Part P of the Building Regulations require that a significant proportion of all electrical work carried out in dwellings in England and Wales has to be notified to the Local Authority Building Control (LABC) and a certificate of compliance issued to the householder.

Operatives carrying out electrical work have two options:

1. To notify LABC directly who then will send out an inspector to inspect, test and certificate the installation (a significant additional charge will be incurred for this service)

2. To become a member of a competent persons scheme – the scheme will then allow the operative to self-certify the work and the scheme provider will notify the LABC on the operatives behalf – no further visit or costs will be incurred from LABC

In order to join a competent persons scheme, the operative will be required to hold a current electrical qualification. The operative will also be subject to an on-site work inspection which will include tests on ability, test equipment, technical documentation amd insurance.

Many operatives who carry out notifiable work (particularly those who work in the heating and plumbing industry) do not have a current electrical qualification that is one of the requirements to join a competent persons scheme. With this in mind, BPEC have developed a defined scope electrical qualification.

Both CORGI, NAPIT and ELECSA who are approved by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to run Competent Persons Schemes have fully approved the BPEC  electrical qualification which is available at many of the BPEC  approved assessment centres around the country

BPEC have also developed comprehensive training materials to support the Scheme. Please call 0845 644 6558 for details of how to order to order a training manual.

For further information about BPEC and the Electrical Competence Schemes, please contact us on 0845 644 6558 or email rphipps@bpec.org.uk

For further information on candidate assessment click here