What are the minimum qualifications for an electrician to be able to provide Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or a Minor Electrical Installation Works (MEIW) Certificate in Commercial Premises

Question

If a company is looking to sub contract out work to install commercial catering equipment (single and 3phase) and the installations are highly likely to require appliances to be hard wired to a fixed socket and/or have to install an RCD, what are the minimum qualifications for an electrician to be able to provide Electrical Installation Certificate or a Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificates in Commercial Premises? 
 I have seen qualifications showing city of guilds level 3 award in Requirements For Electrical Installations (doesn't say diploma) with 3 years experience but I'm not sure if these individuals can issue an EIC or MEIW? 
 Any guidance greatly accepted. 
 Many thanks

AJJewsbury · Accepted Answer

There's no specific requirement for qualifications - merely for the person to be skilled and competent. It's entirely possible for someone to be skilled and competent without any formal qualifications at all 
 Formal qualifications are handy for demonstrating competence - at least in part - but there are many qualifications out there (of various ages) not all of which will demonstrate competence for all situations.. Most (non electrical) commercial customers "out source" the problem simply by demanding that the contractor is a member of one of the appropriate trade organisations (such as the NICEIC) for the type of work involved. That organisation then checks the contractors qualifications, and also checks their actual work on an on-going basis, so in effect doing the 'due diligence' for you.. (Many also run parallel systems for "competent persons schemes" for domestic installers, but that's somewhat different, so check the details of their membership carefully). 
 - Andy.

What are the minimum qualifications for an electrician to be able to provide Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or a Minor Electrical Installation Works (MEIW) Certificate in Commercial Premises

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