The core qualification

The core qualification is the Level 3 Award in Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits), offered by awarding bodies such as BPEC, LCL Awards and others. It is recognised as a demonstration of competence for MCS certification, and it is the qualification most heat pump training points towards.

The phrase "non-refrigerant circuits" is important. It means the qualification covers everything except joining the refrigerant pipework, which is the norm for monobloc air source heat pumps, where the refrigerant circuit is sealed and pre-charged at the factory. The installer connects the water side, not the refrigerant side. Split systems, where refrigerant pipework is connected on site, need an additional F-gas qualification (covered below).

The full qualification stack

Installing air source heat pumps is not a single qualification. It is a stack: a trade base, the heat pump award, supporting plumbing tickets, and separate electrical competence. Here is the whole picture.

Qualification What it covers Required for
Level 2/3 plumbing or heating (or ~3 years wet central heating experience) The underlying trade Entry to the heat pump award
Level 3 Award in Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits) Installing and commissioning the heat pump The core competence; recognised for MCS
Water Regulations (WRAS / BPEC or equivalent) Safe connection to the water supply MCS; all installs
Unvented hot water storage (G3) Safe hot water cylinder work Installs with an unvented cylinder
Low Temperature Heating and Hot Water System Design (Level 3) Designing the system MCS design (not installation-only)
F-gas (e.g. City & Guilds 2079) Refrigerant circuit work Split systems only
Electrician qualification The electrical connection The electrical work (separate competence)

What is the entry requirement for the heat pump award?

The heat pump award is not an entry-level qualification; you need a heating background first. Typically that means an N/SVQ Level 2 or 3 in plumbing, heating and ventilating, oil-fired technical services, or gas installation and maintenance. Alternatively, many providers accept heating installers with around three years of evidenced experience installing wet central heating systems, shown through manufacturer certificates or Gas Safe, OFTEC, MCS or HETAS registration.

The reason is practical: a heat pump is a wet heating system with a heat pump instead of a boiler. Without the underlying plumbing and heating competence, the heat pump award alone would not make you a safe installer. If you are coming from outside the trade, you need the trade qualification first, as explained in our guide to how to become a heat pump installer.

Do you need F-gas for air source heat pumps?

For most domestic air source heat pumps, no. It depends on whether the system is monobloc or split:

  • Monobloc heat pumps have a sealed, pre-charged refrigerant circuit, all contained in the outdoor unit. The installer connects only the water side, so F-gas certification is generally not required. This is the most common domestic type, and it is why the core qualification is for "non-refrigerant circuits."
  • Split heat pumps have the refrigerant circuit split between indoor and outdoor units, with refrigerant pipework joined on site. That refrigerant work requires an F-gas qualification, such as City & Guilds 2079.

So if you install monobloc units, you generally do not need F-gas. If you install split systems, you do. Confirm the requirement for the specific products you intend to fit, because it affects which qualifications you need.

Do you need Water Regulations and unvented qualifications?

Yes. Water Regulations and unvented hot water qualifications are part of the standard requirement, not optional extras. Water Regulations (WRAS, BPEC or equivalent) are required because the heat pump connects to the property's water system, and MCS expects it. The unvented hot water (G3) qualification is required where the system includes an unvented hot water cylinder, which most heat pump installs do.

These are the same supporting qualifications a plumber fitting an unvented cylinder would hold, so many heating engineers already have them. If you do not, they are part of the stack to complete before MCS certification.

Do you need MCS certification?

You need MCS certification for grant-funded work, not for the qualification itself. MCS is a certification held by the business, not an individual qualification. You can hold all the personal qualifications above and install a privately funded heat pump without MCS, but you cannot offer the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant, and most customers expect MCS.

To become MCS certified, your business works to the MCS standards, including the Heat Pump Installation Standard MIS 3005-I, and joins through an MCS certification body. The personal qualifications above are what you use to demonstrate the competence MCS requires. Our guide to how to become a heat pump installer covers MCS and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in detail.

Installation vs design: a key distinction

MCS treats installing and designing heat pumps as different competences, and they need different qualifications. For MCS installation only, you need the heat pump award plus Water Regulations. For MCS installation and design, you also need a Level 3 qualification in low temperature heating and hot water system design in dwellings.

This matters when you plan your training. If you will work to someone else's designs, the installation route is enough. If you will size and design systems yourself, which most independent installers do, you need the design qualification too. Designing a heat pump system to the property's heat loss is a skilled task, and getting it wrong leaves customers cold and bills high.

Frequently asked questions

What is the air source heat pump qualification called?

The main one is the Level 3 Award in Air Source Heat Pump Systems (non-refrigerant circuits), offered by awarding bodies including BPEC and LCL Awards. It is recognised as evidence of competence for MCS certification.

Can I install a heat pump with just the Level 3 heat pump award?

Not for a complete, compliant, grant-funded install. The heat pump award is the core qualification, but you also need Water Regulations, unvented hot water (G3) where relevant, a qualified electrician for the electrical connection, and MCS certification for grant work.

Do I need F-gas to install a monobloc air source heat pump?

Generally no. Monobloc units have a sealed, pre-charged refrigerant circuit, so the installer does not work on refrigerant and F-gas is not normally required. F-gas is needed for split systems, where refrigerant pipework is joined on site.

Do I need to be a qualified plumber first?

You need a plumbing or heating background to take the heat pump award, typically a Level 2/3 plumbing or heating qualification, or around three years of evidenced wet central heating experience. The heat pump award builds on that base rather than replacing it.

Who does the electrical connection on a heat pump?

A qualified electrician. The electrical connection is a legally separate competence from the heating and water work. Heat pump installers either hold electrical qualifications as well or work with an electrician for that part of the job.

How Nexis Academy can help

Nexis Academy is a City & Guilds Approved Centre (T91185) in Manchester. We currently deliver internal wall insulation training, with heat pump and other retrofit courses in development. Register your interest and we will let you know when heat pump training is available. See also how to become a heat pump installer and how to become a retrofit installer.

See also MCS certification for heat pump installers and do you need F-gas.

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