Part P and electrician qualifications explained
Part P is widely misunderstood — including by electricians. Here's what's genuinely notifiable in England, how that differs from Wales, and what scheme registration gets you.
Quick answer
Part P isn't a qualification — it's the building regulation covering domestic electrical safety. In England, notifiable work means new circuits, consumer unit replacements, and work in special locations such as rooms with a bath or shower. Kitchens and outdoor work stopped being notifiable in England in April 2013, though kitchen work still requires notification in Wales. Registering with a competent person scheme lets you self-certify instead of paying building control per job.
Is it notifiable? England vs Wales
| Work | England | Wales |
|---|---|---|
| New circuit | Notifiable | Notifiable |
| Consumer unit replacement | Notifiable | Notifiable |
| Work in a room with bath/shower | Notifiable | Notifiable |
| Adding a socket in a kitchen | Not notifiable | Notifiable |
| Outdoor socket on existing circuit | Not notifiable | Notifiable |
| Replacing a like-for-like socket | Not notifiable | Not notifiable |
Step-by-step
- 1
Get the terminology right first
There is no such thing as a 'Part P qualification', despite how often it's advertised. Part P is a section of the Building Regulations requiring domestic electrical work to be designed and installed so it protects people and property from fire and injury. What people mean by 'getting Part P' is registering with a competent person scheme so you can self-certify notifiable work. Short courses sold as 'Part P qualifications' don't by themselves make you a qualified electrician.
- 2
Learn which work is actually notifiable in England
Since April 2013 the England list is narrower than most people think: installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and additions or alterations to existing circuits in special locations — essentially rooms containing a bath or shower, and locations such as swimming pools and saunas. Kitchens ceased to be special locations in 2013, and outdoor work on an existing circuit is no longer notifiable on its own.
- 3
Remember that Wales did not follow England
This trips up electricians working across the border and content written for one country and read in the other. In Wales, electrical work in a kitchen still requires Part P notification. If you work in both, apply the stricter rule where you are rather than assuming a single UK-wide list. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate building standards frameworks entirely.
- 4
Understand what a competent person scheme buys you
England recognises several self-certification schemes for Part P, including NAPIT, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, OFTEC, and Certsure, which trades as NICEIC and ELECSA. As a member you self-certify notifiable work and the scheme notifies building control on your behalf, issuing the compliance certificate. The alternative — notifying building control yourself for each job and paying their fee — is slower and usually more expensive per job.
- 5
Get the qualifications the schemes actually ask for
Assessment requirements typically include the current wiring regulations qualification (City & Guilds 2382, 18th Edition), inspection and testing (City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent), and evidence of underlying competence such as Level 2 and Level 3 electrical installation diplomas or an equivalent NVQ route. You'll also need public liability insurance, calibrated test equipment, and to pass an initial assessment where an assessor inspects examples of your work.
- 6
Budget for the ongoing cost, not just joining
Scheme membership is an annual fee plus a recurring assessment. Add test instrument calibration, qualification updates when the wiring regulations change, and insurance. It's a genuine running cost of the business — but set it against building control fees on every notifiable job and it's usually the cheaper route for anyone doing domestic work regularly.
- 7
Know what non-compliance actually costs your customer
Worth being able to explain, because it sells the certificate. Unnotified notifiable work can lead to enforcement action and a fine, and it commonly surfaces at the worst moment — during a house sale, when the buyer's solicitor asks for certificates that don't exist. It can also affect home insurance. Customers who understand this stop treating certification as an optional extra.
- 8
Put your registration on your website
Scheme membership is one of the few credentials customers can independently verify, and both NICEIC and NAPIT run public checkers that homeowners are told to use. Display your scheme, your registration number and what it means in plain English. For domestic electrical work this is among the strongest trust signals available to you.
Tips & best practices
- ▸There's no 'Part P qualification' — it's a building regulation, and what you join is a competent person scheme.
- ▸England: kitchens and outdoor work stopped being notifiable in April 2013. Wales still notifies kitchen work.
- ▸Special locations means rooms with a bath or shower, pools and saunas — that's where alterations stay notifiable.
- ▸Schemes want 18th Edition plus inspection and testing, evidence of competence, insurance and an assessment.
- ▸Display your scheme and registration number on your site — homeowners are actively told to check it.
- ▸Verified July 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate separate frameworks.
Common questions
What is Part P of the building regulations?
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Part P is the section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales covering electrical safety in dwellings. It requires domestic electrical work to be designed and installed to protect people and property from fire and injury. It's a regulation, not a qualification — you comply with it, you don't hold it.
What electrical work is notifiable in England?
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Installing a new circuit, replacing a consumer unit, and additions or alterations to existing circuits in special locations such as a room containing a bath or shower. Since April 2013, work in kitchens and outdoor work on existing circuits are no longer notifiable in England on their own.
Is kitchen electrical work notifiable?
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In England, no — kitchens stopped being special locations in April 2013, so adding a socket to an existing kitchen circuit isn't notifiable. In Wales it still is. If you work across the border, apply the rule for the country you're actually working in.
Do I need to join NICEIC to be an electrician?
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No. Scheme registration isn't required to work as an electrician — it's required to self-certify notifiable work. Without it you can still do the work, but you must notify building control yourself before starting and pay their fee. For anyone doing domestic work regularly, scheme membership is normally cheaper and faster.
What qualifications do I need for a competent person scheme?
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Typically the current wiring regulations qualification (18th Edition, City & Guilds 2382), inspection and testing (2391 or equivalent), and evidence of underlying competence such as Level 2 and 3 diplomas or an NVQ. You'll also need public liability insurance, calibrated test equipment, and to pass an initial on-site assessment of your work.