You can check an electrician in about two minutes. Ask for their licence ID, then search the Electrical Workers Public Register run for the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB). Do it before they start, not after.
This guide covers what to look for, what the register tells you and the paperwork you should get at the end. It is general information, not legal advice.
The quick check
- Ask to see the licence ID. The EWRB says it can be physical or digital, and is proof the worker is currently competent to do electrical work safely.
- Check it has not expired and the photo matches the person in front of you.
- Search the Electrical Workers Public Register. You can search by name, town, registration class or registration number. If they show a digital licence, scan the QR code to go straight to their profile.
- Check the licence has not been suspended and the licence type reads Practising Licence.
- Look at the registration classes and licence history.
The registration number is on the licence ID, and the register page says it comes in a format of letters for the class followed by numbers, such as E 123456 or EST 123456. The EWRB says you can also find it on an email signature or business card.
Registration and practising licence
These are two different things.
- Registration is the class of electrical worker someone qualified as. The licence lists the classes of registration they hold. The classes set out the electrical work the holder may do. The register lists classes such as Electrical Installer, Electrician, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Inspector and Electrical Service Technician. The EWRB points to a 2023 New Zealand Gazette notice that explains the scope of each class.
- Practising licence is what lets a registered person do prescribed electrical work. The EWRB says all electrical workers must hold one to carry out prescribed electrical work. It is renewed every 2 years, it expires if not renewed, and any gaps show on the public register.
The register search also covers other licence types, including Provisional Licence, Limited Certificate and Trainee Limited Certificate. Someone on a limited certificate or provisional licence may need supervision, so ask who is supervising them. The EWRB has a supervision guide for workers.
The EWRB says prescribed electrical work includes installing, maintaining and testing electrical fittings, work on electrical installations and appliances, and restoring supply after faults. Whether someone can do a given job depends on their class and on holding a current practising licence.
What the register shows
The register page says you can use it to:
- find a licensed electrical worker
- check that a person is registered or licensed
- view their licence history
- find out if they have been disciplined in the last three years
Under section 140 of the Electricity Act 1992 you cannot use the information for any other purpose.
A clean result tells you the person is currently licensed. It does not tell you how good their work is or what they will charge.
Certificates you should get
The EWRB says that under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 your electrical worker must give you copies of certification documents. They are proof the work has been tested and meets the standards.
- Timing. The certification must be issued as soon as possible after the work, and no later than 20 days after finishing.
- Certificate of Compliance (CoC). Required for any fixed wiring work, including fitting new power points. It is not issued for maintenance such as replacing sockets and light fittings or repairing appliances. The EWRB says it confirms the work is electrically safe, meets the standards and was tested, and that you may need it for insurance claims or when you sell.
- Electrical Safety Certificate (ESC). WorkSafe publishes templates for both a CoC and an ESC. The EWRB says certification must be completed and provided for all prescribed electrical work, including maintenance, repair or replacement of fittings and appliances. Ask your electrician which certificate you will get for your job.
- Inspection report. The EWRB says the law requires some work to be inspected, particularly work on the main switchboard, the main cable and the main earth. Your electrician arranges a licensed electrical inspector. Keep the report with your CoCs.
Keep these in a safe place. If an electrician cannot or will not give you the paperwork, treat that as a problem and raise it before you pay.
Red flags
These are reasons to stop and check. None proves a problem on its own.
- They cannot show a licence ID, or say it is “in the van”.
- The name or number does not match the register, or the practising licence is expired or has gaps.
- They are registered, but not in a class that fits the work.
- They will not say who is supervising a trainee on your job.
- They say you will not need a certificate for fixed wiring work.
- They offer to skip paperwork for a lower price.
The EWRB says electrical work can look fine on the surface even when there is a serious problem behind it, and that the risks include electric shock, fire, serious damage to your home or trouble with an insurance claim.
If something goes wrong
WorkSafe says to discuss a problem with the electrician or their company first. If that does not fix it, you can lay a formal complaint with the EWRB (0800 66 10 00). To report unlicensed work, use the EWRB’s report page, which says unlicensed work can also affect your insurance.
How GoodTradie helps
GoodTradie is a referral service, not an electrician. When you send us an electrical job, we look the electrician up on the EWRB register before we book them, and we send you one tradie, not several. They give you their own quote and we check it against published NZ figures. That is a guide, not a guarantee. You can still check the register yourself using the steps above. Type your job into the box at the top of the page.
Sources
- EWRB, About licences (page undated)
- EWRB, Why use a registered electrical worker (page undated)
- EWRB, Documentation from your electrical worker (page undated)
- EWRB, Practising Licence (page undated)
- EWRB, Prescribed Electrical Work limits (page undated)
- EWRB, Report someone doing unlicensed electrical work (page undated)
- MBIE, Electrical Workers Public Register
- WorkSafe, Getting electrical work done (last updated 4 September 2017)
- WorkSafe, Electrical certification and record of inspection templates (page undated)
Need a electrician? See how we find and check one, or type the job in the box at the top.