A green badge on a trades platform means the platform has completed its highest level of identity, insurance, and often qualifications checks on that trader. An amber badge typically means some checks are still outstanding or only basic verification has been done. For electrical work in particular — where getting it wrong can cost lives and create serious legal liability — understanding that difference before you hire matters enormously.
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Platforms like Checkatrade, Rated People, TrustATrader, and MyBuilder all use some form of verification badge system to signal how thoroughly they've vetted a tradesperson. The exact terminology varies slightly between platforms — some say "verified," others use green and amber visual indicators, others use star ratings alongside checks — but the principle is the same. They're trying to give you a quick visual shorthand for trustworthiness.
The problem is that most homeowners and landlords assume these badges mean something more definitive than they do. A badge from a trades platform is not the same as being registered with an industry body like NICEIC or NAPIT. It's not a substitute for checking qualifications, and it doesn't always confirm that someone is legally entitled to carry out the specific work you're asking them to do.
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A green badge — or full verification status — on most trades platforms typically means the trader has passed all the checks that platform requires before awarding their highest trust tier. This usually includes:
If a platform operates a green/amber system specifically, a green badge signals all those boxes are ticked to their standard. On Checkatrade, for example, a fully checked status means they've verified ID, insurance, and relevant qualifications or memberships.
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Amber typically signals partial verification. Some checks have been completed, but not all. Common reasons a trader sits at amber include:
Amber doesn't automatically mean dodgy. It can mean someone is in the middle of completing the process. But it does mean you're working with less certainty, and for regulated work like electrical installation, that matters.
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Electrical work in England and Wales is regulated under Part P of the Building Regulations. Most domestic electrical installation work — new circuits, consumer unit replacements, work in kitchens, bathrooms, and gardens — must either be notified to your local authority building control, or carried out by an electrician who is registered with a Competent Person Scheme such as NICEIC or NAPIT. Being registered with one of those schemes allows an electrician to self-certify their own work, meaning they notify the work to building control on your behalf and issue you a certificate.
If someone isn't registered with a Competent Person Scheme and hasn't notified the work through building control, the installation is technically not legally compliant. That affects your insurance, your ability to sell the property, and your liability as a landlord.
An amber badge on a trades platform tells you nothing about Competent Person Scheme registration. Even a green badge doesn't necessarily confirm it — the platform may have checked qualifications without specifically verifying Scheme membership.
All work I carry out is done in accordance with BS 7671 18th Edition Wiring Regulations, including the requirements introduced by Amendment 2, covering things like RCD protection requirements and RCBO usage in consumer unit upgrades. That's the standard — not a nice-to-have.
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For electrical work, here's what I'd expect to see confirmed before handing over any money:
1. NICEIC or NAPIT registration — searchable on their public registers
2. Current public liability insurance — ask to see the certificate, not just a platform tick
3. Relevant qualifications — at minimum City & Guilds 2382 (18th Edition), and for installation work, 2391 or equivalent for testing
4. Part P Competent Person Scheme membership — allows self-certification
5. For EV charger installation — check they hold OZEV authorised installer status; without it, the installation won't qualify for the Homecharge scheme grant
6. For EICR work — check they're qualified to inspect and test, not just install
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For straightforward low-risk work, amber might be fine once you've done your own additional checks. But for anything notifiable under Part P — consumer unit replacements, new circuits, EICR inspections, landlord electrical safety certificates, EV charger installs — I'd only go with someone who has full verification and can independently confirm their Competent Person Scheme registration. A green badge is a reasonable starting point, not the finish line.
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Does a green badge on a trades platform mean the electrician is registered with NICEIC or NAPIT?
Not necessarily. A platform may have verified qualifications documents without specifically confirming Competent Person Scheme membership. Always check the NICEIC or NAPIT register independently.
Can a trader with only an amber badge legally carry out electrical work under Part P?
An amber badge alone tells you nothing about legal entitlement. What matters is whether they're registered with an approved Competent Person Scheme or have arranged local authority notification. The badge is a platform measure, not a regulatory one.
What is the minimum verification I should expect before hiring an electrician for an EICR?
Confirmed NICEIC or NAPIT registration, evidence of relevant inspection and testing qualifications (City & Guilds 2391 or equivalent), current public liability insurance, and a clear written quote specifying what the EICR will cover and how any remedial work will be categorised (C1, C2, C3).
Is a trades platform badge enough proof of qualification for a landlord electrical certificate?
No. A landlord electrical safety certificate — technically an EICR — carries legal weight under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. You need an electrician who is qualified to inspect and test, registered with a Competent Person Scheme, and who will issue a properly formatted EICR. A platform badge doesn't confirm any of that on its own.
How do I check if an electrician is a member of a Competent Person Scheme independently?
Go directly to the scheme's website. NICEIC: niceic.com/find-a-contractor. NAPIT: napit.org.uk/find-a-member. Both have free postcode search tools. If someone claims membership but doesn't appear on the register, treat that as a serious red flag.
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If you're in the North East and want to talk through any electrical work — whether it's an EICR, a consumer unit upgrade, or an EV charger installation — you're welcome to get in touch with us at [Energy North Ltd](https://energynorth.uk). We'll give you straight answers and a proper quote, no obligation.