MCS Redeveloped Installer Scheme – FAQs

MCS announced the redevelopment of their Installer Scheme in October 2023.  

Their aims are to simplify the certification process, focusing more on the quality of installations rather than extensive paperwork. Key changes include restructuring the scheme to enhance consumer protection, streamlining technical standards, and removing the mandatory requirement for consumer code membership.

This page will keep you updated on the redevelopment. This page was last updated: 23 June 2025.

Becoming MCS certified 

If your business would like to gain MCS certification, you can still do so on the current scheme.

If your business is ready to gain certification, we advise applying now.

NICEIC is awaiting its updated accreditation from UKAS. As soon this is granted, we will update existing certified businesses on the transition plan. We will ensure this process is efficient and seamless.

Redeveloped Installer Scheme – documents  

MCS has published details of the redeveloped Installer Scheme (Jan 2025). This includes the core documents and updated structure. These documents should contain all the information your business will need to make the required changes to your business systems.
 
For now, we recommend you read through the redeveloped scheme documents and, review against current systems, and identify where current changes will be required within your MCS operations.

Outline of MCS aims and a letter from MCS CEO, Ian Rippin

Core documents, the updated structure for the redeveloped MCS Installer Scheme and FAQS. 

The core documents include:

  • Installer Operating Requirements – this is the framework for how your business will maintain MCS certification. It outlines the requirements and processes that you need to follow. 
  • Customer Commitment – this outlines an installer’s responsibility to protect and safeguard consumers and adhere to consumer protection laws. It ensures that customers are treated fairly, and they know where to turn if they need to complain.  
  • MCS Installation Standards – these are the technical standards for how systems should be designed and installed. 
     What is changing? The technical requirements of the current MCS Installation Standards are not changing. They have been restructured and streamlined to be more focussed as “technical truths”. 
  • Pre-sale Information and System Performance Estimate Standards – these outline how to carry out system performance estimates and the pre-sale information that must be provided to a customer for an installation.
     What is changing? The requirements are remaining the same. To improve clarity, they have been restructured and streamlined into their own technology-specific standards. 
  • Also available: a diagram of the redeveloped scheme structure.

Timeline for changes

NICEIC has submitted its application to UKAS for our updated accreditation.

On renewal, we will:

  • update existing NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme businesses on the transition plan; and
  • begin to transition businesses over to the new scheme. While we can’t provide a detailed timeline at this stage, we intend to transition businesses in phases throughout the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.

Meanwhile, please ensure your business continues to maintain the requirements of the current NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme.

Additional guidance

In addition to the documentation, guidance and FAQs provided by MCS, we’ve also provided additional FAQs on this page to assist with common questions.

We will also continue to keep you informed through webinars, regular email updates and supporting documents to ensure that you’re fully prepared for the transition.

You may also find it helpful to watch the webinars hosted by MCS and Installer Magazine (February and June 2025) about the redevelopment including questions from installers answered by MCS.

Redeveloped MCS: your questions answered.

MCS answers FAQs on its redeveloped Installer Scheme.

FAQs

It is expected that smaller installers will, on joining the redeveloped scheme, identify their current NTP as their Technical Supervisor. It is important that this individual is directly involved in supervising the quality of each installation, as they are essentially signing it off as compliant with MCS requirements.
 
MCS has confirmed that being a member of a consumer code will be voluntary under the redeveloped scheme. However, your business will need to maintain its membership and payments until fully transitioned onto the redeveloped scheme. Where your business undertakes funded work, additional requirements such as consumer code membership may continue to be mandatory.
 
MCS has designed the risk-based assessment model to consider how much surveillance is needed for each business.
A certified installer that meets the following criteria may benefit from a reduced assessment requirement.
  • over two years tenure, where no non-conformities are raised at assessment
  • a stable business operation (personal, location, structure)
  • consistent volume and scope of work; and
  • no complaints.
This would mean having a site assessment every three years rather than every year, although a submission annually of documents, such as insurance to confirm compliance, would still be required.
For an installer business with significant change (i.e. technical personnel, increased reliance on a subcontractor network), changes to volume of installation, or complaints/nonconformities, there may be an increased requirement for your certification body to assess 20% of all MCS-related business activities.
 
MCS has advised from 16 December 2024, you will no longer be able to purchase an IWA Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) through the MCS Installation Database (MID).
However, your business must still purchase an IBG for each installation you register on the MID. This remains essential to comply with current MCS Standards.
We recommend contacting your IBG provider directly to arrange cover.
 
MCS will take on the responsibilities previously held by the consumer code. Their aim is to centralise complaints so that it’s clear to consumers where to go should they need to make a complaint. To ensure there’s independent oversight, MCS has created a consumer protection panel to oversee MCS and the consumer protections they will be offering. There will also be alternative dispute resolution provided for free if the complaint cannot be resolved through their process.
 
The development of new financial protections for the sector is distinct from the development of the rest of the new scheme. MCS intends that the first installers able join the new scheme will have access to new financial protection products that meet the MCS Requirements for Financial Protections.
Until the new requirements document is published and new financial protection products are available, installers will still need to purchase an IBG. A current list of IBG providers can be found here.
NICEIC will inform all applicants and NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme businesses as soon as we can assess under the new scheme. We need to gain accreditation from UKAS prior to offering certification to our MCS installers.
 
MCS research, as well as that published by organisations such as Citizens Advice, has found that IBGs do not provide the cover consumers expect them to. The presence of more effective consumer financial protection is a key driver of consumer confidence, encouraging consumers to invest in low carbon technologies for their homes, and giving lenders the confidence to offer finance to fund such installations.
 
At present, there are no changes scheduled to the boiler upgrade scheme requirements, so Consumer Code membership will be needed.
 
Your business will still be able to sub-contract as an MCS certified installer. Related terms will be included within the new Installer Operating Requirements.
 
Alongside the information on this page, NICEIC will share more guidance as soon as we can. In the meantime, please ensure you familiarise yourself with all the scheme documentation provided by MCS and the requirements contained within it. If you do have additional questions, you can contact MCS directly through their Helpdesk.