Quick Answer
To check if a UK tradesperson is qualified, look up their registration number on the relevant trade body's website. Gas engineers: Gas Safe Register. Electricians: NICEIC or NAPIT. Builders: FMB. The check is free and takes under two minutes.
In the UK, the regulations governing tradespeople vary enormously by trade. Some (gas engineers) face strict legal requirements. Others (builders) have no mandatory licence at all. This creates a confusing landscape for homeowners trying to verify who they're letting into their home. In 2026, the good news is that every major UK trade has at least one authoritative online register you can check — most for free, in seconds.
This guide explains exactly which body governs each trade, how to check their registration, and what the different levels of accreditation actually mean. Combined with our guide on questions to ask before hiring any tradesperson, this gives you a complete verification framework.
In this guide
Quick Reference: Every Trade and Its Registration Body
| Trade | Main Body / Scheme | Legally Required? | Where to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas engineer | Gas Safe Register | Yes (for gas work) | gassaferegister.co.uk |
| Electrician | NICEIC / NAPIT / ELECSA | Required for Part P self-cert | niceic.com / napit.org.uk |
| Plumber | WaterSafe / CIPHE | No (voluntary) | watersafe.org.uk |
| Builder | FMB / TrustMark | No (voluntary) | fmb.org.uk |
| Roofer | NFRC / CompetentRoofer | No (voluntary) | nfrc.co.uk |
| Heating engineer | Gas Safe / OFTEC (oil) | Yes for gas; OFTEC voluntary | oftec.org |
| Oil boiler engineer | OFTEC | Strongly recommended | oftec.org |
| Double glazing installer | FENSA / CERTASS | Required for self-cert | fensa.org.uk |
| Electrical PAT tester | No mandatory body | No | Check City & Guilds 2377 |
| Cavity wall installer | CIGA | Guarantee scheme | ciga.co.uk |
Gas Safe Register (Gas Engineers)
The Gas Safe Register is the UK's official list of gas engineers who are legally registered to work on gas appliances. It is a legal requirement — working on gas installations without Gas Safe registration is a criminal offence. This applies to boilers, gas fires, cookers, and all gas pipework.
How to check: Go to gassaferegister.co.uk, click "Check a business or engineer" and enter the engineer's licence number (on their ID card) or the company name. The register will confirm their registration status and, crucially, which types of gas appliances they are qualified to work on — because registration is category-specific. A Gas Safe engineer registered for domestic boilers may not be registered to work on LPG or commercial catering equipment.
For more detail, read our guide on what to look for in a Gas Safe engineer. Always ask to see the card in person on the day the engineer arrives — not just at the quote stage.
NICEIC and NAPIT (Electricians)
For domestic electrical work in England and Wales, Part P of the Building Regulations requires certain types of work to be self-certified or notified to Building Control. Electricians registered with NICEIC, NAPIT, ELECSA, or ECA can self-certify their work, which saves homeowners the time and cost of involving their local authority.
Understanding the full framework is covered in our guide on what Part P electrical regulations mean for homeowners. To verify an electrician:
- ✓ NICEIC: Go to niceic.com → "Find a Contractor" → search by name or postcode
- ✓ NAPIT: Go to napit.org.uk → Member Search → search by company name
- ✓ ELECSA: Go to elecsa.co.uk → Find an Electrician
- ✓ Ask for proof of their 18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) qualification
After notifiable electrical work is completed, a registered electrician should provide an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate (MEIWC). Keep this document — you will need it when you sell your home.
FMB and CIOB (Builders)
Unlike gas engineers, builders are not required to hold any licence in the UK. This makes professional body membership a critical quality indicator when hiring for building work. Our guide on how to hire a builder in the UK covers this in detail.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the main body to look for. FMB members are independently assessed, must carry adequate insurance, and comply with the FMB Code of Practice. Members can be found at fmb.org.uk. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) is more relevant for larger building companies and construction professionals.
TrustMark and CHAS
TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality scheme that covers 40+ trades. A TrustMark-registered tradesperson has passed technical, customer service, and trading standards checks. It's not a substitute for trade-specific registration (Gas Safe, NICEIC etc.) but adds a layer of assurance for trades with no mandatory licensing. You can search the TrustMark register at trustmark.org.uk.
CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) is primarily for commercial and larger domestic projects. It confirms that a contractor has met a baseline standard of health and safety competence. For most domestic homeowners, CHAS is less relevant than trade-specific registration schemes.
Competent Person Schemes Explained
A Competent Person Scheme (CPS) is a government-approved mechanism that allows registered tradespeople to self-certify their work complies with Building Regulations — without involving the local authority. This is important for homeowners because it means the work is formally recorded and certified, which protects you legally and when you sell your home.
Schemes operate for: electrical work (Part P), replacement windows and doors (Part L — FENSA, CERTASS), heating systems (Part J — HETAS for solid fuel, OFTEC for oil), microgeneration (MCS for solar panels), and more. When hiring any tradesperson for notifiable work, always confirm they are registered with the relevant Competent Person Scheme and that they will provide the relevant certificate on completion.
For more on spotting warning signs, see our guide on red flags when hiring a tradesperson in the UK. Ready to find a qualified tradesperson? Post your job on GetQuickHelp and receive quotes from vetted professionals in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a tradesperson says they don't need to be registered?+
For gas work, this is wrong and potentially criminal. For electrical notifiable work, an unregistered electrician must notify Building Control — meaning you lose the self-certification benefit and may face delays and costs. For other trades, lack of registration isn't illegal but should prompt you to ask harder questions about their qualifications and insurance.
Can I check a tradesperson's qualifications for free?+
Yes. All major UK trade body registers — Gas Safe, NICEIC, NAPIT, WaterSafe, FMB, FENSA — offer free public searches. The check takes less than two minutes and can save you from hiring someone unqualified.
What is the difference between a qualification and a registration?+
A qualification (e.g., City & Guilds 6189, NVQ Level 3) proves the person has been trained and assessed. A registration (e.g., Gas Safe, NICEIC) proves they are currently active, insured, and compliant with a scheme's ongoing standards. Both matter: a qualification without current registration may be out of date; a registration without the underlying qualification shouldn't be possible, but can occur with inadequate schemes.
Do I need to check qualifications for small jobs like fixing a tap?+
For a basic plumbing job with no gas or electrical involvement, formal registration is less critical — though WaterSafe approval is still a quality signal for plumbers. The most important check for any job is: are they insured? For small jobs, check reviews on a reputable platform and ask for public liability insurance.
What happens if unqualified work causes damage or injury?+
If an unqualified or unregistered tradesperson carries out work that causes damage or injury, your ability to claim is significantly reduced if you knowingly hired someone who lacked the required registration. For gas work, you may be held partially responsible. This is why checking credentials before any work starts is so important.
Is TrustMark the same as Trading Standards Approved?+
No, but they are related. TrustMark-registered businesses are required to comply with Trading Standards approved codes of practice, and many are also members of their local Trading Standards 'Buy with Confidence' scheme. TrustMark covers the building and home improvement sector specifically; Buy with Confidence covers a broader range of businesses.
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