Competent person scheme - current schemes and how schemes are authorised
Find out about current competent person schemes to self-certify certain types of building work if you work in building as an installer.
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.
*The GSR is not technically a competent person scheme, but in practice its installers have the same responsibilities for complying with building regulations.
** Benchmark Certification Limited ceased to operate as a competent person scheme from 10 February 2017 and became part of NAPIT Registration Limited on that date.
If you are joining an electrical scheme then you will be included in the electrical competent person register designed to provide a single place for householders to find registered electricians in their area.
Types of building work
Air pressure testing of buildings
The authorised schemes are:
- Air Tightness testing and Measurement Association (ATTMA)
- Independent Air Tightness Testing Scheme (iATS)
Cavity and solid wall insulation in an existing building
| Type of insulation | Scheme(s) |
|---|---|
| Cavity walls in an existing building | Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, CIGA, NAPIT |
| Internal walls of a building | BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT |
| External walls of a building (not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings) | BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT |
| Both external and internal walls of a building (‘hybrid insulation’ - not including insulation of demountable-clad buildings) | BBA, Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, NAPIT |
Combustion appliances
| Type of appliance | Scheme(s) |
|---|---|
| Gas | Gas Safe Register |
| Oil (including liquid biofuels) | APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification , Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC |
| Solid fuel (including biomass) | APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC |
Electrical installations
| Type of installation | Schemes |
|---|---|
| In dwellings - installation of fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations | BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT, OFTEC |
| In dwellings - fixed low or extra-low voltage electrical installations as part of other work being carried out by the registered person | APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT |
| Buildings other than dwellings - installation of lighting or electrical heating systems | BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT |
Heating and hot water systems
| Type of installation | Schemes |
|---|---|
| Heating or hot water system, or its associated control | APHC, BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Gas Safe Register, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT, OFTEC |
Mechanical ventilation and air-conditioning systems
| Type of building | Schemes |
|---|---|
| Dwellings (not including work on systems shared with other buildings | BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT |
| Other buildings (not involving work on other parts of a building occupied separately) | BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT |
Plumbing and water supply systems
| Type of system | Schemes |
|---|---|
| Wholesome and softened wholesome water supply | APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT |
| Non-wholesome water supply to a flushing toilet (not involving work on shared or underground drainage) | APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT |
| Toilets, sinks, washbasins, fixed baths, showers or bathrooms in dwellings (not involving work on shared or underground drainage) | APHC, BESCA, Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT |
Replacement windows, doors, roof windows or rooflights
| Type of building | Schemes |
|---|---|
| Existing dwellings | Blue Flame Certification, CERTASS, Certsure, Fensa, NAPIT, ASSURE |
| Existing buildings other than dwellings (not including replacement of load-bearing structural glass, glazed curtain walling or revolving doors) | Blue Flame Certification , CERTASS, Certsure, Fensa, NAPIT, ASSURE |
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
- BESCA
- Certsure
- HETAS
- NAPIT
- OFTEC
How schemes are authorised
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) 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.
MHCLG periodically invites applications for competent person schemes.
The last invitation took place on the 10 December 2014. Authorised schemes are listed in Schedule 1 of the Building Regulations &c. (Amendment) Regulations 2015 with effect from 18 April 2015. However, some schemes have since ceased to operate as competent person schemes.
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 minimum technical competence requirements for different types of work.
Common minimum technical competences
Download the Common minimum technical competences annexes - this will be available soon.
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)
- annex 13b – energy efficiency (non-domestic)
- annex 14 – sanitary appliances
- annex 15a – domestic ventilation
- annex 15b – mechanical ventilation systems installation (non-domestic)
- annex 15c – air handling unit (non-domestic)
- annex 15d – plastic ductwork systems
- annex 15e – fire-rated ductwork systems
- annex 16a – air conditioning installation
- annex 16b – air conditioning (halocarbon systems)
- annex 18 – solar photovoltaic
- annex 19 – micro and small scale wind turbine systems
Insulation minimum technical competences
See the common minimum technical competencies for insulation - this will be available soon.
- 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).
Electrical minimum technical competences
See the electrical minimum technical competencies.
Glazing minimum technical competences
Download the fenestration minimum technical competencies for installers (PDF, 415KB).
Download the fenestration minimum technical competencies for surveyors (PDF, 449KB).
Roofing minimum technical competences
See the common minimum technical competences for roofing - this will be available soon.
- CMTC RFG 1 Carry out site measurements and evaluations
- CMTC RFG 2 Installation of hard and soft metal roofing
- CMTC RFG 3 Installation of mastic asphalt
- CMTC RFG 4 Installation of reinforced bitumen membranes
- CMTC RFG 5 Installation of single ply
- CMTC RFG 6 Installation of liquid waterproofing systems
- CMTC RFG 7 Installation of thatched roofing
- CMTC RFG 8 Installation of slate and tile roofs
- CMTC RFG 9 Installation of wood shingles.
Please note that CMTC RFG’s 10 to 12 are not included for competent person self-certification schemes.
*For insulation and roofing MTC routes to competence, please substitute “registered with a building regulations competent person” in place of “approved as a Green Deal installer for this type of work”.
Airtightness testing minimum technical competences
Download the .
Updates to this page
Published 4 April 2013Last updated 12 March 2018 + show all updates
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Removal of BM TRADA from list of Competent Person Schemes
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Removed references to Benchmark Certification Limited.
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updated page to include new schemes and updated types of building works to include new schemes and others whose scope has been extended.
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Added link to airtightness minimum technical competences document. Updated list of minimum technical competence requirements to Annex 19.
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Removal of HETAS Limited to operate a competent person self-certification scheme in respect of the installation of oil-fired combustion appliances or oil storage tanks and the pipes connecting them to combustion appliances.
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added text and links for the minimum technical competences for roofing
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added text and link to front section of the Minimun Technical Competences document.
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Added new Minimum Technical Competence (MTC) requirements for Competent Person Schemes page section.
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British Board of Agrément, BRE Global Limited and Certsure LLP added to the competent person schemes.
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First published.