When to apply for a Limited Certificate

When to apply for a Trainee Limited Certificate:

• if you are a trainee working towards obtaining an electrical registration, and need to complete work experience to meet registration requirements.
• if you would like to assist carrying out all the prescribed electrical work that your supervisor is entitled to do.

When to apply for a Limited Certificate:

• if your registration assessment has been completed towards obtaining your electrical registration and you need to complete work experience to meet registration requirements and have been invited to apply by the Board.
• if you would like to assist carrying out all the prescribed electrical work that your supervisor is entitled to do.

When you apply for either Limited Certificate, you make a declaration that you will attempt to complete all registration requirements within the duration of that Limited Certificate.

Any subsequent Limited Certificate will only be granted for 12 months and a 3rd LC will require a Board meeting decision.

The requirements for obtaining a Limited Certificate are:

• your employer and/or supervisor supports your application and completes the relevant section of the application form agreeing to supervise you in accordance with Board rules, and
• your tuition in safe working practices and testing, CPR, and basic first aid is completed within 3 months of the issuing of the Limited Certificate.

If you're a trainee

A trainee is a person who is undergoing instruction or training in any class of prescribed electrical work for the purpose of obtaining registration. They include apprentices who are working in the electricity industry.

Your trainee Limited Certificate enables you to work while you train, to become a registered and licensed electrical worker.

Training qualifications and requirements has details on what is required for your electrical career.

If you need to complete registration requirements after a registration assessment has been completed

A Limited Certificate allows you to work while you complete any requirements, such as certain examinations or work experience, for your registration as an electrical worker. You must provide a statement from the registered and licensed person who will supervise you as you carry out prescribed electrical work.

The duration of your Limited Certificate will depend on how many exams and/or how much work experience you need to complete after an assessment of your qualifications and experience has been completed.

You will be advised of the requirements you must complete within the specified timeframe, once your assessment has been completed.

Please note, if you have held a Trainee Limited Certificate before being offered a Limited Certificate in the same registration class, the Limited Certificate may be considered a second Limited Certificate in which case the duration will be 12 months.

Limits of work and supervisors

The holder of a Limited Certificate may assist a supervisor to do any prescribed electrical work within the licence class of registration being sought. To assist doing prescribed electrical work the electrical worker must hold a current Limited Certificate and be supervised by the nominated supervisor whose practising licence allows that person to do the work.

A supervisor is a registered person in one of the following classes of electrical registration; Electrical Inspector, Electrical Engineer, Electrician, Electrical Installer, Electrical Service Technician, Electrical Appliance Serviceperson, Line Mechanic or Cable Jointer.
Your supervisor must be registered in the same class or higher than the licence class you are applying for and hold a current practising licence.

Supervisors and their responsibilities

Regulation 93 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 states that any prescribed electrical work a trainee may do, or assist in doing, is any work that is within the particular class of work for which the trainee is seeking registration, and that is within the scope of work that the trainee’s supervisor is authorised to do.

Limits of work has more information on what types of electrical work you are permitted to perform.

Provisional Licences

Some applicants may also get the opportunity to have a Provisional Licence which enables a person to work without supervision but limits that work.

• a holder of a Provisional Licence cannot certify their work, nor supervise others
• a Provisional Licence is only issued for up to 6 months while the holder completes outstanding registration requirements.

The Board will advise you when applying for registration if an applicant is eligible to apply for a Provisional Licence.