Glossary · Heat pumps, grants and regulations
What is MCS certification?
MCS certification is the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewable energy such as heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage. It sets installation and product standards and gives consumers protection if something goes wrong. A heat pump grant under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme needs an MCS certified installer.
Key points
- MCS is the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewables. It sets standards for installers and products and offers consumer protection.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme quotes come from MCS certified installers, who apply to Ofgem for the grant on your behalf.
- You can check an installer on the MCS Find an Installer tool, at the quote stage, before you sign and before work starts.
- After an MCS certified heat pump installation you should receive an MCS certificate within 10 working days and a handover pack.
- MCS covers renewables. A gas boiler is covered by Gas Safe registration, not MCS.
How MCS certification works
MCS is the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewable energy technologies such as solar panels, heat pumps and battery storage. It has two main roles: setting and maintaining standards, and providing consumer protection.[7]MCS, MCS: the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewables Its standards define how the technologies should be designed and installed using MCS certified products.[7]MCS, MCS: the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewables
MCS certification is also a requirement for accessing many UK government incentives.[1]MCS, Why MCS certification matters It covers two things:
| What is certified | What it means |
|---|---|
| The installer | The business installs renewable technologies to the MCS Installation Standards and follows safety practices in and around your home |
| The product | The heat pump or other product has been tested for quality, reliability and performance under the MCS Product Standards |
MCS also publishes the MCS Customer Commitment, which sets out the responsibilities installers have towards customers and the rights you have.[1]MCS, Why MCS certification matters
Why MCS matters for heat pump grants
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme process starts with contacting suitable MCS certified installers for quotes. Once you agree a quote, the installer applies for the grant on your behalf on the Ofgem website, and the value of the grant is taken off the amount you pay.[4]GOV.UK, Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: How to apply Ofgem may contact you or visit to check the installation, and MCS might carry out its own checks.[4]GOV.UK, Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: How to apply Our boiler grants page and the Warm Homes Plan entry cover the funding in more detail.
To check an installer, use the MCS Find an Installer tool. You can search by installer name or certification number, or by technology and location.[2]MCS, Find an MCS Certified Installer MCS suggests checking an installer’s status when you get a quote, before you sign the contract and before the installation starts.[3]MCS, Air Source Heat Pump
After an MCS certified installation you should receive an MCS certificate within 10 working days of completion. The installer should also give you a handover pack with the system’s key parts, health and safety guidance, a servicing and maintenance schedule, manuals and guarantees.[3]MCS, Air Source Heat Pump
Which technologies it covers
MCS covers air-to-water heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, among others.[2]MCS, Find an MCS Certified Installer Air-to-air heat pumps are being brought into the scheme. MCS says no installers are yet certified for them, and they need a certification body to gain accreditation first.[5]MCS, Air-to-Air Heat Pumps Our air-to-air heat pump entry gives the current position.
MCS does not replace Gas Safe registration. Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in domestic premises must be a Gas Safe registered engineer.[6]Health and Safety Executive, Domestic gas: frequently asked questions
Example
Karen in Ilkley wants a heat pump and a grant. She uses the MCS Find an Installer tool to check the shortlist, and asks each for a quote. She picks one, who applies for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on her behalf and takes the grant off the invoice. After the work Karen receives an MCS certificate and a handover pack. She keeps both with her other house papers.
What people get wrong
A common assumption is that “MCS” is a brand of heat pump. It is the quality mark for the installer and for the products used. The installer and the product each need to be certified, and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme process starts with quotes from MCS certified installers.
The other mistake is to skip the check. MCS asks you to check an installer’s certification at three points: the quote, before signing and before installation, because status can change.[3]MCS, Air Source Heat Pump
The bottom line
MCS certification is the UK quality mark for small-scale renewables. It covers the installer and the product, and for heat pumps it is the gateway to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. Check your installer on the MCS tool, expect a certificate within 10 working days and keep the handover pack. If you are comparing options, see our heat pumps page.
Common questions
Do I need an MCS certified installer to get the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant?
Yes in practice. GOV.UK's how to apply steps start with getting quotes from MCS certified installers, and the installer applies for the grant on your behalf through Ofgem. The grant is taken off your bill.
How do I check an installer is MCS certified?
Use the MCS Find an Installer tool, which you can search by installer name or certification number. MCS suggests checking when you get a quote, before you sign the contract and before the installation starts.
What do I get after an MCS certified installation?
You should receive an MCS certificate within 10 working days of completion and a handover pack. The pack includes the system's key parts, health and safety guidance, a recommended servicing schedule, manuals and guarantees.
Is a gas boiler installer MCS certified?
Not for gas boilers. MCS covers small-scale renewables such as heat pumps. Anyone employed to work on gas appliances in a home must be a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Sources
We cite the original source for every figure: government, regulators, standards bodies and manufacturers' own documents. Each one shows the date we last checked it.
- MCS. Why MCS certification matters. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- MCS. Find an MCS Certified Installer. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- MCS. Air Source Heat Pump. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- GOV.UK. Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: How to apply. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- MCS. Air-to-Air Heat Pumps. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Health and Safety Executive. Domestic gas: frequently asked questions. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- MCS. MCS: the UK's quality mark for small-scale renewables. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