Last updated 7 October 2026
Quick answer: check two things separately. First the business: find it on the official register of the scheme it claims, which in Scotland means NICEIC or NAPIT, and make sure the name and number match your quote. Then the person: ask to see their ECS card, which shows their SJIB grade (Electrician or Approved Electrician), and ask which qualification covers your particular job, for example City and Guilds 2391-52 for an EICR. “Fully qualified” on a van or a website is not evidence of either.
This guide covers the whole UK, but it is written from Scotland, where the registers, the grading system and the building rules differ from England and Wales. Where they differ, we say so.
The five checks to make before booking an electrician
- Check the business on its register. Use the scheme’s own website, not a logo copied onto a quote. Compare the registered name, address and number with the paperwork you have been given.
- Check the person. Ask who will actually do the work and ask to see their ECS card. In Scotland the card shows the grade set by the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB).
- Match the qualification to the job. Inspection and testing, EV chargers, solar PV and battery storage each need their own specific competence. One certificate does not cover everything.
- Confirm the paperwork. Ask which certificate or report you will receive and who will sign it.
- Check insurance and terms. Ask for proof of public liability insurance and a written scope before paying any deposit.
How to check an electrician’s registration in Scotland
Each registration scheme publishes its own search. Use these rather than a link supplied by the contractor:
- NICEIC Find a Tradesperson
- NAPIT member search
- Electrical Safety First’s registered electrician search, which searches the schemes operating in Scotland at once
A listing tells you the business is assessed by that body against BS 7671 and the scheme’s own rules. It also gives you a complaints route if something goes wrong. If you cannot find the business, or the name or address does not match the quote, ask why before any work starts. A similar company name is not the same company.
What registration does and does not prove
Registration is held by the business, not by every person in it. A registered contractor can use a team, as long as the work is properly supervised, tested and certified under the scheme. So the useful question is not only “are you registered?” but also “who is doing my job, and who signs the certificate?”
The ECS card and SJIB grades: Electrician and Approved Electrician
In Scotland, Electrician and Approved Electrician are grades of individual electrician set by the SJIB, and Approved Electrician is the senior one. SJIB graded electricians carry an ECS card that shows their grade. To move up, a graded Electrician needs site experience and must pass the SJIB’s Advanced Competence Assessment, which covers safe working, safe isolation, inspection and testing of both new and existing installations, and supervision.
Do not accept a photograph of a card. ECS Check lets you verify a card online, and the free ECS Check app reads the QR code on the cardholder’s virtual card in real time. Check the name, the occupation shown and the expiry date.
An Approved Electrician is a person. A NICEIC Approved Contractor is a business whose work NICEIC assesses. The two answer different questions, so it is fair to ask about both.
Which qualification for which job?
| Job | What to look for | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| General installation work | A Level 3 electrical installation qualification such as City and Guilds 2365-03, completed through a recognised route with a practical assessment | Which route did you qualify through, and what is your ECS grade? |
| Knowledge of the wiring regulations | A BS 7671 qualification such as City and Guilds 2382-22, kept current as the regulations change | Will my work be designed and certified to BS 7671:2018+A4:2026? |
| EICR (periodic inspection and testing) | City and Guilds 2391-52, the separate periodic inspection award, or an accepted equivalent, plus at least two years of inspection experience | Who will inspect, and who will sign the report? |
| EV charger installation | A specific EV charging award such as City and Guilds 2921-34, and OZEV authorisation where a grant is involved | Which charging qualification do you hold, and who completes the installation certificate? |
| Solar PV and battery storage | The specific Level 3 awards for small solar PV systems and for electrical energy storage systems | Which award covers the technology you are quoting for? |
What changed for EICR work on 1 October 2026
The revised Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) applies from 1 October 2026 to every electrotechnical certification body, not just NICEIC. According to NICEIC’s summary of the EAS changes, anyone who carries out or is responsible for periodic inspection and testing must now show at least two years’ inspection experience, a recognised inspection qualification such as City and Guilds 2391-52, and ongoing CPD. The revision also adds new work categories with their own qualification requirements for EV charging, solar PV and battery storage.
Where a registered business cannot yet show every requirement, the certification body agrees an action plan at assessment. That is a managed transition, not a free pass. An EICR issued before 1 October 2026 does not become invalid because of the change. It is judged on its date, scope, findings and the competence of the person who did it.
How landlords should check the person doing an EICR
For private lets in Scotland, the Scottish Government’s Repairing Standard guidance, Annex D3, says the EICR must be completed by a skilled person competent in such work. The guidance accepts three routes: someone employed by a business that belongs to an accredited registration scheme (it names bodies including NICEIC and NAPIT), a sole trader who belongs to one, or an individual who can satisfactorily complete the competence checklist in the guidance.
