Accreditation badges serve two purposes: they tell you something about an installer's technical competence, and they tell you which government schemes they are eligible to access on your behalf. Understanding the difference — and knowing which accreditation does what — is the first step to choosing the right installer.
The five main accreditations
OZEV approval
Office for Zero Emission Vehicles
- What it is
- Government certification required to install EV charge points under the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS). OZEV-approved installers can claim the government grant on your behalf, deducting up to £500 from your invoice.
- Why it matters for your installation
- Without OZEV approval, an installer cannot legally process your government grant application. It is the single most important accreditation to check — and every installer in our directory holds it.
NICEIC
National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting
- What it is
- One of the UK's leading electrical contracting certification bodies, operating since 1956. NICEIC assesses and approves electrical contractors against the BS 7671 Wiring Regulations. For EV charger installation — which involves a new circuit from the consumer unit — this matters.
- Who issues it
- National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC)
- Why it matters for your installation
- A NICEIC-registered contractor's work meets the current edition of the Wiring Regulations. They can issue an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) for your new charger circuit, which is required for your Building Regulations notification under Part P.
NAPIT
National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers
- What it is
- A government-approved scheme operator for electrical, heating, and plumbing contractors. Like NICEIC, NAPIT membership means the installer is assessed against BS 7671 and is registered to self-certify electrical work under Building Regulations.
- Who issues it
- NAPIT (National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers)
- Why it matters for your installation
- NAPIT and NICEIC are broadly equivalent in terms of what they require from their members. Both are government-approved for Part P self-certification. An installer with either accreditation can legally notify Building Control and issue the relevant certificates for your EV charger installation.
TrustMark
TrustMark (Government Endorsed Quality)
- What it is
- The government-endorsed quality scheme for tradespeople working in and around the home. TrustMark-registered firms have been assessed for technical competence, customer service, and trading practices.
- Why it matters for your installation
- If an EV charger installation is part of a wider home improvement funded through ECO4 or the Great British Insulation Scheme, TrustMark registration may be required. For standard domestic EV installations it is a useful consumer assurance mark but not a grant requirement.
MCS
Microgeneration Certification Scheme
- What it is
- MCS is the quality assurance scheme for small-scale renewable energy technologies — primarily solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage. It is not specific to EV charger installation.
- Who issues it
- MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)
- Why it matters for your installation
- For pure EV charger installation, MCS certification is not relevant. However, many EV charger installers also install solar panels or battery storage, and MCS certification is required for those technologies to qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and associated schemes. If you are looking for an installer to fit both an EV charger and a solar or battery system, look for MCS in addition to OZEV.
Quick reference: which accreditations matter for what
| Situation | Essential | Helpful |
|---|---|---|
| Claiming the OZEV EVHS grant (up to £500) | OZEV approval | NICEIC or NAPIT |
| Home EV charger installation (Part P compliance) | NICEIC or NAPIT | TrustMark |
| Flat owner or renter installation (FOEI grant) | OZEV approval | NICEIC or NAPIT |
| EV charger + solar panel installation | OZEV + MCS | NICEIC or NAPIT |
| Workplace charging (WCS grant) | OZEV approval | NICEIC or NAPIT |
Can you install an EV charger using an unaccredited electrician?
Technically, any qualified electrician can install a charge point. But there are two reasons to insist on OZEV-approved and NICEIC/NAPIT-registered installers:
- You will lose the grant. The EVHS grant can only be claimed by OZEV-approved installers. A non-approved installer cannot process your grant application. The grant is worth up to £500, so this is a meaningful financial difference.
- Building Regulations compliance. Installing a new dedicated circuit for an EV charger is notifiable work under Part P of the Building Regulations. A NICEIC or NAPIT-registered electrician can self-certify this work. An unregistered electrician must engage a third-party Building Control inspector, adding cost and delay — and if they do not, your installation may not be legally compliant, which can cause issues when you come to sell your property.
Frequently asked questions
Which EV charger installer accreditation is most important?
OZEV approval is the most important accreditation for EV charger installation. It is required to claim the government grant on your behalf. Without it, you cannot access the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) and will need to handle any grant application yourself — which is not currently possible under the scheme's rules. Every installer in the CertifiedInstaller directory holds current OZEV approval.
What is the difference between NICEIC and NAPIT?
Both NICEIC and NAPIT are government-approved scheme operators for electrical work under Part P of the Building Regulations. Both assess contractors against BS 7671 (the Wiring Regulations) and allow members to self-certify domestic electrical installations. For a homeowner choosing an EV charger installer, both offer equivalent assurance. The key thing is that the installer holds one or the other — this means they can legally carry out and certify the electrical work.
Does an EV charger installer need to be MCS certified?
No — MCS certification is not required for EV charger installation. MCS covers solar panels, heat pumps, and battery storage. If you are looking for an installer to fit an EV charger alongside a solar or battery system, MCS certification becomes relevant for the solar/battery part of the work. For a standalone EV charger installation, OZEV approval and NICEIC or NAPIT registration are the accreditations to look for.
What documentation should I receive after an EV charger installation?
You should receive: (1) an Electrical Installation Certificate (EIC) or Minor Electrical Installation Works Certificate covering the new circuit, issued by a qualified electrician; (2) confirmation that Building Control has been notified under Part P, or a copy of the notification (your NICEIC or NAPIT installer handles this); (3) the manufacturer warranty documents for your charge point; and (4) if you claimed the OZEV grant, a copy of the grant claim confirmation.
How do I check an installer's OZEV approval is current?
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles publishes the official list of approved installers at gov.uk. You can search by company name or postcode. CertifiedInstaller cross-references this list when building our directory, but we recommend checking directly with gov.uk if you want to verify current approval status before booking.
Find an OZEV-approved installer near you
Every installer in our directory holds current OZEV approval, verified against the official government register. Search free — no sign-up required.
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