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Changes to the Competent Persons Scheme

Serious changes have happened in the industry to become an electrician and partake in the Competent Persons Scheme (CPS) that you should be aware of. From 1^st September 2021 onwards, the current method of becoming a Qualified Supervisor will change.

On top of the qualifications you must hold with our previous Intermediate or Professional Package, you will be expected to achieve a Level 3 qualifications in Electrical Installations to be a Domestic Installer or Commercial Inspector. Therefore, from the moment these rules come into play, our normal DEI 2020 courses will not suffice to be eligible for the Competent Persons Scheme.

Therefore, if you want to be an electrical worker that is recognised as a Qualified Supervisor and want to certify your own work in dwellings, you will have to attain an extra Level 3 Electrical Installations course. We have now incorporated this course within our current packages, inevitably extending the course length slightly.

What is the Competent Persons Scheme?

The Competent Persons Scheme was in place to allow any individual or business to self-certify their own work to show their work complies with Part P of the Building Regulations. Thus, for anyone that wants to certify their own work or any others in domestic or commercial buildings, they must register with the Competent Person Scheme.

Therefore, in order to become a Domestic Installer to certify dwellings or a Commercial Installer to do commercial installations and verifications, but not a fully-fledged electrician with a JIB Gold Card Status, you would have to sign up to a body like NAPIT. Here there will be practical assessments and inspections carried out by NAPIT to ensure you competency.

This is done to protect the health and safety of the public and not risk any fires or electric shocks from the electrical installation work you carry out as enforced by Part P of the Building Regulations.

What else is changing?

The Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) is the document that outlines what is required to be eligible for the Competent Person Scheme through a body such as NAPIT. Within this document lies the changes that are making the current process more difficult to be a part of the CPS.

Along with the changes that require an extra Level 3 Electrical Installations course, you will be expected to do a lot more admin work as there will be more record-keeping expected. For all electrical work carried out by yourself or a business, you will need to maintain records of that work which include reports, certificates, drawings, specifications etc. for a minimum of 6 years.

Additionally, businesses who carry out EICR’s will require a professional indemnity insurance worth at least £250,000.

What Options Do I have?

We have revamped both our Intermediate and Professional Package so that you can still be eligible for the Competent Persons Scheme as stated out in the EAS. These courses take longer than they use to be as you are required to do an extra Level 3 Electrical Installations course but this is an industry standard now.

From here, you can decide to carry on with our Four Steps to Success and pursue to be a fully-fledged Electrician and hold the right to hold an ECS Gold Card.

Contact us

If you have any further questions, you can email us here [email protected] or call us on 01992 413503.

Check our Electrical Courses here

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Tolga Aramaz is the Director of Learn Trade Skills (LTS), a family-run training centre specialising in electrical installations. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the electrical industry, Tolga is known for their exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering outstanding results. They provide valuable insights and guidance to electricians, contractors, and businesses, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and safety protocols. Through engaging training programmes and consultancy services, Tolga empowers professionals to excel in their roles, fostering long-term relationships built on professionalism and customer satisfaction.

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Changes to the Competent Persons Scheme