Limited Certificate and Provisional Licence for overseas-trained applicants
Working in New Zealand you must hold a Limited Certificate or Provisional Licence to complete your registration requirements.
Limited Certificates
You will first need to apply for a registration application (overseas-trained applicants). Once the assessment of your application has been completed and the recommendation has been made you will receive your outcome letter from the Licensing Team.
If you meet the minimum requirements for registration, you will be invited to apply for a Limited certificate.
A Limited Certificate application will be set up for you in your EW Portal for you to complete and submit.
Once issued, a Limited Certificate may be valid for a period between 12 and 18 months.
When you apply for a Limited Certificate, you make a declaration that you will make every attempt to complete all registration requirements within the duration of that Limited Certificate.
Limits of work and supervision
You will need to find a registered, licensed electrical worker to supervise your work while holding your Limited Certificate.
Your supervisor will need to complete and sign a supervision declaration form:
Supervision Declaration form [PDF, 125 KB]
The holder of a Limited Certificate can only complete prescribed electrical work within the limits of work for the class their Limited Certificate has been issued and must be supervised by their approved supervisor.
A supervisor is a registered person who holds an active practising licence.
Your supervisor must be registered in the same class or higher than the registration class you are applying for.
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 can complete under the class of your Limited Certificate.
Supervision Companion Guide [PDF, 1 MB]
Supervision of trainees holding a Limited Certificate [PDF, 728 KB]
What happens next?
Applying for a second or third Limited Certificate
For a second Limited Certificate to be approved, you must show evidence that you have made every attempt to complete your registration requirements stated in your outcome letter.
A second Limited Certificate will only be issued for a duration of 12 months.
A third Limited Certificate will be referred to the Board for consideration. The Licensing Team will advise you by email with the documents you must submit before your application is referred to the Board.
The applicant and supervisors may be required to appear before the Board to answer questions or make written submissions with supporting statements from their supervisor, in relation to the efforts they have made to meet registration requirements.
A third Limited Certificate will be issued for a duration as specified if approved by the Board.
Cancellation of Limited Certificates
Any Limited Certificate is subject to cancellation if the Board is satisfied that the holder:
- did not satisfactorily complete instruction in safe working practices, testing, basic first aid and cardio- pulmonary resuscitation as approved by the Board
- has not complied with supervision instructions
- has repeatedly worked outside the limits of the Limited Certificate.
Refusal to renew or cancellation of Limited Certificates
Prior to making any decision about refusal to renew or cancel a Limited Certificate the Board will:
- observe the rules of natural justice
- without limiting those rules, give the applicant -
- notice of any matter that may give the Board cause to refuse to renew or cancel a Limited Certificate
- all information the Board will be considering in relation to the matter
- reasonable opportunity to make written submissions and be heard on the question, either personally or by a representative.
Provisional Licences
Some applicants may be invited to apply for a Provisional Licence which allows a person to work without supervision but limits the work they can complete:
- A holder of a Provisional Licence cannot certify their work or supervise others.
- A Provisional Licence is only issued for up to 6 months while the holder completes their registration requirements.
Once your registration application has been assessed, the Licensing Team will advise you in your outcome letter if you are eligible to apply for a Provisional Licence. This option will appear in your on-line EW Portal.
Renewal of Provisional Licences
A renewal of a Provisional Licence will require the applicant to make a written submission or appear before the Board to answer questions regarding the attempts they have made to complete their registration requirements in their assessment outcome letter.
Applicants should not expect to be granted a renewal without there being reasonable circumstances as to why they have not completed their registration requirements.