Part P Building Regulations: What Electricians Need to Know (2026)

Part P is a section of the Building Regulations for England and Wales that covers electrical safety in dwellings. Introduced in January 2005 and significantly amended in 2013, it requires that electrical installation work in homes is designed, installed, inspected and tested to meet BS 7671 (the Wiring Regulations / 18th Edition).

Part P applies to houses, flats, maisonettes, and their associated gardens, outbuildings, and shared access areas. Its purpose is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and fires caused by faulty electrical installations in homes. Before Part P, there was no requirement to notify building control about domestic electrical work, which meant substandard installations could go completely undetected.

Part P changed this by making certain types of electrical work notifiable — meaning they must either be carried out by a registered competent person or inspected by building control. For electricians, understanding Part P is essential because it directly affects how you carry out and certify domestic work.

When people search for a "Part P course", what they actually need are the qualifications that allow them to self-certify work under Part P. This means becoming a registered member of a competent person scheme (such as NICEIC or NAPIT), which requires holding the correct City & Guilds qualifications.

The qualifications you need to self-certify under Part P are:

• ✓18th Edition Wiring Regulations (City & Guilds 2382) — understanding of BS 7671
• ✓Inspection & Testing (City & Guilds 2391) — ability to inspect, test, and certify installations
• ✓Level 2 and/or Level 3 Diplomas (City & Guilds 2365) OR equivalent practical experience — installation competence
• ✓Registration with a competent person scheme (NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA)

Any company advertising a "Part P course" or "Part P certificate" as a standalone product is misleading you. There is no shortcut. The only route to self-certifying under Part P is through proper qualifications and scheme registration.

You may have heard of the "domestic installer" route — short courses that previously allowed people to carry out limited domestic electrical work and self-certify under Part P. These courses were typically just a few days long and covered basic domestic installation skills.

The domestic installer route no longer exists as a standalone pathway. Since September 2021, the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) has been updated, and all competent person schemes now require the full set of electrical qualifications. Short "certificates of competence" are no longer accepted for scheme registration.

This change was widely supported by the electrical industry. The old domestic installer route produced electricians with limited training who were legally allowed to self-certify work — this led to quality concerns. The new requirements ensure that everyone self-certifying under Part P has a comprehensive understanding of electrical installation, design, inspection, and testing.

Part P distinguishes between notifiable and non-notifiable work. Understanding this distinction is critical for every electrician working in domestic properties — and for homeowners employing electricians.

Notifiable Work (MUST Be Certified)

The following types of electrical work are notifiable under Part P and must either be carried out by a registered competent person or notified to building control:

• ✓Installation of a new circuit from the consumer unit
• ✓Consumer unit (fuse board) replacement or relocation
• ✓Electrical work in kitchens, including new circuits and additional socket outlets
• ✓Electrical work in bathrooms and shower rooms
• ✓Electrical work outdoors, including garden lighting, pond pumps, and outbuilding supplies
• ✓Electrical work in swimming pools, saunas, and hot tub installations
• ✓Electric vehicle charging point installation
• ✓Any work in special locations as defined in BS 7671

Non-Notifiable Work

The following types of work are generally non-notifiable, provided they are not in a special location such as a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor area:

• ✓Replacing accessories such as socket outlets, switches, and light fittings on existing circuits
• ✓Replacing a damaged cable on an existing circuit
• ✓Adding fused spurs to an existing circuit (not in a kitchen or bathroom)
• ✓Adding lighting points to an existing circuit (not in a kitchen or bathroom)
• ✓Installing or upgrading main or supplementary bonding

To self-certify your own domestic electrical work under Part P, you must be registered with a competent person scheme. There are two main routes to getting the qualifications you need for registration.

