Renewable technologies are booming in popularity as consumers and businesses seek to cut carbon emissions, offset rising energy costs, and ensure stable energy supplies.
This page provides further information about the application process, the benefits of certification with NICEIC, and NICEC MCS approved training courses and qualifications.
Access the latest updates on the redevelopment of the MCS Scheme.
MCS is a mark of quality
- This quality assurance scheme will demonstrate that your business is competent to design, install and commission small scale renewable and low carbon technologies for the domestic and commercial sectors.
- Consumers know to seek out an NICEIC MCS approved contractor to guarantee a high-quality installation.
- Your customers will be able to access government incentives for the installation of renewable technologies (such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), Home Energy Loan and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)). These incentives require that installations are compliant with MCS standards and installed by an MCS approved contractor.
Gain MCS certification with NICEIC
NICEIC is accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to operate its government approved certification scheme: the NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme.
MCS outline 4 elements to become an MCS certified contractor.
- Commit to demonstrate quality.
Demonstrate the operation of a quality management system (QMS) - A commitment to customer care.
Your business must be registered either the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or the HIES Consumer Code. - Demonstrate competency.
Adhere to the full MCS competency criteria detailed within the MCS 025 Standard. - A commitment to quality workmanship.
NICEIC will assess your company practices and conduct a site assessment of the technology applied for to ensure it is installed in line with requirements.
Offer more to your customers
The NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme will enable you to offer one or more of these renewable technologies to your customers.
Solar thermal hot water
Solar photovoltaic (PV)
Heat pumps – the installation and design of air (ASHP) and ground source (GSHP) heat pumps
Electrical energy storage systems (EESS)
Why choose the NICEIC MCS Approved Contractor Scheme?
The benefits of certification with NICEIC include:
- Save time and money
The MCS Approved Contractor Scheme will enable your business to register installations on the MCS Installation Database to raise MCS certificates. These MCS certificates are often required by your customers to access funding.
2 for the price of 1: this scheme and other NICEIC schemes including the NICEIC Competent Person Scheme can be bundled for no extra cost. This will allow your business to self-certify work and notify the local building control body through the NICEIC Online Certification System. You will also save time and costs as your NICEIC assessment for both schemes will take place at the same time.
- Assurance of certification with the industry’s leading certification body
This allows you to display the prestigious NICEIC brandmark on your website, letterhead, social media, and other materials, affirming your expertise and status as a professional, certified business.
- Access to the industry’s best technical minds and resources
Once certified, your business will have access to a wide range of resources including our technical helpline, THE WIRE webinars, and e-newsletters. - New customers
Your business will be listed on our ‘Find a trusted NICEIC tradesperson’ tool which we promote in national marketing campaigns, so customers can search for you in just a few clicks. - Representing you in industry forums
We work on your behalf to shape future policy regulations. We ensure the feedback you give us during your assessments and forums such as webinars and events are relayed within the industry to help drive change.
Current fees from April 2024
Application fee
Your application fee includes the technology fee, initial application fee, and the MCS licence fee (this fee is transferred to MCS).
| Technologies | Technology fee | Initial application fee | MCS license fee (fee is transferred to MCS) | Total excluding VAT | |
| 1 technology | £595 | £150 | £55 | £800 | |
| 2 technologies | £845 | £150 | £55 | £1050 | |
| 3 Technologies | £1190 | £150 | £55 | £1395 | |
| 4 technologies | £1590 | £150 | £55 | £1795 |
Annual
Your business annual fee includes the technology fee and MCS licence fees (this fee is transferred to MCS). These prices exclude VAT.
| Technologies | Technology fee | MCS license fee (fee is transferred to MCS) | Total excluding VAT | |
| 1 technology | £595 | £55 | £650 | |
| 2 technologies | £845 | £55 | £900 | |
| 3 Technologies | £1190 | £55 | £1245 | |
| 4 technologies | £1590 | £55 | £1645 |
Training
NICEIC offers a range of renewables training courses and qualifications which are MCS approved and meet MCS competency requirements for each small-scale technology type. These include:
- Level 3 Award in the Installation of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems (EAL)
- Level 3 Award in the Design, Installation and Commissioning of Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EAL)
- Solar Thermal Hot Water Course (NICEIC)
- Heat Pump Qualification (NICEIC)
Access full details of NICEIC training courses and qualifications, and the latest information about course locations and dates. Or speak to one of our training team on 0333 015 6627 or email traininginfo@niceic.com.
FAQs
Certification is an assessment carried out by an independent, third-party organisation to ensure compliance with a technical specification. NICEIC is an accredited certification body with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to assess installers to the MCS Standards. We operate within the ISO/IEC17065 accreditation framework.
Once certified with NICEIC, we will be your main point of contact for any technical queries, and you will need to keep us up to date with your company details.
Being a part of the scheme will enable your customers to access government incentives such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS), Home Energy Loan in Scotland and Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). These are changing all the time.
The Government’s Heat & Buildings Strategy includes several initiatives intended to increase uptake of small-scale renewables to support the UK’s target to achieve net zero by 2050. For example, the aim is to increase annual installations of air source heat pumps from 30,000 to 600,000 per year by 2028. Quality, skilled and competent installations will be key to this.
Quality assurance: MCS certification demonstrates that products and installers meet rigorous quality standards.
Consumer protection: certified installations come with a warranty and are backed by robust consumer protection mechanisms.
Government incentives: only MCS certified installations are eligible for government incentives such as the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) and Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Environmental impact: support the UK's commitment to reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change by using certified renewable energy technologies.
After you are certified, your business's details will be uploaded to the MCS register at https://mcscertified.com and to the NICEIC Find a Trusted Tradesperson register. You will also be able to display the MCS mark, to help promote your business and notify completed installations to the Microgeneration Installation Database (MID). Your customers will also now be able to access government funding once you have completed installations on their behalf.
As an NICIEC MCS approved contractor you must demonstrate that you are continuing to comply with NICEIC MCS Scheme Rules and that technical standards are being maintained. We ensure this by undertaking a surveillance assessment with you on a regular basis, normally assessing a minimum of one installation of each technology you are certified for, with appropriate documentation, every year.
