Before you apply

Before you apply, check that you meet our registration requirements and have all your supporting documents ready.

To apply for registration, you must meet the requirements for your class of registration.

Training, qualification and requirements has more information.

Tip

Check carefully to ensure you have the following:

  • You are able to satisfy the Board that you are a Fit and Proper Person.
  • You are able to pay the required registration and licence fees.
  • Precise details of your electrical work experience completed under a limited certificate and the duration of that experience.

Prepare your supporting documents

You will need to provide the following documents in your application:

  • certified copies of your certificates/qualifications (don’t submit original documents)
    Note – certification of your copied documents must be done by either a Justice of the Peace, a Public Notary, a solicitor or NZ court registrar.
  • details of your competency programme  needs to be entered into our online system by your programme provider
  • originals of your work-history statements from your supervisor (time-based training)
  • a certified copy of proof of identity – drivers licence or passport photo page
  • a photo that meets the criteria for your ID card, if you are applying for your licence
  • payment details (credit/debit card)

Work history statements from supervisor/employer(s)

If you are applying for a registration using time-based training entitlement criteria, you need to provide work history statements.

The Board is required to view signed, original references on letterhead from your nominated supervisor or an employer(s), with your supervisor(s) counter signing, detailing the actual electrical work you have undertaken. Please ensure your references meet the requirements.

Payment details

Registration application fee: $350 incl. GST for New Zealand-trained applicants.

Practising licence application fee: $250 incl. GST - the licence period is 2 years from the date of registration.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card for your registration and licence.

Ensure you meet the requirements

For your registration to be approved by the Board, you must first successfully complete the required training.

Minimum Experience required for Registration

Registration class Minimum amount of work experience required Required work experience
Electrical Inspector 6000 hours as a registered Electrician and been registered as an Electrician for a minimum of 3 years All electrical work of an electrician and satisfactory experience in carrying out some high-risk work which may include:
  • High voltage electrical installations
  • Mains parallel generating system
  • Hazardous areas
  • Photovoltaic array system
  • Mains work on MEN switchboards and main earthing systems
  • Medical cardiac and body protected areas
  • Certification of high risk prescribed electrical work
Electrical Inspector (Endorsed Mining) 2000 hours mining PEW as a registered inspector

OR

Been registered as an Electrician for a minimum of 3 years and completed 6000 hours mining PEW
  • Satisfactory experience in carrying out mining PEW which may include:
  • Work done on bolted couplers and restrained couplers used or installed in a Mining Operation
  • Work done on installations, fittings, or appliances in explosive zones in a mine
  • the connection, reconnection, or disconnection of bolted couplers and restrained couplers used or installed in a Mining Operation
  • Work on fittings that control earth potential rise and /or are in an explosive zone in a mine
  • Installing or adjusting the settings of isolating fittings or gas monitors used in a mine
  • Certification of mining PEW
Must have adequate knowledge, training, skills, and experience satisfactory to the Board of:
  • The control of earth potential rise.
  • The use of relocatable mining electrical equipment.
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment; and
  • Risk management
Electrician 8000 hours 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
Electrician (Endorsed Mining) 8000 hours including 2000 in mining operation All electrical work of an electrician as above, but also includes work in a mining operation and includes:
  • work done on bolted couplers and restrained couplers used or installed in a Mining Operation; and
  • work done on installations, fittings, or appliances in explosive zones; and
  • the connection, reconnection, or disconnection of bolted couplers and restrained couplers used or installed in a Mining Operation.
Must have adequate knowledge, training, skills, and experience satisfactory to the Board of:
  • The control of earth potential rise.
  • The use of relocatable mining electrical equipment.
  • The performance of safety functions required for mining activities and mining electrical equipment; and
  • Risk management
Electrical Engineer 2000 hours 2000 hours of the work of an electrician above which must include at least 1500 hours of installation wiring work.

OR

Electrical work can be limited to specific area of experience and expertise.
This will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and will need to have evidence of practical “hands on” work experience including at least 1500 hours of installation wiring experience.
Areas of work can range (but not limited to) examples below:
  • High and medium voltage power generation, transmission, distribution substations, protection, and control systems.
Please note that this class of registration may not be on the Skills Shortage list for Immigration New Zealand’s visa points.
Electrical Installer 4000 hours Electrical work will be limited to installation of a specific area of experience and expertise.
Areas of work can range (but not limited to) examples below:
  • Security systems
  • Fire alarm systems
  • Railway and tram systems
  • lifts/escalators
  • Heating /ventilating/refrigeration/air conditioning systems
  • Renewable energy systems of electrical supply
Work experience should be at least 4000 hours of primarily installation work in one specific area listed above.
Work in more than one system may be better suited for Electrician class.
Electrical Service Technician 3000 hours Electrical work that is limited to servicing single and multiphase appliances and equipment including:
  • Maintenance of equipment, appliances equipment
  • Repair equipment
  • Service fittings, appliances equipment
  • Replace wiring within an appliance or electrical equipment
  • Disconnect from and reconnect to fixed wiring, fittings, electrical appliances, equipment
  • At least 6 months (1000 hours) of multi-phase work experience
Electrical Appliance Service Person (with or without endorsement to disconnect and reconnect) 3000 hours Electrical work that is limited to maintaining, repairing and servicing 250-volt single phase domestic and commercial appliances including:
  • Domestic and commercial whiteware
  • Medical appliances
  • Photocopiers
  • Coffee machines
  • For the endorsement: the disconnection/reconnection of appliances from fixed wiring for the purpose of repair.
Line Mechanic Distribution 4000 hours Electrical work that is limited to the construction installation, maintenance of electricity distribution networks (and associated infrastructure) to consumer installations including
  • Overhead and underground electric lines
  • Components used in line construction such as poles and insulators
  • Live line work
  • Faults and fault response
Line Mechanic Transmission 4000 hours Electrical work that is limited to the construction, installation maintenance of New Zealand transmission network. This is the high voltage (66kV-400kV) national grid and associated infrastructure from electricity generating power stations to substations including:
  • Overhead and underground transmission lines
  • Components used in line construction such as pylons, towers, and insulators
Line Mechanic Traction 4000 hours Electrical work that is limited to the construction installation and maintenance of traction lines and associated infrastructure (used in rail, tramway, and trolley bus traction networks) and includes:
  • Overhead traction lines AC and DC, high and low voltage
  • Components used in traction line infrastructure such poles towers and insulators
Cable Jointer 4000 hours Electrical work that is limited to the installation or maintenance of high or low voltage cables (polymeric, paper insulated, oil or gas pressured, that require specialist jointing and terminating and can include but not limited to these joint types:
  • Taped
  • Resin filled
  • Gel filled
  • Oil and gas filled
  • Heat shrinkable
  • Lead or cast iron -bitumen filled
Substation Maintainer 3000 hours Electrical work is limited to the maintenance of electrical fittings and equipment associated with distribution and/or transmission substations and includes:
  • Relays and protection equipment
  • Communication systems
  • Load control
  • Earthing
  • Voltage and current transformers
  • Busbars

Safety training

Safety training is compulsory for all registration classes. Any person applying for registration must have completed a safety training course including safe working practices, testing, basic first aid and CPR, prior to application.

Find an approved competency programme/safety training provider

If you have completed a National Certificate or New Zealand Certificate then safety training would have been completed as part of that programme. If you are applying via the experience pathway then the practical assessment you completed included the required safety training.

If you are applying for a practising licence you will need to have completed  a Competence Programme within the last 2 years.

Find an Approved Provider of Competence Programmes

Board's policy on fit and proper persons [PDF, 524 KB]

Fit and proper person

All persons who apply for registration or a practising licence must satisfy the Board that they are a ‘fit and proper person’. If you are concerned that you may not meet the criteria, for example,  due to previous criminal convictions, please read the Board’s policy on Fit and Proper Persons.

If you think you may not meet the Board’s criteria then please select this option on the registration application form when you complete it and submit it. A licensing officer will be in contact to discuss your circumstances.

Fit and proper person process flowchart [PDF, 81 KB]

Note

The Board has discretion to license a person who does not meet the criteria if they are able show that they are a fit and proper person to hold a licence.

Requirements for photographs

To ensure that every Licence ID card is produced to a high standard only passport standard and sized photographs will be accepted.

Check that your photo meets the requirements here: 

Online photo checker(external link) — passports.govt.nz

Licence ID cards sets out the requirements for new cards and photographs.

Licence ID cards

Next steps

Apply now if you are in or have been trained in New Zealand.

Before you apply - overseas experience has details if you are overseas or were trained overseas.

Related content

Limited Certificates and Provisional Licences for overseas-trained applicants

For electrical workers that are trained overseas, find out how to apply for a Limited Certificate or Provisional licence.

Training, qualifications and requirements

Find out what qualifications you need and the registration requirements for working in your chosen electrical career.