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Certification/training required for domestic electrical installations for a chartered engineer

Ben Evans

Hi all,

This is my first post on here, although I've been a member of the IET for a number of years. I have a question which may seem basic but the WWW doesn't give any clear advice.

I have a 1st class masters degree in electrical and electronic engineering, and also hold chartered engineer status with the IET (for 6 years now). Despite this, I know I am not permitted to carry out any domestic electrical installations. So my question is, what certification/training is required to allow me to carry out this work based on the qualifications that I already hold? Ideally, I'd also like to get on to a competent person scheme to allow self certification as well. 

Many thanks in advance

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  • 0

    I am not permitted to carry out any domestic electrical installations.

    Not quite true. Anyone can carry out electrical installation - the only requirement is that they are competent to do so  (no paper qualifications necessarily needed at all). Even in the domestic arena where part P of the building regs applies - anyone can still go down the pre-notification to your local LBC route - and even that's only necessary for notifiable work.

    The tricky bit comes if you wish to join one of the registered competent persons schemes - you don't have to, but there are usually commercial advantages in doing so (not least that the pre-notification route is rather expensive for small jobs, and a lot of customers do seem to like the reassurance of a "badge") - each scheme traditionally had their own particular demands - although I gather there has been some standardisation of late and I've heard talk of needing a level 4 qualification now. Others here will know more of the details of that.

    Some domestic areas (e.g. private rented) do have slightly higher demands (and in law too), but that's a small fraction of the market.

       - Andy.

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  • 0

    I am not permitted to carry out any domestic electrical installations.

    Not quite true. Anyone can carry out electrical installation - the only requirement is that they are competent to do so  (no paper qualifications necessarily needed at all). Even in the domestic arena where part P of the building regs applies - anyone can still go down the pre-notification to your local LBC route - and even that's only necessary for notifiable work.

    The tricky bit comes if you wish to join one of the registered competent persons schemes - you don't have to, but there are usually commercial advantages in doing so (not least that the pre-notification route is rather expensive for small jobs, and a lot of customers do seem to like the reassurance of a "badge") - each scheme traditionally had their own particular demands - although I gather there has been some standardisation of late and I've heard talk of needing a level 4 qualification now. Others here will know more of the details of that.

    Some domestic areas (e.g. private rented) do have slightly higher demands (and in law too), but that's a small fraction of the market.

       - Andy.

Children
  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Thankyou Andy.

    Yes the pre-notification route is always available but the LBC will want a test certificate at the end, which I am not 'allowed' to generate. Being part of a self cert scheme would allow me to test and certify as I understand it.

    I am just completely unsure of how to get to that point without starting from the basics as an apprentice or taking on a long college course, which is crazy considering the qualifications I already have

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