General
NAPIT and NICEIC are the two main government-approved competent person schemes for electrical contractors in England and Wales. Both allow registered electricians to self-certify their own work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Both are equally valid. The difference matters for the electrician far more than the customer — but here's what you should understand.
Under Part P of the Building Regulations, certain electrical work in dwellings is "notifiable" — meaning it must either be signed off by building control or carried out by an electrician registered with a government-approved competent person scheme. NAPIT and NICEIC are the two largest such schemes.
Registered electricians assess their own work, issue an Electrical Installation Certificate, and notify the local authority via their scheme — no building control involvement needed. The scheme audits member electricians regularly to maintain standards.
NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers) is one of two major government-approved schemes. NAPIT members are assessed on their technical competence, carry appropriate insurance, and have their work audited. NAPIT also covers other trades beyond electrical (gas, plumbing, heating) under one scheme.
NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) is the other major scheme — historically the dominant one in the electrical contracting industry. NICEIC-registered contractors undergo rigorous assessment and regular roll visits. Very slightly older and more established in the industry.
Either scheme is equally valid. What matters is:
ELECSA is another government-approved competent person scheme, now owned by the same parent company as NICEIC. It's less common but equally valid.
AFTA Electrical covers Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire. NAPIT & TrustMark registered.
Both are government-approved competent person schemes for electricians. They serve the same legal purpose — allowing registered electricians to self-certify notifiable work under Part P. From a customer's perspective, either is equally acceptable.
Search their name or company on napit.org.uk or niceic.com. Both have public online registers. Always verify before work starts.
An EIC is the legal document issued by a registered electrician after completing notifiable electrical work. It confirms the work has been tested and certified. You need it to prove the work was done legally when selling your property.
Not if your electrician is registered with NAPIT or NICEIC — they self-certify and notify the local authority on your behalf. If your electrician isn't registered, you'd need to involve building control directly.
Related: View Service Page · View Pricing · Get a Free Quote