How to know if a electrician is qualified?

blackstar

Hi all

I am wanting some electrical work done and have found an electrician but hiw do I know if he's qualified? Is there a certain qualification he has to have and I can look this up?

I know electricians don't need to be registered with any particular body.

But surely something qualification wise? Don't want to ask him are you qualified and what qualifications do you have?

Is there a more gentle way to do it?

Like just Google their name or company number on a certain website?

Thanks

Doozergirl

Electricians do need to be registered. 

There are two schemes.  NAPIT and NICEIC.  You should be able to check registrations on their websites.  

Risteard

Doozergirl said:

Electricians do need to be registered.

That's not a legal requirement. (Readers in the south of Ireland ignore this - it absolutely is law there.)

Doozergirl

Risteard said:

Doozergirl said:

Electricians do need to be registered.

That's not a legal requirement. (Readers in the south of Ireland ignore this - it absolutely is law there.)

Super. 

If you want to know that your electrician is qualified, use one that is registered and regulated by one of the two schemes.

GDB2222

I once used one with NICEIC on his letterhead. After it became clear that he didn’t know the difference between a choke and a starter for a fluorescent light, I checked the register, and he wasn’t on it. He came recommended, too.

blackstar

I'm looking at electrcians in Scotland and honestly none have any kind of way of verifying their qualifications or if they are registered with any kind of governing body either..

Ectophile

A qualified electrician should have a handful of City & Guilds certificates for the courses they have done.  But you'd then have to look up what each of the certificates is for.  Some are entry-level courses, some are advanced, and some are only intended as an update for someone with an obsolete certificate.

macman

No reputable sparky is going to mind you asking about their qualifications and experience. If they do, they have clearly got something to hide. If they are in one of the three schemes, I would expect them to display the fact somewhere on their advertising.
England/Wales and Scotland share the same registration schemes:
https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/find-an-electrician/scotland/

Inforapennyinforapound

Electrical competent person scheme is a Govt approved register and is great to use. It lists all your local qualified electricians and shows whether they are NAPIT or NICEIC qualified.
Electricalcompetentperson.co.uk

Risteard

In Scotland they will be registered either with the NICEIC or SELECT (the Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland).