Gas Safe Register check, login & how to get certified

The Gas Safe Register is nationally recognised as the official certification for heating and boiler engineers who work on residential or commercial boiler and heating systems in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Guernsey. You should always request and ensure that anyone working on your boiler is appropriately trained to keep your household safe.

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What is the Gas Safe Register?

The Gas Safe Register is a certification for boiler installation, maintenance and heating technicians that ensures gas repairs, checks and inspections for your home are carried out safely by people who are appropriately trained.

Most technicians will be able to install a boiler replacement, water heaters and central heating systems. They will also be able to repair valves, thermostat malfunctions, flue issues and ensure your carbon monoxide detector will pick up any leak.

The Gas Safe Register became the officially recognised certification in 2009, superseding the CORGI scheme which had been in place since the early 90s. Today there are over 120,000 Gas Safe certified engineers in the UK.

Gas Safe registered technicians and engineers have an ID which details the types of repairs they are licensed to carry out safely and are also searchable in the online version of the register.

Registered engineers need to show that they hold one of the accredited qualifications for their trade, such as an ACS, NVQ, SVQ and Scotland’s QCF.

How do I know if an engineer is registered?

All gas safe fitters and technicians will have a valid Gas Safe ID with them at all times. You are well within your rights to ask them to show you their card and it is something they are expected to produce.

On the front of the card, you will have all the information that establishes their identity and the validity of their registration:

1. Technician name
2. Company name
3. Gas Safe registration and license numbers
4. The date the card was issued and its expiration
5. The card will also have the Gas Safe Register phone number, in case you need to check the validity of the card on the spot.
6. Security hologram and QR code

On the back, you will find details relating to the kind of work they can do:

1. Domestic or non-domestic skills
2. The type of appliance or service they have certification for
3. Gas Fuel type
4. Expiration dates for their qualifications

If a friend or family member recommends a gas fitter for your plumbing and heating needs, you should insist that they be Gas Safe registered, no matter how highly recommended they are or how good their deal is. Around 250,000 illegal gas repairs are carried out in the UK every year and about 50,000 of those led appliances, boilers and heating systems needing to be shut down immediately to avoid harm and further damage.

If you suspect someone of operating without Gas Safe certification, you should contact the Gas Safe register right away, using the details at the bottom of this page.

How can I find a Gas Safe registered engineer near me?

The Gas Safe Register website lets you search the register by engineer and business name, but more importantly also by location.

1. Enter your Post Code in the Register search
2. Click on the yellow (+) button to “Choose Appliance”
3. Select what type of gas your household uses. Natural/Main Gas will be the more common option for regular homes with LPG/Cylinder being more widespread for commercial and rural customers.
4. Choose the relevant appliances you need them to look at or fix and the Register search will narrow down the available engineers to those who are qualified to work on the appliances you selected. You can tick more than one appliance in a single search.

Each entry in the search results contains a wealth of information on both the registered companies and the individual engineers that work for them. For starters, you will get the name, physical address and relevant contact details for each business. Being able to put an address and phone number to the business that will be servicing your boiler or central heating certainly brings some peace of mind with it.

Once more the yellow (+) icon is very useful since it shows the categories of repairs and inspections the company is certified in. Each category has its (+) symbol which discloses further details within each appliance or category.

The same level of detail is extended to each engineer shown once you click the “View our engineers” dark green button. This means you can see an exhaustive list of service repairs they are registered for.

I’m a technician - how do I apply to become Gas Safe certified?

Becoming a Gas Safe registered technician could be a smart career move, with experienced technicians earning upwards of £38,000 a year.

There are many ways to get qualified. You can study at a college or do an apprenticeship straight out of school for a period of between 1-4 years. Those over 24 years of age can apply for the advanced learner loan to support themselves while studying for their qualification.

1. Get a recognised industry qualification

Any gas or heating engineer wishing to become part of the Gas Safe Register needs to show that they are qualified and competent. To do so applicants must successfully complete one of the following training programmes that are part of the IGEM/IG/1 accreditation:

• NVQ or SVQ (National or Scottish Vocational Qualification) is an entry-level training programme for those who have no experience as a plumber or gas fitter. There are three Gas Service NVQs allocated by City and Guilds and they cover: installation and maintenance of natural gas, emergency service and appliance pathways.
• ACS (Accredited Certification Scheme) is a higher level qualification for experienced gas engineers who want to add endorsements to their Gas Safe Register profile to allow them to inspect and work on a wider range of appliances and heating systems.
• QCF (Qualification Credit Framework) is overseen by the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) and can be equivalent to ACS in the following areas: home energy installation or upkeep of residential appliances and meters. This applies to natural gas and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

2. Get your CCN1 (Domestic Gas Safety)

This is the core domestic certificate of competence covering gas safety for domestic installations. Every technician working on domestic gas installation must hold this or an equivalent to it.

Once you’ve successfully achieved the CCN1, it has to be renewed every five years.

3. Get your Gas Safe registration

Once you’re fully qualified, you can apply for your Gas Safe certification, either online or by downloading and sending an application form. Both of these options are avialble on the Gas Safe Register website.

Once registered, you have to pass a probation period of three months. During this time, you should keep records and inform the Gas Safety Register of any gas work you have carried out. You will also receive a Gas Safe ID card, which you will need to carry when performing gas repairs, to show as proof that you are on the Gas Safe Register.

How much does it cost?

Below you'll find the fees to apply and register. All of the fees listed are subject to VAT.

• Application fee of £190.00
• £172.00 to register a first engineer
• £25.98 for each extra engineer

When applying, you will need to have a few details to hand:

1. The name of your company (and trading name, if it differs).
2. The company address and phone number.
3. Nation Insurance numbers for each engineer being added to the register.
4. Your credit or debit card details.

Gas Safe Register renewal

As a Gas Safe engineer, you’ll need to renew your certification every year. The cost is:

• £137.00 to renew online.
• £157.00 to renew by downloading and sending an application form.

Both of these options can be done through the Gas Safe Register website.

Gas Safe Register login

The Gas Safe Register website does not host a login area for residential customers looking to find qualified technicians. However, it does have a portal for registered fitters called the “Engineer Area.”

Registered members can sign in using their valid User ID or Licence and Registration numbers. This online account lets them view safety alerts, updates and bulletins as well as manage their gas safe profile and local inspector contacts.

From a consumer perspective, we think that engineers having access to this kind of industry-wide support means better service for the communities they serve.

Contact numbers

Many of the Gas Safe Register’s services are available online. However, should you need to make direct contact, you can do so using the information below. Normal opening hours are weekdays from 9am-5pm.