Electrician

To become an Electrician, you must complete the following requirements:

Qualified pathway

Complete an apprenticeship and gain one of the following qualifications:

• National Certificate in Electrical Engineering – Electrician for Registration (Level 4);
• National Certificate in Electricity Supply – Electrician (Level 4);
• New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4);
• New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Trade (Level 4) with strands in General Electrical, and Electricity Supply.

As part of the above Level 4 certificates, you must:

• Pass the Electricians Theory coursework and written examination;
• Pass the Electricians Regulations coursework and written examination;
• Complete approved Safety training within the prescribed time frame
  Safety training;
• Complete a Competence programme course this needs to be entered into our online system by your course provider (must be active and current at the time of applying for your practising licence)
  Competence programme course; and
• Complete 4 years (8000 hours) practical training/experience in the work of an Electrician that is satisfactory to the Board.

IMPORTANT: Your New Zealand work experience MUST be completed while holding an Electrician Trainee Limited Certificate.

Trainee Limited Certificates

Registration class

Electrician

Minimum amount of work experience required

4 years (8000 hours)

Required work experience

All electrical work (except work in a mining operation) and includes:

• At least 2000 hours of experience of wiring installation within buildings
• Installing and connecting high and low voltage single phase and multiphase cables (overhead /underground) and associated fittings
• Installing electrical wiring and equipment in commercial and domestic buildings
• Installing Switchboards
• Installing lighting and power outlets and appliances
• Earthing /bonding
• Fault-finding
• Testing
• Certification

You must provide the following documents in your application.

Certified proof of identity

• A certified copy of the front and back of your current New Zealand Driver’s Licence; or
• A certified copy of your Passport biographic page.

*Certified: Certification of your copied documents must be done by either a Justice of the Peace, a Public Notary, a Solicitor or NZ Court Registrar.

The official confirmation that the copies of your documents are identical to the original documents. The confirmation is issued by an authorised public authority or a Notary.

Certified qualification

• A certified colour copy of your official New Zealand or National Level 4 Electrician qualification certificate:
  • National Certificate in Electrical Engineering – Electrician for Registration (Level 4);
  • National Certificate in Electricity Supply – Electrician (Level 4);
  • New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) (Level 4);
  • New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Trade (Level 4) with strands in General Electrical, and Electricity Supply.

*Certified: Certification of your copied documents must be done by either a Justice of the Peace, a Public Notary, a Solicitor or NZ Court Registrar.

The official confirmation that the copies of your documents are identical to the original documents. The confirmation is issued by an authorised public authority or a Notary.

Passport quality photo

• A photo that meets the criteria for your ID card:
  • A face, head and shoulders shot, looking directly at the camera and less than 6 months old;
  • Plain, light coloured background;
  • No sunglasses, glasses with tinted lenses OR headwear that obscures your face;
  • 3:4 – width to height ratio, in full colour;
  • Between 50KB and 5MB in size (or printed image for paper applications); and
  • Saved in .jpg or .jpeg format.
• Check that your photo meets the requirements here:
  Online photo checker – New Zealand passports

Payment details

You can pay for your application by credit or debit card. All payments made outside the New Zealand banking system must be made by credit card.