What SELECT and NICEIC Approval Actually Means for Scottish Property Owners

Scottish landlords are told they must use a SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician for an EICR. Most homeowners are advised to do the same for any significant electrical work. The names get cited regularly without much explanation of what they actually represent. This page sets out what SELECT and NICEIC approval mean, how the two schemes differ, why they matter for property owners in Scotland, and how to verify a contractor’s certification before booking.

The two recognised schemes in Scotland

SELECT and NICEIC are the two main certification bodies whose registered members are recognised by Scottish landlord legislation, the First Tier Tribunal for Scotland, and most letting agents and conveyancing solicitors:

• SELECT is the Electrical Contractors Association of Scotland. It is the trade association for electrical contractors operating in Scotland and runs its own assessment and audit regime focused on Scottish electrical work.
• NICEIC is the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting. It is the largest UK certification body for electrical contractors, operating across all four UK nations.

Other bodies exist (NAPIT, ECA, Stroma) and may also be recognised in some contexts. SELECT and NICEIC are the two most widely cited in Scottish landlord legislation and in practical use across Aberdeenshire.

What does the certification actually cover?

Both SELECT and NICEIC certification require a registered firm to demonstrate ongoing compliance with electrical installation and inspection standards. The specific elements assessed:

Technical competence

The firm must demonstrate that staff carrying out installation, inspection, and testing work hold the appropriate qualifications: City and Guilds 2391 for inspection and testing, City and Guilds 2382 for the Wiring Regulations, City and Guilds 2356 for installation work. Ongoing professional development is required to track changes in BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice.

Quality of work

The firm submits to periodic on site assessment of completed work. The assessor reviews installations and EICRs against current standards and identifies any deficiencies. The firm must address any findings to maintain certification.

Insurance and business administration

The firm must hold appropriate public liability and professional indemnity insurance. Business administration including record keeping, customer protection, and complaint handling are reviewed.

Equipment and procedures

Test instruments must be calibrated to manufacturer requirements and within calibration date. Inspection procedures must follow the IET Code of Practice. Documentation produced (EICRs, Electrical Installation Certificates, Minor Works Certificates) must follow the prescribed formats.

Annual audit

Both schemes operate annual audits where an independent assessor reviews the firm’s records, equipment, and recent work. The certification is renewed for a further year on satisfactory audit.

How are SELECT and NICEIC different?

The two schemes are broadly equivalent in terms of the technical standards required, but there are practical differences:

Geographic focus

SELECT is Scottish in identity and membership. Its registered members are typically firms based in Scotland with a Scottish customer base. NICEIC is UK wide and has registered firms across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Many Scottish firms hold NICEIC certification because of the broader UK reach.

Scheme administration

SELECT operates as a trade association as well as a certification body, providing additional services to members including industrial relations, training, and trade representation. NICEIC operates primarily as a certification body, with a tighter focus on the inspection and assessment regime.

Recognition by lenders, insurers, and landlords

Both schemes are recognised by Scottish landlord legislation, the First Tier Tribunal, and most letting agents and lender solicitors. There is no preference for one over the other in the legislation. Some firms hold certification with both schemes; many hold only one.

Certification standards

Both schemes work to BS 7671 (the UK Wiring Regulations) and the IET Code of Practice for Inspection and Testing. The inspection methodology is essentially the same. The format of the EICR is the same. The codes (C1, C2, C3, FI) are the same. From a practical perspective, an EICR from a SELECT registered firm and an EICR from an NICEIC registered firm are functionally equivalent.

Why do Scottish landlords have to use a SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician?

The Scottish landlord requirement to use a SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician for the EICR comes from the Repairing Standard guidance and case law that has developed around it. The underlying logic is straightforward:

• The EICR is the formal document that proves the property is electrically safe.
• For the document to be a meaningful proof, the issuing electrician must work to recognised standards.
• SELECT and NICEIC are the schemes that audit and verify ongoing compliance with those standards.
• An EICR from a non registered electrician cannot be relied on by the Tribunal, the local authority, or the landlord as evidence of compliance with the Repairing Standard.

For more on the underlying legislative framework, see our companion guide on EICR for Scottish landlords.

