How to check an MCS certificate: verifying your installer before and after installation (UK 2026)

You have a solar quote in hand. Or you have panels on your roof but no paperwork.

Either way, the question is the same: how do you actually check?

There are two completely different checks, and most guides muddle them together. This one separates them clearly:

1. Before you sign: Is the installer I am talking to genuinely MCS certified right now?
2. After installation: Does my certificate exist, what should it look like, and what do I do if I never received one?

If you want to understand what MCS actually is — and what it does or does not guarantee — the fuller background is here: MCS certificates for UK solar: what they look like, how to check them, and what they guarantee

This guide is purely the practical checks.

Quick answer

Check 1 — Before you sign: verifying an installer’s MCS status

This is the most important check. An installer can claim to be MCS on their website or in a sales call, but certification can lapse, expire, or cover a different technology category than you expect.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to mcscertified.com
2. Click “Find an Installer” in the navigation
3. Enter the company name, your postcode, or their MCS certification number if they have given you one
4. In the results, confirm:
   - Their certification status shows as active
   - The technology scope includes solar PV (some installers are certified for heat pumps only)
   - The certification has not recently expired

That is it. If a company appears with active solar PV certification, they are currently MCS certified.

If they do not appear:

Ask them directly for their MCS number and search for that. Occasionally a company trades under one name but is certified under a parent company name. A legitimate installer will have that information immediately.

Red flags worth pausing for:

• The installer says “we are MCS” but cannot give you a certification number on request
• You search for them and find no result, or an expired result
• They describe MCS as optional or suggest you do not need it (“we do better work than MCS requires”)
• The quote mentions accessing the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) but they are not verifiably MCS certified — SEG eligibility typically requires MCS

If you spot any of these, it does not mean the company is dishonest. But it means you should ask the direct question before proceeding.

What an MCS certificate looks like — and what each field means

A typical MCS certificate includes:

• Certified installer name and MCS certification number — this is your verification reference for the mcscertified.com search
• Your full property address and postcode — needed if you later search the MCS Installations Database
• Technology type — should say Solar PV specifically, not just “renewables”
• Commissioning date — your certificate should arrive within ten working days of this date
• System specification — panel make and model, inverter make and model, and total system size in kWp
• Certification body name — the UKAS-accredited body that certified your installer

If any of these are missing from a document an installer hands you, ask for the complete certificate before proceeding.

Check 2 — After installation: confirming your certificate exists

Once your system has been installed, you can verify the installation record exists in the MCS Installations Database (MID).

Step-by-step:

1. Go to certificate.microgenerationcertification.org
2. Search using your full property address and postcode
3. Confirm the record shows:
   - The correct technology type (Solar PV)
   - An installation date that matches your install
   - The installer’s name

This is the official central database of every MCS-certified installation in the UK since 2010. If your installation is there, your certificate exists as a formal record.

The certificate should also be sent to you directly. MCS-certified installers are required to issue the certificate to you within ten working days of commissioning. You should receive it as a PDF or physical document without having to ask.

What to do if you never received your certificate

This is more common than it should be. Here is the correct sequence:

Step 1: Contact your installer first.

Your installer is responsible for issuing the certificate. Send them a written request (email is fine) asking for your MCS certificate. Most reputable companies will send it promptly.

Step 2: If your installer is unresponsive or has gone out of business:

Call the MCS Customer Support Helpdesk on 0333 103 8130.

You will need:
- The full address where the system is installed
- Your postcode
- Proof that you are the current owner of the property (a recent utility bill, council tax statement, or a letter from a solicitor confirming ownership is acceptable)

Step 3: If the installer is no longer trading:

MCS can generate a certificate copy on behalf of installers who are no longer certified or trading. There is an admin fee of £36 including VAT. Copies can only be issued to the current system owner or their legal representative.

Retrospective MCS certification: is it possible?

A common question from homeowners who had panels installed without MCS, or who cannot locate their paperwork.