Before booking, ask for the registration number, the inspector’s qualification and who will sign the report, then check the register yourself. A very cheap EICR is not automatically wrong, but the inspector needs time to test the whole installation. A report with unexplained limitations or copied observations deserves questions before you accept it. If you need one, our EICR service in Aberdeen sets out what we inspect, what it costs and how the report is coded.
Which certificate should you receive after electrical work?
| Document | Typical purpose | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Installation Certificate | New circuits, a new consumer unit, a rewire, an EV charger circuit | Names, signatures, circuit schedules and test results are all completed |
| Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate | Additions or alterations that do not include a new circuit | The work really is minor and is described accurately |
| Electrical Installation Condition Report | Periodic inspection of an existing installation | Extent, limitations, observations and codes are clear |
| Building warrant paperwork (Scotland) | Only where the work needed a warrant, such as rewiring a flat | The warrant came from the right council and was applied for before work started |
| Manufacturer and commissioning documents | EV chargers, solar PV and batteries | Serial numbers, settings and handover information are included |
Scotland is not England: two things to listen for
- Part P. An installer who talks about Part P for a Scottish property is quoting the building regulations for England and Wales. Part P has never applied in Scotland.
- Building warrants. In Scotland some electrical work needs a building warrant from the local council. Rewiring a house of up to two storeys does not, but rewiring a flat or maisonette does. The owner who orders the work holds the duty to get it, and a good electrician will tell you at quote stage.
If you are weighing up a contractor who already seems doubtful, our guide to the warning signs of a cowboy electrician covers the behaviour to watch for.
Questions to ask before work starts
- What is your registered business name and registration number, and which register can I check it on?
- Who will do the work, and what is their ECS grade?
- Who will inspect, test and sign the certificate?
- Which qualification covers this particular job?
- Which edition of BS 7671 will the work be certified to?
- Does this job need a building warrant, and from which council?
- Which certificate and documents will I receive, and when?
- What insurance do you hold, and can I see it?
- Is the price fixed, and how will anything unexpected be agreed?
Can a trainee or apprentice work in your home?
Yes. Apprentices and trainees work under supervision as part of their training, and the EAS changes specifically allow trainees to take part in inspection and testing under close supervision. What matters is that tasks match their competence and that a qualified person takes responsibility for supervising, testing and signing the certificate.
How to check us
Faithful Spark Electricians is a NICEIC Approved Contractor, enrolment 620239, and you can see our entry on the NICEIC register. We are also TrustMark registered under licence 4205123, an OZEV authorised installer (EVHS/WCS14254), and registered in Scotland as SC821028. Steven Watt, who leads our team with Callum working alongside him, holds City and Guilds 2391-52 (inspection and testing), 2382-22 (BS 7671), 2365-03 (electrical installations) and 2921-34 (EV charging), plus the City and Guilds Level 3 awards in small solar PV systems and small electrical energy storage systems. For EV work, see our EV charger installation in Aberdeen. You can also read what our customers say or find out more about our electricians in Peterhead.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if an electrician is registered in Scotland?
Search the business on the NICEIC or NAPIT register, or use Electrical Safety First’s search, which covers the schemes operating in Scotland. Make sure the registered name, address and number match your quote and invoice.
What is the difference between an electrician and an approved electrician?
In Scotland both are SJIB grades of individual electrician, shown on the person’s ECS card. Approved Electrician is the senior grade and needs site experience plus a pass in the SJIB Advanced Competence Assessment.
What qualification does an electrician need to do an EICR?
A recognised inspection and testing qualification such as City and Guilds 2391-52, or an accepted equivalent, together with practical inspection experience. Since 1 October 2026 certification bodies expect at least two years’ inspection experience and ongoing CPD.
Does an electrician have to be NICEIC registered?
No. NICEIC is one recognised certification body, and NAPIT is another. Registration is not a legal requirement for every job, but it gives you an independent way to check the business and a complaints route.
Does Part P apply in Scotland?
No. Part P belongs to the building regulations for England and Wales. Scotland has its own building standards, and some work needs a building warrant from the local council.
Is an ECS card proof that someone can do any electrical job?
No. It confirms identity, grade and recorded qualifications. Specialist work such as an EICR, an EV charger or a battery still needs the specific qualification for that work.
Want qualifications you can check before anyone starts? Call 07304 027013 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm) or request a written quote.
