MCS certification is required for installers of solar PV, solar thermal, heat pumps, small-scale wind, and biomass to access government incentives (e.g. Smart Export Guarantee, Boiler Upgrade Scheme). Most commercial and housing association clients require it.
| Issued by | MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) |
|---|---|
| Typical cost | £2,000 a year |
| Renewal | Every year |
| Who needs it | Solar installers, heat pump engineers, air conditioning engineers |
What you need to get it
6 requirements, and what counts as evidence for each.
Installer Qualifications
All installers must hold appropriate qualifications for the technology: Solar PV (City & Guilds 2399, BPEC PV units), Heat Pumps (BPEC Level 3, City & Guilds 6187), Solar Thermal (BPEC ST units). Check MCS’s competence criteria for your specific technology.
Evidence: Qualification certificates for each installer and technology type.
Adequate Insurance
Public liability insurance (minimum £2m) and professional indemnity insurance covering design errors. Employer’s liability if you have employees.
Evidence: Insurance schedule showing all required cover types and limits.
Quality Management System
Document your design, installation, and commissioning procedures. MCS requires a QMS covering site surveys, system design, installation methods, commissioning records, and customer handover.
Evidence: Written QMS procedure documents covering all stages of installation.
Complaints Procedure
Have a written complaints handling procedure including access to the MCS consumer code dispute resolution service.
Evidence: Written complaints procedure referencing MCS Consumer Code.
Apply via Certification Body
Apply through an MCS-approved certification body (e.g. NICEIC, NAPIT, Viridian, HIES). They will audit your QMS and completed work.
Evidence: Completed application with chosen certification body. Completed installation case studies.
Audit Inspection
Pass an initial audit of your QMS and a site inspection of completed installations.
Evidence: Recent completed installations available for inspection.
What you have to keep doing
Getting it is the easy part. Keeping it means:
Annual Audit
Annual audit by your certification body. They will review documentation and may inspect installations.
MCS Certificates
Issue an MCS Installation Certificate for every qualifying installation within 10 working days.
Ongoing CPD
Keep up with changes to MCS standards and technology updates through CPD.
Is it worth it?
At £2,000, the question isn’t the fee — it’s whether it wins you work. For solar installers it usually does, because it’s the first thing a cautious customer or a commercial buyer checks. Most trades hold accreditations and then hide the logos in the footer. If you’ve paid for it, it belongs where customers actually look.
Apply via MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)
Tracking it
Accreditations lapse quietly. The renewal date lands in a busy month, nobody spots it, and you find out when a customer asks for the certificate. Gaffer keeps your accreditations, evidence and renewal dates in one place and reminds you before they expire.