Electrician
Registration overseas trained pathway
Registration requirements
To become an Electrician, you must meet the following requirements:
- Must have completed 4 years (8000 hours) practical training/experience in the work of an Electrician overseas that is satisfactory to the Board.
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 1 year (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
Required documents
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 current 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.
Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 – New Zealand Legislation
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 work history references from Employer or supervisor
You must provide certified, detailed references of your work experience.
Your references must:
- Be certified;
- Detail the prescribed electrical work experience that you have completed
Prescribed electrical work – New Zealand Legislation; - Include the start and end dates of employment for each company;
- Contain sufficient experience in the area you seek registration;
- Be on company letterhead;
- Be signed and dated by your employer or supervisor; and
- Contain email contact details for your employer or supervisor
*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.
Oaths and Declarations Act 1957 – New Zealand Legislation
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.
If the information in your documents is not in English, you must include a certified English translation.
Do not apply if you have not completed the required hours, as your application will be declined.
Your overseas references must contain details of your work experience you have completed so we can determine if your experience is suitable for EWRB registration. You can attach a position description in support of your references.
Please note that falsifying work references is fraud if you are applying for registration based on those references.
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:
onlinephotochecker.passports.govt.nz(external link)
Qualifications
If you are providing qualifications as part of your application, they must be:
- A certified colour copy (don’t submit original documents).
*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.
Oaths and Declarations Act 1957(external link) – New Zealand Legislation
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.
If the information in your documents is not in English, you must include a certified English translation.
If you are applying for Electrician registration with overseas qualifications, you will be advised if you are exempt from any registration requirements. An independent assessment of your overseas qualification may be required.
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.
Application checklist
Information on certified documents
Before you apply
Have you completed the registration requirements?
You must complete the registration requirements before you apply.
Check the “Registration requirements” above to ensure you have completed all the requirements.
If you apply and you have not completed the requirements, your application will be declined and the application fee will not be refunded.