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HELP - Part P qualifications- is there a standard, or do they just make it up?

Dave Thomas
My Question: is there a prescribed standard list of requirements for part p registration, or do the governing bodies just put up what they want?

I was registered for part p for 14 years, it ran out when I started doing up my own house and settled for small jobs only for a couple of years.

I came to the trade after 20 years general building, did my 16th then the test and inspection course. Then came part p and I enquired about the need to do further courses. I was told that the then C&G 2400 Design and Verification course (which i was doing at the time) would count as a professional qualification and avoid any further need to take technical assessments etc. Well NAPIT have so far been appalling: sat on my application for over 6 weeks (and the money) and they're now saying I'm not qualified and will need to sit an additional course of theirs, some sort of computer based 30 hours learning followed by an exam and  a practical: I can't sit it till December, but naturally i need to pay now ( before the last places disappear, I've heard that somewhere before!). Apparently this is designed for people just like me, but I wonder if I'm being sold a load of old s**t:? I have nothing against relevant training but seriously what can 30 hours of online learning and a test add to a practising electrician who's been working to part p since 2004 and assessed annually, and has never actually stopped working to the regs: I just haven't done any part p jobs. Part p is just the regs anyway, only registering notifiable work, the standard is the same. And yes done the 18th, January last year. Now I look, it appears that the NICIEC and elecsa have slightly different entry requirements- thought we all worked to a standard, and anyway this shower now have my money! Any advice? Anyone else had to do this?   HELP
  • 0
    You only have to register if you want to do notifiable work without paying the Local Authority fee if they deem you competent. You will have to do whatever the registration body requires for you to join.


    It has nothing to do with Part P of the Building Regulations which merely states all electrical work must be done to ensure it is safe to use.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    There is a common standard that all the Part P Schemes (scams?) should comply with.  However, it has always been the case of each Scheme having slightly different interpretations of what they should do. Entry requirements have changed over the years but from what I hear there are still significant differences between what NICEIC and NAPIT require. In my experience, NAPIT have always had the more pragmatic assessors.  NAPIT have some history in pushing their own courses which broadly mirror the C&G courses.  NAPIT recognise their own courses but NICEIC never used to and required C&G courses. I've stayed registered but its a fine line economically. I'm in an area with very high Building Control fees so a couple of notifiable jobs make it worth staying registered.  If you're in a "cheap" area it may be worth just paying the LABC fee. Finally, in practice there used to be (and may still be) a difference between what the Schemes say they want on their websites and what they will accept in practice. The cynic in me thinks minds might be changed once they have your money. Good luck with trying to sort it out - Covid has been a great excuse for many companies inefficiencies.
  • 0
    There are effectively only 2 electrical Competent Person Schemes now. NAPIT trading under that name with Stroma Installer Certification which is owned by NAPIT but is a closed scheme. The other one is Certshure which owns the NICEIC and ELECSA brands.


    The rules that they should be abiding by are the EAS rules to be found here  https://electrical.theiet.org/bs-7671/building-regulations/electrotechnical-assessment-specification/ 



    So quick look through should verify if you are meet the requirements or not.
  • 0
    City and Guilds have a new qualification to provide a route for those genuinely experienced operatives without the formal qualifications to be recognised as an electrician. Takes a minimum of 3 months but could extend to years. Odd to think that NAPIT can do it in 30 hours!

    Level 3 Electrotechnical Experienced Worker Qualification (2346)


  • 0
    Are you suggesting that NAPIT are actually fast tracking rather than delaying ;-)
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Dave Thomas:

    My Question: is there a prescribed standard list of requirements for part p registration, or do the governing bodies just put up what they want?

    I was registered for part p for 14 years, it ran out when I started doing up my own house and settled for small jobs only for a couple of years.

     


    Hi Dave, what 2005 part p scheme were you registered with for 14 years before your registration ran out a couple of years ago?


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    on a part p note, the official stats haven’t been updated since 2018 :

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/competent-person-self-certification-schemes-statistics
  • 0
    John Peckham:

    There are effectively only 2 electrical Competent Person Schemes now.


    Sadly!


    Without wanting to complain too much, the transfer from Stroma to Napit has not been entirely smooth. For example, e-mail stating that I would be thrown out of the scheme for not paying my subscription. My response what how could I have paid without having been invoiced? All sorted now and the subscription is less than one lot of fees to the LA here. Oh well, let's blame Covid.


    I don't quite understand how yer average sparks can work without being a member of a CPS - does that mean that you don't change CUs or put in new circuits? Ever?? Or do you just keep under the radar?


  • 0
    Sparkingchip:

    Are you suggesting that NAPIT are actually fast tracking rather than delaying ;-)


    Andy, the only thing that I am inferring is that there is an industry-recognised minimum qualification to demonstrate basic level competence for electricians. Access to the qualification for mature candidates was hitherto somewhat convoluted but is now a straightforward affair. The candidate is subject to a skills scan before acceptance on to the scheme and if successful the performance objectives should be relatively easy to provide for anyone claiming to be a legitimate electrician. I am sure that NAPIT, NICEIC et al would want their qualifying managers / supervisors to be legitimate electricians. It would seem to me, therefore, that the Schemes would do well to adapt their minimum entry requirements to align with this qualification.


  • 0
    Lyle


    The CPS schemes are competent persons schemes in name only. They do not register individuals they register enterprises. Those enterprises have to have only one person who is responsible for the technical standards in the enterprise.


    So why does that person have to be an electrician? I am not an electrician but was a QS for 17 years an assessed each year. 


    A building surveyor does does not have to be able to lay bricks but does know how bricks have to be laid. So why cannot an Electrical Engineer with an 18th Edition and and a Level 3 Ofqual inspect and test qualification be a QS?

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