4 Business and Operational Environment
Hopefully you have already looked at the preferred qualifications and experience, and having read the specification, you are certain you have the right attributes, attitudes and aptitudes, but does it make business and financial sense?
This page covers some of the business and financial factors we guide you to take into account of when deciding if becoming a BSS Examiner is right for you and your business.
Your business case
If you are a sole trader or small business manager, the business case for pursuing a place on the BSS New Examiner Training Programme is a matter for you to carefully consider and if you don’t have experience in this regard, we guide you to get advice from organisations and professionals who specialise in this area of business support.
The total price Examiner’s charge boat owners for Examinations is not fixed, advised or controlled by the BSS. Examiners compete with each other in a free market and the price to boaters will vary. We guide you to research the ‘going-rate’ for BSS Examinations in your planned area of operation.
One typical planning exercise would be to consider boats in scope of Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations; if you are not Gas Safe registered (LPG and Boats), you may need to plan for a registered technician to also attend and undertake a gas-tightness test in your presence and that may have additional costs. You may wish to consider if your location and potential customer base includes boats in scope of Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations.
You can find out how many Examiners operate in the locality by visiting our Find an Examiner webpage.
Before applying to attend the BSS Examiner Training Programme you are strongly advised to have prepared a business case that takes account of all direct and indirect costs including those associated with meeting the BSS Examiner Conditions of Registration as well as all costs of annual registration.
Annual costs
If and when a Trainee passes the BSS New Examiner Training Programme, they may apply to the BSS Office to register as a BSS Examiner.
Examiners must maintain at their own expense and at all times, valid Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurances covering their BSS activity. Cover may be arranged independently but the terms and level of cover of any individual policy held by an Examiner must not be less than those of the BSS Policies operated by two independent brokers – currently a minimum level of £5 million cover for each is required. Details of the policy providers that have standard policies already known as meeting our stipulated cover, are available from the BSS Office.
Variable costs
These costs shown here are as of 2026 fees. They are provided as a guide, are not exhaustive, are subject to VAT and subject to change.
Each time an Examiner issues a BSS Certification, a charge (£81 plus VAT) is accrued and the Certifications issued during the previous month are invoiced at the end of that month.
There is an annual registration of Examiners when authorisation ceases on 31 March and applications are made in advance for a new registration, which starts on 1 April (annual registration fee 2026-2027 is £312.30 plus VAT).
Examiners are expected to maintain their level of competence throughout their career by completing BSS training and assessments at their own expense and where appropriate, keep their own competence qualifications current. Annual online and/or attended training should be expected. All training is provided at a cost-neutral basis and as a guide the most recent LPG course in 2025 cost £429 (plus VAT) for a blended online module and one-day attended course. In 2022 a single knowledge and assessment online module cost around £70 (plus VAT).
You must have a respectable financial status
Having a poor credit rating may prevent you having an account with us, which would prevent you from becoming an Examiner.
You must be insurable (Professional Indemnity & Public Liability)
If you have been refused insurance cover this could be critical, because if you are unable to obtain Professional Indemnity and Public Liability cover, this matter will exclude you from applying to become a BSS Examiner. Having these types of cover for the duration of an Examiner’s registration is a prerequisite for authorisation as a BSS Examiner.
You must be entitled to work in the UK
We are likely to check your status in this regard.
If you are keen to become a BSS Examiner, then please read all the information available to understand the considerable demands and responsibilities that come with the role.