Updated: added text and link to front section of the Minimun Technical Competences document.
Overview
You can join a ‘competent person scheme’ to self-certify certain types of building work if you work in the building trade as an installer. This is instead of getting building regulations approval.
Current schemes
Current competent person schemes are listed alphabetically in the table below. Contact the relevant scheme for details about joining.
You can also check the types of work you can self-certify under each scheme - there’s more information about this under the table.
Scheme full name
Short name
Contact number
Air Tightness Testing and Measurement Association
ATTMA
020 8253 4514
Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (Certification) Limited
APHC
0121 7115030
Benchmark Certification Limited
Benchmark
0238 0517069
BM Trada Certification Limited
BM Trada
01494 569700
BRE Global Limited
BRE
01923 664100
British Board of Agrément
BBA
01923 665386
British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing
BINDT
01604 603124
British Standards Institution
BSI
01442 278607
Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment Limited
BESCA
0800 652 5533
Capita Gas Registration and Ancillary Services Limited
Gas Safe Register (GSR)*
0800 408 5500
Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency Limited
CIGA
01525 853 300
Certass Limited
Certass
0845 094 8025
Certsure LLP trading as ELECSA or NICEIC
Certsure
0845 634 9043 or 01582 531000
Fensa Limited
Fensa
020 7645 3700
HETAS Limited
HETAS
0845 634 5626
NAPIT Registration Limited
NAPIT
0845 543 0330
National Federation of Roofing Contractors Limited
CompetentRoofer
0207 448 3189
Network VEKA Limited
ASSURE
01282 473170
Oil Firing Technical Association Limited
OFTEC
0845 6585080
Stroma Certification Limited
Stroma
0845 621 1111
*The GSR is not technically a competent person scheme, but in practice its installers have the same responsibilities for complying with building regulations.
Types of building work
Air pressure testing of buildings
The authorised schemes are the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) and Air Tightness testing and Measurement Association (ATTMA).
Cavity and solid wall insulation in an existing building
Type of insulation
Scheme(s)
Cavity walls in an existing building
Certsure, CIGA, Benchmark, NAPIT, Stroma
Internal walls of a building
BBA, Benchmark, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
External walls of a building (not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings)
BBA, Benchmark, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Both external and internal walls of a building (‘hybrid insulation’ - not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings)
BBA, Benchmark, Certsure, NAPIT,
Combustion appliances
Type of appliance
Scheme(s)
Gas
Gas Safe Register
Oil (including liquid biofuels)
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Solid fuel (including biomass)
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT,
Electrical installations
Type of installation
Schemes
In dwellings - installation of fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations
Benchmark, BSI, BESCA, Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
In dwellings - fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations as part of other work being carried out by the registered person
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Buildings other than dwellings - installation of lighting or electrical heating systems
Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Heating and hot water systems
Type of system
Schemes
Connected to a heat-producing gas appliance
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Capita, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Connected to an oil-fired combustion appliance
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Connected to a solid fuel appliance
APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Connected to an electric heat source
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC, Stroma
Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems
Type of building
Schemes
Dwellings (not including work on systems shared with other buildings
BESCA, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Other buildings (not involving work on other parts of a building occupied separately)
BESCA, Certsure, NAPIT, Stroma
Plumbing and water supply systems
Type of system
Schemes
Wholesome and softened wholesome water supply
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT
Non-wholesome water supply to a flushing toilet (not involving work on shared or underground drainage)
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, Stroma
Toilets, sinks, washbasins, fixed baths, showers or bathrooms in dwellings (not involving work on shared or underground drainage)
APHC, Benchmark, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, Stroma
Replacement windows, doors, roof windows or rooflights
Type of building
Schemes
Existing dwellings
Fensa, BM Trada, Benchmark, BSI, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT, Network VEKA, Stroma
Existing buildings other than dwellings (not including replacement of load-bearing structural glass, glazed curtain walling or revolving doors)
BM Trada, CERTASS, Certsure, Stroma, Fensa
Replacement of roof coverings on pitched and flat roofs
This includes any necessary connected work (but not solar panel installation). The authorised schemes are:
NAPIT
CompetentRoofer
Microgeneration and renewable technologies
The authorised schemes are:
APHC
Benchmark
BSI
BESCA
BRE
Certsure
HETAS
NAPIT
OFTEC
Stroma
How schemes are authorised
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is in charge of authorising competent person schemes.
To make sure that the standards are consistent, there are rules that scheme operators must follow and conditions they must meet.
Read more about how schemes are authorised.
DCLG periodically invites applications for competent person schemes.
The most recent invitation resulted in 2 new schemes being authorised and 1 scheme having their scope extended on 3 June 2013.
Minimum technical competence (MTC) requirements for competent person schemes
In order to be registered with a competent person scheme, installers need to demonstrate that they meet the relevant minimum technical competence requirements, copies of which can be found at the links below. To be authorised as competent to self certify some types of work it may be necessary to meet the requirements of several of the minimum technical competences.
Most of the minimum technical competences are also used to assess the competence of Green Deal installers and, where relevant, installers registered with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme. These are referred to as common minimum technical competencies.
The front section to the Minimum Technical Competences covers the minimum requirements that are not specific to a type of work. This document is supported with the annexes that set out the common minimun technical competence requirements for different types of work.
Common minimum technical competences
Download ‘Common Minimum Technical Competences’ (PDF, 3.76MB) annexes.
This document contains the following minimum technical competence requirements:
annex 2a - common process for hw, cw and ‘wet’ heating systems (domestic)
annex 2b - common processes for hw, cw and ‘wet’ heating systems (non-domestic)
annex 2c - common processes (compressed gas welded pipework)
annex 2d - common processes (manual arc welded pipework)
annex 4a - oil appliance installation (domestic)
annex 4b - oil appliance installation (non-domestic)
annex 4c - oil storage and tank systems
annex 5a - solid fuel (domestic)
annex 5b - solid fuel (non-domestic)
annex 5c - biomass (domestic)
annex 5d - biomass (non-domestic)
annex 6 - backflow prevention
annex 7a - cold water systems (domestic)
annex 7b - cold water systems (non-domestic)
annex 8 - rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems
annex 9a - hot water systems (domestic)
annex 9b - unvented hot water storage systems
annex 9c - hot water systems (non-domestic)
annex 9d - solar thermal hot water
annex 10a - ‘wet’ heating systems (domestic)
annex 10b - underfloor heating
annex 10c - ‘wet’ central heating systems (non-domestic)
annex 10d - warm air heating (domestic)
annex 10e - warm air heating (non-domestic)
annex 11 - heat pump systems
annex 12 - micro combined heat and power systems
annex 13a - energy efficiency (domestic)
Insulation minimum technical competences
See the common minimum technical competencies for insulation:
CMTC annex CWI 1 - determine the suitability of the building for cavity wall Insulation
CMTC annex CWI 2 - install cavity wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 1 - determine the suitability of the building for external wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 2 - install external wall insulation
CMTC annex EWI 3 - apply surface finishes to external wall insulation
CMTC annex IWI 1 - determine the suitability of a building for internal wall insulation work
CMTC annex INS2 - install insulation to framed sections of buildings (install internal wall insulation)
See the electrical minimum technical competencies.
Download the ‘fenestration minimum technical competencies for installers’ (PDF, 414 KB)).
Download the ‘fenestration minimum technical competencies for surveyors’ (PDF, 448 KB).
The roofing MTC is in the process of being finalised.
For insulation MTC routes to competence, please substitute “registered with a building regulations competent person scheme” in place of “approved as a Green Deal installer for this type of work”.