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Becoming a member of a CPS. do i have to?

Adam Seddon

Hi, I am currently a practicing full time employed maintenance electrician, and a member of the IET. I have started my own limited company now, doing work on the side outside of my main job. I am looking to do work in industrial, commercial and domestic properties. I have completed a full electrical apprenticeship, electrical HNC, C&G 2382-22 (18th ed) and 2391- 52 (initial and periodic insp+test) and more. I am also in the middle of applying for an ECS gold card which I should have no issues obtaining.

I am struggling to understand the way of which I can go about doing electrical work as a self-employed person. Id like to be able to do minor works, CU/DB replacements, EICR’s etc. To my understanding, you have to be part of a CPS (Napit. Niceic etc…) but some electricians have told me otherwise and said that you don’t need to be part of a CPS in order to be able to do this work.

I don't want to find myself on the wrong side of the law and i do pride myself in carrying out great quality work.

The issue I have is that the CPS’s don’t recognise my apprenticeship (EAL level 3 NVQ extended diploma in engineering maintenance (electrical)) (600/2084/2), and want me to do the experienced workers assessment, which I don’t want to do as In my opinion I am already more than highly qualified and experienced enough to be able to do all of this work.

Is there any ways around this problem I am experiencing? I am also seeing tons of conflicting opinions online.

i know you can do the method of paying local building control to check and sign off any work you've done, but i asked them and they said £270 a time!!!! which would make it pointless in me doing bits on the side

bottom line: do I HAVE to be part of a CPS to legally carry out minor works, DB replacements, EICRs. And if the answer is NO, then what are the benefits to being part of a CPS?? And does anyone know a way i can join a CPS with my current qualifications. 

thank you for your time!

  • +1

    Under Part P, certain domestic work is notifiable. That is mainly changing a CU, adding a new circuit, or work done within the zones of a bathroom. That notification can either be done via the £200-£300 fee (depending on LA) as you've noted, or being a member of self-certification scheme, or paying a third-party verifier to sign the work off.

    You don't need to notify for minor works or EICRs.

  • 0 in reply to wallywombat

    Fantastic, thank you!

  • 0

    For the few things like CU changes where notification is unavoidable

    Some local authorities will accept paperwork from qualified  folk who can generate their own, and I presume you can rustle up an EIC on demand,  but they do not advertise it, you may need to talk to the person in charge rather than someone who just answers the phone and can parrot the council website. Equally do not overlook the 3rd party verification route, but you do need to be on good terms with the verifier before you start, and agree how much they do or do not wish to inspect/supervise - after all they are under obligation to assure that your work is a standard they would be happy with.

    At different times I have done both of these  - note that  I do almost no domestic, and in these cases this was family and friends stuff..

    Also note, the rules for Wales have a lot more things that are notifiable than England.

    Mike

  • 0

    There also the The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 - which has rather more particular requirements about who is allowed to do what in privately rented homes (a "qualified person") - being a member of a CPS might be an easy way of demonstrating that to landlords etc.

       - Andy.

  • 0

    CPSs are for notifiable domestic work. So as already mentioned, if you are not a member, you might have to turn down new circuits and DB changes. Whether you would do enough to justify several £100 per year subscription is for you to decide.

    It certainly used to be a lot more difficult to get a Gold Card than join a CPS. The Gold Card may (I don't know) open doors for commercial and industrial work, but judging from my local high street right now, there must be plenty of work in refitting commercial premises. You do not need to be a member of a CPS for that.

  • 0 in reply to AJJewsbury

    Although in the rented sector you only need to be a "qualified person" in order to do the kind of EICR or follow-up remedial work that will discharge the landlord's responsibilities under those regs. If the landlord asks you to add an extra socket say, then you can be completely unqualified as long as the result complies with BS 7671:2018. Similarly, anyone can do an EICR on a rented property, but the landlord can't use the result to satisfy the "test and inspect every 5 years requirement".

  • 0

    Can’t see you getting your gold card unless you have the relevant NVQ L3 and the AM2. We don’t have Part P in this neck of the woods and good sparkies, with qualifications or not, are in high demand. Dublin seems to be causing a dearth up here in NI. Lads can get £1500 Euros a week, no problem in the ROI capital!

    Whatever you do good luck to you, it’s always a great feeling to steer your own ship!

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