NICEIC vs NAPIT: what is the difference?

Glossary · Regulations and registration

How the two schemes work

Electricians who do notifiable work in a home, such as a new circuit or a new consumer unit, can join a competent person scheme. That lets them certify their own work instead of asking building control to inspect it. NICEIC and NAPIT are two of the organisations that run such schemes.

The GOV.UK list of authorised schemes names Certsure LLP trading as NICEIC and NAPIT Registration Limited. For fixed low voltage electrical installations in dwellings, the schemes listed are BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, Certsure, NAPIT and OFTEC.^{[1]Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Competent person scheme: current schemes and how schemes are authorised} Electrical Safety First’s register page also lists NICEIC and NAPIT among the government-approved registering bodies.^{[4]Electrical Safety First, Find a registered electrician} Our page on the Building Regulations compliance certificate explains what a registered member issues.

Side by side

The scheme descriptions come from the organisations themselves.^{[2]NICEIC, About us[3]NAPIT, About us} NICEIC says businesses on its registers chose an assessment of their policies, procedures and technical competency.^{[2]NICEIC, About us} NAPIT says it launched its Competent Person Scheme in 2004, became a TrustMark scheme operator in 2006 and launched Registered Competent Person Electrical in 2013.^{[3]NAPIT, About us}

For a homeowner the legal position is the same. GOV.UK says that anyone joining an electrical scheme is included in the electrical competent person register, a single place for householders to find registered electricians in their area.^{[1]Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Competent person scheme: current schemes and how schemes are authorised} Our TrustMark page explains the separate TrustMark scheme.

Example

Sam in Chapel Allerton asks two firms to quote for a new consumer unit. One is registered with NICEIC and the other with NAPIT. Both can self-certify the work and send the compliance certificate to Sam and to building control.^{[1]Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Competent person scheme: current schemes and how schemes are authorised} Sam compares what is written in the quotes, asks each firm for its registration details and checks them on the scheme’s register. The logo does not settle the choice. What the quote includes and how the firm answers questions does.

What people get wrong

Many people assume only one of the two is the real approved scheme, or that membership alone guarantees a good job. Both are authorised, and both assess their members. Registration shows the electrician has been assessed. It does not replace checking the quote, the insurance and the certificate you receive.

Another mistake is trusting a logo on a van or a website without checking. Check the register yourself. Martin Day Electricians is an NICEIC Approved Contractor and Part P registered, as our site states.^{[5]Martin Day Electricians, Electrician in Leeds} The same check applies to any firm and to either scheme.

The bottom line

NICEIC and NAPIT are both authorised competent person scheme operators for electrical work in dwellings, so a registered member of either can self-certify Part P work. They differ in size, history and the other trades they cover, not in that legal ability. Pick the electrician on the quote, the certificate you will receive and a registration you have checked. Our article on NICEIC and Part P qualifications goes further.