Carpenter qualifications and accreditation in the UK

There is no licence

Unlike gas and most electrical work, carpentry is not legally restricted. Nobody has to hold a qualification to trade as a carpenter, and there is no register they must appear on. That is not a scandal, it is just the position, and it means the checks are on you rather than on a regulator.

Qualifications you will see

NVQ or SVQ Level 2 and 3 in Site Carpentry or Architectural Joinery are the standard vocational qualifications. Level 2 covers core skills, Level 3 covers complex work. City and Guilds diplomas cover the same ground through a different awarding body. An apprenticeship combines either with time on site, and 'time served' usually means someone completed one.

A CSCS card is not a qualification in itself. It shows the holder has a relevant qualification and has passed a health and safety test, and it is what gets someone onto a commercial site. On domestic work it is a reasonable signal and nothing more.

Memberships worth checking

FMB, the Federation of Master Builders, vets members and requires an independent inspection. TrustMark is a government-endorsed scheme covering trades across the board. The British Woodworking Federation covers manufacturers and joinery workshops. Which? Trusted Traders assesses and monitors members.

All of these have a membership number you can check on the scheme's own website. A logo on a van or a website is not evidence of anything; the number is. Checking takes a minute and is the single most useful thing you can do.

Insurance matters more than any badge

Public liability insurance, usually £1 million to £5 million, covers damage to your property. Ask for the certificate, check it is current, and check the name on it matches the name on the quote. A carpenter working without it is a risk you are carrying, not one they are.

For work in a rented property or a leasehold flat, your landlord or freeholder may set their own requirements, and those are worth reading before you book anyone.

Where certification is not optional

Fire door installation in flats, houses in multiple occupation and shared escape routes is the main one. The rating only holds if the door, frame, hinges, strips and gaps all match the tested specification, and there are third-party certification schemes for installers. Where fire doors are involved, ask specifically.

Common questions