Route 1: Full Qualification Route (Career Changers & New Entrants)

If you are new to the electrical trade or changing careers, you need to complete the full diploma pathway:

• ✓Level 2 Diploma in Electrical Installations (City & Guilds 2365)
• ✓Level 3 Diploma in Electrical Installations (City & Guilds 2365)
• ✓18th Edition Wiring Regulations (City & Guilds 2382)
• ✓Inspection & Testing (City & Guilds 2391)
• ✓NVQ Level 3 in Electrical Installation (City & Guilds 2357) — requires workplace evidence
• ✓AM2 practical assessment
• ✓Register with NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA

This route typically takes 18 to 24 months through an intensive training centre, or 3 to 4 years via an apprenticeship. It is the most comprehensive route and produces electricians with the deepest understanding of electrical installation.

Related Course

Level 2 & 3 Package

The Level 2 & 3 Package is the fastest route for career changers — covers both diplomas in one programme.

View Course

Route 2: Experienced Worker Route (5+ Years in the Trade)

If you already have 5 or more years of practical experience in electrical installation but lack formal qualifications, the experienced worker assessment (EWA) route is faster:

• ✓18th Edition Wiring Regulations (City & Guilds 2382)
• ✓Inspection & Testing (City & Guilds 2391)
• ✓Experienced Worker Assessment (EWA) — portfolio of evidence plus practical assessment
• ✓Register with NICEIC, NAPIT, or ELECSA

This route can be completed in 3 to 6 months. The 18th Edition and 2391 qualifications can both be completed at Total Skills in Nottingham, and the EWA is arranged through your chosen competent person scheme.

Related Course

18th Edition (2382)

The 18th Edition is mandatory for both routes — it covers BS 7671, the standard that Part P references.

View Course

Related Course

Inspection & Testing (2391)

Inspection & Testing (2391) gives you the ability to inspect, test, and issue certificates for domestic work.

View Course

The most practical way to comply with Part P is to join a competent person scheme. Members can self-certify their own notifiable domestic work without involving building control. This saves time and money for both the electrician and the customer.

The Main Schemes

• ✓NICEIC — the largest and most widely recognised scheme, managed by Certsure. Offers Domestic Installer and Approved Contractor tiers.
• ✓NAPIT — the second largest scheme, particularly popular with domestic installers. Known for a supportive assessment process.
• ✓ELECSA — part of the Certsure group (same parent as NICEIC). Smaller but well-regarded.
• ✓STROMA — a newer entrant to the electrical competent person scheme market.

Costs and Registration

Annual registration fees typically range from 400 to 800 pounds per year depending on the scheme and tier. This includes your annual assessment visit, certification facilities, and the ability to self-certify. When you complete notifiable work, you test the installation, issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC), and notify the local authority electronically through your scheme. The scheme then issues a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate on behalf of the local authority.

For a detailed comparison of the two most popular schemes, see our guide to NICEIC vs NAPIT.

Without Scheme Registration

If you are not registered with a competent person scheme, you (or the homeowner) must notify building control before starting any notifiable work. Building control will inspect the work and charge a fee (typically 200 to 400 pounds per job). This adds cost and delay, which is why most professional electricians choose to register with a scheme.

The consequences of non-compliance with Part P can be serious — for both electricians and homeowners.

• ✓Building control enforcement — the local authority can require you to open up completed work for inspection and have it tested by a qualified third party at your expense
• ✓Fines— prosecution under the Building Act 1984 can result in unlimited fines in the magistrates' court
• ✓Ripping out work — in serious cases, you may be required to remove and redo non-compliant work entirely
• ✓Property sale problems— buyers' solicitors routinely check for Part P certificates during conveyancing. Missing certificates can delay or derail a property sale, or result in a price reduction
• ✓Insurance implications — uncertified electrical work can invalidate home insurance. If a fire occurs and the installation is found to be non-compliant, the insurer may refuse to pay out
• ✓Professional liability — if someone is injured by faulty work, the electrician who installed it faces civil and potentially criminal liability
• ✓No time limit on enforcement — there is no statute of limitations on building regulations enforcement. Non-compliant work can be challenged at any time, even decades later

Part P specifically applies to England and Wales only. If you work in Scotland or Northern Ireland, different regulations apply:

• ✓Scotland — electrical work in dwellings is covered by Section 4 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations. The principles are similar (work must comply with BS 7671 and be certified), but the notification process and competent person scheme requirements differ. SELECT is the main trade association and competent person scheme provider in Scotland.
• ✓Northern Ireland — has its own building regulations under the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland). Electrical safety requirements exist but the specific rules and enforcement mechanisms differ from Part P.