The honest answer: true retrospective certification is not generally available.

MCS certification covers the installation process itself — how the system was designed, commissioned, and documented at the time. It cannot be applied backwards to an install that was not carried out under MCS standards.

What you can do:

• Verify the installation record exists using the MID database (see Check 2 above). If it is there, your install was MCS certified, even if you never received the paperwork.
• Request a copy via the helpdesk if the record exists but you never got the document.
• Accept the limitation if the install was genuinely not MCS certified. In that case you may be ineligible for SEG export payments with some suppliers, and resale documentation will have a gap.

If you are unsure whether your original installation was MCS certified, the MID database search is the definitive first step.

What an MCS certificate does (and does not) guarantee

This is covered fully in the companion guide — MCS certificates for UK solar: what they look like, how to check them, and what they guarantee — but the short version for context:

• ✓ Confirms the installer was certified and the process followed scheme standards
• ✓ Required by most energy suppliers before they will accept a SEG export tariff application
• ✗ Does not guarantee the system will hit a particular output
• ✗ Does not mean the price you paid was competitive
• ✗ Does not mean the workmanship was excellent — only that a standards framework was followed

Common questions

Can I check an MCS certificate online without calling anyone?

Yes, for most cases. The MCS “Find an Installer” tool at mcscertified.com handles pre-purchase installer verification entirely online. The MID database at certificate.microgenerationcertification.org handles post-installation record checks. The helpdesk number (0333 103 8130) is for cases where you need a copy issued, or where the installer is no longer trading.

The installer gave me a certificate number — how do I check it is real?

Go to mcscertified.com, use “Find an Installer”, and search for their certification number directly. A genuine active certification will return a result showing the company name, technology scope, and current status. If it returns nothing, ask the installer to clarify — occasionally the number given is a consumer code membership number (such as RECC) rather than an MCS certification number. These are different things.

My certificate only says “heat pumps” — does that cover my solar panels?

No. MCS certification is technology-specific. An installer can be MCS certified for heat pumps and not for solar PV, or vice versa. When verifying a solar installer, confirm the technology scope in the search result specifically includes solar photovoltaic (solar PV). If it does not, your solar installation would not meet MCS requirements even if the installer holds a valid MCS number for other work.

What is an MCS certification number, and what does it look like?

It is a reference code assigned to the certified installation company by their certification body. It typically follows a format such as a short letter prefix followed by numbers (for example, SOL followed by six digits, though exact formats vary). You can ask any installer for their MCS number before committing to a quote — a legitimate company will give it to you immediately, without hesitation.

Do I need to check MCS if I am using BlueApe Renewables?

BlueApe Renewables, our recommended installer partner, is MCS certified for solar PV. The verification step above is primarily useful when comparing multiple quotes or if you are using a local installer you have not worked with before.

Bottom line

• Before signing: Search the installer on the MCS “Find an Installer” tool at mcscertified.com. Confirm the certification is active and covers solar PV. Takes two minutes.
• After installation: Check your installation record in the MID at certificate.microgenerationcertification.org. Your certificate should arrive within ten working days of commissioning.
• Missing certificate: Contact the installer first. If they are gone, call the MCS helpdesk on 0333 103 8130. Proof of address required; £36 fee if MCS needs to generate a copy.
• Retrospective certification: The MID database will tell you whether the original install was MCS certified. If it was not, the limitation is real and largely irreversible.

Next reads

• MCS certificates for UK solar: what they look like, how to check them, and what they guarantee
• DNO, G98/G99, and export limits: why your inverter may be capped
• Solar warranties and insurance in the UK: what is covered, what is not, and who to call first
• Solar panel cost in the UK: what you actually pay and why quotes vary
• UK solar glossary

Check your own postcode

MCS status is the process check. Your roof, location, and usage pattern decide whether a quote actually stacks up for your property.

Run the calculator to see typical solar output and savings assumptions where you live — then compare your quotes against that baseline.

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