Part P Certificate Guide: How to Get Part P Registered (2026)

Part P is a section of the Building Regulations that covers electrical safety in dwellings in England and Wales. Introduced on 1 January 2005, it was created to reduce deaths, injuries, and fires caused by unsafe electrical installations in homes. Despite the common search for a "Part P certificate", Part P is a regulation — not a qualification or certificate you can obtain.

Part P requires that certain types of domestic electrical work — known as notifiable work — are either carried out by a member of a competent person scheme (who can self-certify compliance) or notified to the local authority building control department. The regulation itself does not specify which qualifications are needed, but competent person schemes set their own entry requirements.

Not all domestic electrical work requires building control notification. Part P distinguishes between notifiable work (which must be reported) and non-notifiable work (which can proceed without notification, though it must still comply with BS 7671).

Always Notifiable

• ✓Installation of a new circuit from the consumer unit
• ✓Consumer unit replacement (see our consumer unit replacement cost guide)
• ✓Rewiring a house (involves multiple new circuits)

Notifiable in Special Locations

• ✓In England (since April 2013): additions and alterations within the zones around a bath or shower, and in rooms containing a swimming pool or sauna heater
• ✓In Wales (which kept the original 2005 scope): work in bathrooms, near kitchen sinks, outdoors (garden lighting, shed supplies, outside sockets), and in swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub areas

Generally Not Notifiable

• ✓Like-for-like replacement of sockets, switches, and light fittings (not in special locations)
• ✓Adding a spur to an existing circuit (not in special locations)
• ✓Replacing a damaged cable on a single circuit
• ✓Installing or upgrading main or supplementary bonding

For a detailed breakdown of which jobs are notifiable, see our complete guide to notifiable electrical work.

The phrase "Part P registered" is commonly used but technically inaccurate. What people mean is membership of a competent person scheme — a government-authorised scheme that allows registered electricians to self-certify their domestic electrical work as compliant with building regulations, without needing a separate building control inspection.

Recognised Schemes

The main competent person schemes for domestic electrical work are:

• ✓NICEIC — the largest and most widely recognised scheme
• ✓NAPIT — the second largest scheme, competitive fees
• ✓ELECSA — a former third option, now absorbed into NICEIC (both run by Certsure)

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

Membership Costs

Annual membership fees typically range from 600 to 1,000 pounds or more, depending on the scheme, membership tier, and the size of your business. This fee covers building control notifications for all notifiable work you complete during the year, periodic reassessment, and use of the scheme logo. Compared to the building control route (200 to 400 pounds per job), scheme membership is cost-effective for any electrician doing regular domestic work.

To join a competent person scheme and self-certify domestic electrical work, you typically need the following qualifications:

• ✓18th Edition wiring regulations (City & Guilds 2382) — understanding of BS 7671
• ✓Inspection and Testing (City & Guilds 2391-52) — ability to test and certify installations
• ✓Evidence of practical competence — usually Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas (City & Guilds 2365) or equivalent
• ✓Public liability insurance (minimum cover varies by scheme, typically 2 million pounds)
• ✓An initial assessment of your work by the scheme assessor

The 18th Edition qualification provides the regulatory knowledge, while the 2391 Inspection and Testing qualification proves you can test installations and issue the correct electrical certificates.

Related Course

Inspection & Testing (2391)

The 2391 qualification enables you to test, certify, and self-certify domestic installations.

View Course

If you are not a member of a competent person scheme, notifiable work can still be carried out legally — but the homeowner must notify the local authority building control department before the work starts. Building control will charge a fee (typically 200 to 400 pounds per job) and will inspect the completed work before issuing a completion certificate.

When the Building Control Route Is Used

• ✓The electrician is not a competent person scheme member
• ✓A homeowner is doing their own notifiable electrical work (not recommended)
• ✓The work is carried out by a general builder who is not scheme-registered

This route is more expensive and less convenient than using a scheme-registered electrician. Most homeowners prefer to hire a registered electrician who can self-certify, saving them the building control fee and the hassle of arranging inspections. For electricians, scheme membership is a significant competitive advantage — customers actively seek out NICEIC or NAPIT registered contractors.

Part P and BS 7671 are often confused, but they serve different purposes:

Part P (Building Regulations)

Part P is a legal requirement under the Building Regulations. It specifies that certain domestic electrical work must be notified to building control. It is about compliance and notification — ensuring that someone checks the work meets safety standards. Part P applies only to domestic dwellings in England and Wales.

BS 7671 (IET Wiring Regulations)

BS 7671 is the technical standard for electrical installations. It covers how electrical work should be designed, installed, inspected, and tested. BS 7671 applies to all electrical installations — domestic, commercial, and industrial — across the entire UK. Compliance with BS 7671 is how you demonstrate that the work meets the safety requirements of Part P.

If you are working towards competent person scheme membership, the typical path is:

• ✓Complete the Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas (City & Guilds 2365) to build technical knowledge and practical skills
• ✓Pass the 18th Edition exam (City & Guilds 2382) to understand BS 7671
• ✓Complete Inspection and Testing (City & Guilds 2391-52) to learn testing and certification
• ✓Gain practical experience through employment or supervised domestic work
• ✓Apply to a competent person scheme (NICEIC or NAPIT)
• ✓Pass the scheme initial assessment and begin self-certifying your work

For the complete step-by-step process, see our how to register as an electrician guide.