How to verify a contractor’s SELECT or NICEIC certification

Both schemes operate public registers that can be searched online. Before engaging an electrician for any significant work or for an EICR:

1. Ask the contractor for their SELECT or NICEIC registration number.
2. Visit the relevant scheme’s public register (selectscotland.org.uk for SELECT, niceic.com for NICEIC).
3. Search by company name or registration number.
4. Verify that the registration is current and active.
5. Verify that the registration covers the type of work you need (some firms are registered for installation only, some for inspection and testing only, some for both).
6. Check the registered company name and address match the firm you are dealing with.

Do not rely on logos on a company website or business cards. The public register is the authoritative source. A few minutes of checking can prevent significant cost and compliance issues later.

What happens if my electrician is not SELECT or NICEIC registered?

If you have already received an EICR from a non registered electrician, the position depends on what the EICR is for:

• For a Scottish private rental: The EICR does not satisfy the Repairing Standard. A fresh inspection by a SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician is required. The Tribunal will not accept the non registered EICR as evidence of compliance.
• For an HMO licence: The HMO licensing authority will not accept the non registered EICR. A fresh inspection from a registered firm is required.
• For an owner occupied home: There is no legal sanction, but the EICR has limited authority for property sale, insurance, or any future use where compliance documentation is needed.
• For commercial premises: Insurance policy conditions typically require certification from a recognised body. A non registered EICR may not be accepted by the insurer.

If you have engaged a non registered electrician for work other than the EICR (a new circuit, a consumer unit replacement, an EV charger installation), the Electrical Installation Certificate from a non registered firm has the same limitations: it does not provide the recognised proof that the work meets BS 7671.

SELECT, NICEIC, and other certifications: what do you actually need?

For most property owners in Scotland, the practical position is simple:

• Landlord EICR: SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician.
• HMO licence EICR: SELECT or NICEIC registered electrician.
• Solar PV installation: professional installer (a separate scheme covering renewable energy installation). For more on MCS, see our guide on MCS certified solar installers in Scotland.
• EV charger installation under the OZEV grant: OZEV approved installer (yet another scheme specific to EV chargers).
• General domestic electrical work: SELECT or NICEIC registered ideal but not strictly required for owner occupied homes. For any work that requires Building Standards notification, a registered firm provides the necessary self certification route.

Faithful Spark holds NICEIC registration covering both inspection and testing and installation work, alongside OZEV approval for EV chargers. This means a single contractor can carry out the EICR, install solar PV, fit an EV charger, and provide all the required certification in a coordinated way.

Frequently asked questions

Is SELECT better than NICEIC for Scottish properties?

No. The two schemes are equivalent for landlord compliance and most other practical purposes. Both work to BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice. Choose a contractor based on the firm’s reputation, the contractor’s location, the certification status, and the quote, rather than on a preference between the two schemes.

Can a single electrician hold both SELECT and NICEIC certification?

Yes. Some firms hold both. Most hold one or the other. Holding both is generally not necessary for a working firm because the two schemes recognise broadly the same standards.

Is the certification individual or company based?

The certification is at company level. The firm is registered, and the firm’s qualified electricians work under the company certification. Individual electricians may hold their own qualifications (City and Guilds 2391, etc) but the formal scheme registration is at company level.

Do I need to specify which scheme I want when booking an EICR?

No. Either SELECT or NICEIC certification meets the Scottish landlord requirement. When booking, simply confirm with the contractor which scheme they hold and verify the registration through the relevant public register.

My electrician says they are “approved” but cannot give me a registration number. What should I do?

Approval claims that cannot be verified are a red flag. Approval through SELECT or NICEIC always comes with a unique registration number. Ask for the number and check the public register before proceeding. If the contractor cannot provide one, find a different electrician.

Book your EICR with a NICEIC registered electrician

Faithful Spark is NICEIC registered for both inspection and testing and installation work. Our EICRs meet the Scottish landlord legal requirement and our installation work carries Electrical Installation Certificates that satisfy Building Standards and lender requirements. See our pillar guide on EICR services in Aberdeen.

Contact Faithful Spark

Faithful Spark Electricians. NICEIC approved. Local Aberdeen team. EICR inspections, electrical safety certificates, and remedial work for Aberdeen, Peterhead, Ellon, Fraserburgh and across Aberdeenshire.