Regardless of which jurisdiction you work in, BS 7671 (the 18th Edition) applies throughout the UK. The 18th Edition qualification is the technical standard that underpins all UK electrical installation regulations.

Part P requires that all electrical work is tested, inspected, and certified in accordance with BS 7671. The type of certificate depends on the nature of the work.

Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC)

An EIC is required for all new installations and for alterations or additions that include a new circuit. This is the primary certificate for notifiable work. It includes a schedule of inspections and test results, and must be signed by a competent person. Understanding how to complete an EIC properly is covered in the 2391 Inspection & Testing course.

Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC)

The MEIWC is used for minor work that does not include a new circuit, such as adding a fused spur to an existing circuit. Despite common misconception, a consumer unit replacement typically requires a full EIC, not just an MEIWC.

Building Regulations Compliance Certificate

When notifiable work is completed by a competent person scheme member, the scheme issues a Building Regulations Compliance Certificate on behalf of the local authority. This is the document that confirms Part P compliance. A copy goes to the homeowner and the local authority. This certificate is critical when selling a property — solicitors routinely request it during conveyancing.

For more on electrical certificates and when each one is required, see our dedicated guide.

Here is a summary of the qualifications needed to self-certify domestic electrical work under Part P, depending on your starting point:

For Career Changers (No Electrical Background)

• ✓Level 2 Diploma (2365) — foundational knowledge of electrical science, wiring systems, and health & safety
• ✓Level 3 Diploma (2365) — advanced installation design, fault-finding, and complex circuits
• ✓18th Edition (2382) — understanding of BS 7671 wiring regulations
• ✓Inspection & Testing (2391) — ability to inspect, test, and certify electrical installations
• ✓NVQ Level 3 (2357) — workplace competence evidence (requires an employer or work placement)
• ✓AM2 assessment — practical skills test at a NET-approved centre

Related Course

Level 2 Diploma (2365)

Start here — the Level 2 Diploma is the foundation of the full qualification pathway.

View Course

Related Course

Level 3 Diploma (2365)

The Level 3 Diploma builds on Level 2 with advanced installation design and complex systems.

View Course

For Experienced Workers (5+ Years in the Trade)

• ✓18th Edition (2382) — if not already held or if previous edition has expired
• ✓Inspection & Testing (2391) — ability to inspect and certify
• ✓EWA portfolio assessment — evidence of competence through work portfolio and practical assessment

Related Course

18th Edition (2382)

The 18th Edition is mandatory for all routes — it is the technical standard that Part P references.

View Course

Related Course

Inspection & Testing (2391)

Inspection & Testing is essential for issuing the certificates that Part P requires.

View Course

Both routes lead to the same outcome: eligibility to register with a competent person scheme and self-certify your domestic work under Part P. For a full breakdown of every qualification and how they fit together, see our guide to electrician qualifications explained.

Part P has been amended several times since its introduction. Here are the key milestones:

• ✓January 2005 — Part P comes into force. Almost all domestic electrical work is notifiable.
• ✓April 2013 — major amendment simplifies the scope. Only new circuits and work in special locations now require notification. Non-notifiable work expanded significantly.
• ✓September 2021— EAS (Electrotechnical Assessment Specification) updated. Short "domestic installer" courses no longer accepted for competent person scheme registration. Full qualifications now required.

The 2013 amendment was widely welcomed by the electrical industry. It focused notification requirements on higher-risk work while allowing straightforward modifications to existing circuits without the bureaucratic overhead of building control notification.