installations, island mode, earthing, system referencing and limited fault current from inverters.
- legislation.gov.uk: Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 — Which charge points are covered, smart functionality, default charging hours, safety and where the rules extend.
- NIE Networks: generation connections — Northern Ireland's G98/NI and G99/NI connection routes.
- Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee — Who the Smart Export Guarantee covers in Great Britain and how rates are set.
- GOV.UK: domestic battery energy storage systems — A 2020 government-published review of the safety risks of home batteries.
- legislation.gov.uk: Building Regulations 2010, regulation 12 — In England, the electrical work in a home that has to be notified to building control (a new circuit, a replacement consumer unit, or work on existing circuits in a special location), and what counts as a special location.
- GOV.UK: domestic electrical safety guidance — England guidance on domestic electrical safety; other nations require their own checks.
Where Competent person scheme fits in the learning path
The Installation section covers these units:
- Wiring Systems & Enclosures
- Cable Selection & Circuit Design
- Earthing, Bonding & Consumer Units
Curriculum mapping: C&G 2365 Units 203/204/305.
See this section in the full curriculum
This section is on the Plus path. Lesson availability depends on content review and your learning path.
Read, practise, return
1. Read it in context
- Smart, safe and low-carbon homesInstallation
2. Try recalling, then explore practice
Use the memory prompt below to connect the vocabulary.
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3. Return to the meaning
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Recall a related term
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Domestic electrical work that must be notified under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. Wales covers more kinds of work than England; Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems. It includes a new circuit, a replacement consumer unit and some work in bathrooms. There are two main lawful routes: an electrician registered with a competent-person scheme certifies and notifies it, or the householder tells local authority building control before starting and pays for it to be inspected. In England only, an installer who is not scheme-registered can also book a registered third-party certifier before work starts, to inspect and certify the job.
Notifiable work
Read the Notifiable work entryCompare related terms
Open a meaning to compare its role with Competent person scheme, or follow its full entry.
Notifiable work
Domestic electrical work that must be notified under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. Wales covers more kinds of work than England; Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own systems. It includes a new circuit, a replacement consumer unit and some work in bathrooms. There are two main lawful routes: an electrician registered with a competent-person scheme certifies and notifies it, or the householder tells local authority building control before starting and pays for it to be inspected. In England only, an installer who is not scheme-registered can also book a registered third-party certifier before work starts, to inspect and certify the job.
Read the Notifiable work entryElectrical Installation Certificate — EIC
The certificate for electrical work that goes beyond minor works. That means a new installation, an addition or alteration with a new circuit, or a replacement consumer unit or distribution board. It records the design, construction, inspection and testing, it's only valid with its schedules attached, and the original goes to the person who ordered the work. It's a record of that job, not proof that anyone is qualified or registered.
Read the Electrical Installation Certificate entryMinor Works Certificate — Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate
The form for small electrical work that doesn't add a new circuit, such as an extra socket on an existing circuit or a repair. A new circuit or a replacement consumer unit needs an Electrical Installation Certificate instead. The work still gets inspected and tested, and the form records that for the person who ordered it. It says nothing about the installer's own qualifications.
Read the Minor Works Certificate entryA definition is a start. Using it in a real question is where it sticks.