The electrician you have used for years may still be the right choice. But before booking an electrical safety report, EV charger or solar and battery installation, I would ask for evidence that matches the job.
For North-east business owners, landlords, estate and letting agents, and housing associations, 1 October 2026 is a prompt to review contractor records.
What changes in October
From that date, new low carbon work categories under the Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) require recognised qualifications for EV charging, solar PV and battery storage installations. These cover the responsible qualified supervisors and people undertaking the work, including subcontractors.
These are certification and registration requirements, including schemes operating in Scotland. Existing qualifications do not expire overnight.
An electrical installation SVQ or NVQ and an 18th Edition certificate alone do not establish competence for every specialist task.
Electrical safety reports need checking too
NICEIC’s guidance says the clarified requirements for periodic inspection and testing are already in effect. This is the work behind an Electrical Installation Condition Report, or EICR. It requires an accepted relevant qualification, evidence of at least two years’ experience in this work and ongoing professional development.
The EAS allows trainees and apprentices to gain experience under close supervision. Having somebody qualified elsewhere in the company does not, by itself, demonstrate that the required supervision is happening.
There is a transition process. NICEIC describes assessment action plans, while the EAS committee warns that failure to obtain relevant qualifications by July 2028 could lead to withdrawal of certification or registration. Confirm a contractor’s current position with its scheme.
Three checks before you book
Check the business. Look up the contractor in its certification or registration body’s directory, such as NICEIC’s Find a Tradesperson. General electrical registration does not establish approval for every specialist category. Confirm the approved categories cover your job and property type. Ask the scheme directly if the listing is unclear.
Check the person. Request qualification evidence for the individual attending and the responsible supervisor where relevant. Ask who will supervise any trainee, and how. Keep the evidence with your contractor records.
Check the card details. I am sharing my own gold card to illustrate the specific qualifications clients can look for. Verify the recorded qualifications through the Electrotechnical Certification Scheme, using ECS Check. Its colour or a photograph alone is insufficient evidence.
I would make these checks part of every contractor appointment, including repeat bookings. A familiar company name cannot tell you whether the person arriving has the qualifications relevant to your job.
For help understanding electrical contractor credentials for your Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire property, contact Faithful Spark Electricians.