MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme)

03333 239045 | membership@theiaa.co.uk

You too can become MCS Certified with The Installation Assurance Authority (The IAA) in just 12 working days.

Working with industry, MCS defines, maintains and improves quality by certifying low-carbon energy technologies and contractors – including Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps, Solar PV and Battery Storage.

MCS aims to decarbonise heat and power in the UK’s homes by giving consumers and contractors confidence in home-grown energy.

Though not a route to incentive, MCS is required to access funding, such as the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) and the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

The Government’s Heat & Buildings Strategy includes several initiatives intended to increase the 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.

The key component to meeting this target is to have qualified, skilled, and competent installers all working within the same MCS quality framework.
 
What is MCS?

MCS is a mark of quality. As an industry-led quality assurance scheme, MCS demonstrates the quality and reliability of approved low-carbon products and installation companies.

Independent, third-party certification bodies are accredited by UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to assess products and installers to the MCS Standards. MCS certification bodies operate within the ISO/IEC17065 accreditation framework.

MCS comprises a set of design, installation, and product standards, including*:

• MCS 001-1: Requirements for MCS Contractors
• MCS 001-2: The Certification Process
• MCS 025: The Competency Standard
• MIS 3001: The Solar Thermal Standard (Installation)
• MIS 3002: The Solar PV Standard (Installation)
• MIS 3005-D: The Heat Pump Standard (Design)
• MIS 3005-I: The Heat Pump Standard (Installation)

*Click on the title to download the standard.

All MCS Standards and guidance documents can be obtained within the MCS Standards and Tools Library. So don't delay and become MCS certified!

Find an MCS Training Course

Find a list of approved MCS courses that will equip contractors with the skills needed to meet MCS minimum competencies here.

MCS Redeveloped Scheme

January 2025 marks the official launch of the new MCS website and updated documents for the redeveloped scheme.

To find out more about the redeveloped scheme, download the official MCS Redeveloped Scheme leaflet here.