Registered Electrical Contractors (REC)

Any person in the business of electrical contracting or offering to contract must be registered as an electrical contractor.

Application for registration as an electrical contractor

A registration may be issued or renewed subject to any conditions that Energy Safe Victoria thinks fit, including a condition that it applies to only one class of electrical work. The registration continues, unless sooner suspended, cancelled or surrendered, and can be renewed for a period of up to 5 years specified in the registration commencing on the date of the issue of the registration or the renewal of the registration.

Applying for registration

There are 3 types of registrations available as a Registered Electrical Contractor:

Sole Proprietor

A Sole Proprietor application is a person who will be working alone. He/she will be the technical nominee/supervisor, and therefore will hold a current Victorian Electricians Licence (A Class).  He/she will have also undertaken the Registered Electrical Contractors Course through a local TAFE college or will have an appropriate business nominee/supervisor (accountant), who will ensure that the business in run in a satisfactory manner. A Sole Proprietor can hold a business name, should it be required.

Partnership

A partnership application is when two persons or entities are wishing to be a Registered Electrical Contractor. Either one or both will be the technical nominee/supervisors, and therefore will hold a current Victorian Electrician’s Licence (A Class). Either will have also undertaken the Registered Electrical Contractors Course through a local TAFE college or will have an appropriate business nominee/supervisor (accountant), who will ensure that the business in run in a satisfactory manner. A Partnership can also hold a business name, should it be required.

Corporation

A Corporation application is required when the applicant is applying for a company registration.

This is usually an option for larger organisations, where the technical nominee/supervisors are numerous and the business nominee/supervisor can be a senior financial or administrative officer within the organisation, with the appropriately deemed qualifications in business management.

In all application types a Technical Nominee/Supervisor must be in place, and the appropriate consent declarations and qualification requirements must be met.

What do I need to be a Registered Electrical Contractor?

Technical Nominee/Supervisor

Someone who holds a current Electrician’s Licence (A Class), and who has completed the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA) or previously the Licensed Electrical Mechanics (LEM) assessment. ESV will accept completion the “Capstone Assessment” if you have become licensed in another state or territory. 

Business Nominee/Supervisor

Someone who has undertaken the Registered Electrical Contractor’s Course with their local TAFE college, and has successfully completed this course. OR  

Someone who has relevant business administration and management experience, with relevant qualifications, who ESV deems as qualified to act in the role of Business Nominee.

Civil Liability Insurance

Contractor must hold current civil liability insurance (minimum cover $5M) against personal injury and/or damage to property in connection with the electrical contracting work of the applicant or their employees or agents. ESV requires the Certificate of Currency, which indicates that the insurance is in place and established at the time of application.  Tax invoices are not acceptable. 

However, if you wish to hold registration and be considered not actively trading, you can apply to be exempt from the insurance requirements, but submitting your application, together with the Insurance Exemption Form.

If you are registering a business name, the insurance should be registered exactly as you wish to trade, and in the case of a partnership both partners should be named. Accordingly, if you are registering a Company, the insurance should reflect the company name.

Your Certificate of Currency, should reflect the following, dependent on your application type

What paperwork do I need to provide to ESV?

Sole Proprietor 

• Completed application form which includes Business and Technical Nominee Consent Forms
• Copy of Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency
• Copy of Business Name Certificate (if applicable)
• Copy of LEA or LEM Certificate
• Copy of Registered Electrical Contractors Business Course Completion Certificate  

Partnership

Corporation

Fees

New applications received by ESV  are subject to an application fee of $529.10 for a five year registration, which includes a $70 non-refundable application fee, and must be paid at the time the application for registration is submitted. Credit card payments are preferred.

Electrical Switchgear Workers as Technical Nominees/Supervisors

We advise that Electrical Switchgear Workers Licences are currently not available, although regulated as of 27 April 2010, however, this licence type, when applicable, will also be able to be nominated as Technical Nominees/Supervisors. Further information will be updated to our website, when this licence become available.

Renewal as a Registered Electrical Contractor

ESV will continue to forward a renewal notice to your last known address at least 2 months prior to the expiry date of the current registration. It is, however, your responsibility to ensure your registration is kept up to date at all times. Online renewal using ESV’s online services becomes available 90 days prior to expiry of your Contractors Registration.

The renewal fee for a Contractors Registration is $254.10 for a five year registration.  It is critical that renewal is completed prior to expiry, to avoid the reinstatement fee which can be applied by the ESV, after you have expired.

How do I renew Online?

Exemptions from Registration

Registration as an electrical contractor is not required in the following circumstances:

• An employer employs licensed personnel on a continuous basis to carry out electrical installation work only on the premises owned or occupied by the employer
• A person is engaged in a contract and the part of the contract relating to electrical installation work is sub-contracted to a registered electrical contractor
• A person who holds an electrician's licence who undertakes to carry out electrical installation work from time to time for no financial return and on a gratuitous basis
• A person who holds the appropriate Disconnect/Reconnect Licence, contracts or undertakes to carry out electrical work permitted under that licence
• A person who holds an Occupier's Licence undertakes to carry out electrical installation work permitted under that licence.  

Your responsibilities as a Registered Electrical Contractor

As a Registered Electrical Contractor, it is your responsibility to understand the legislation and regulations in place at any time and work in accordance with them:

• Part 3 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998; and
• Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 2009.
• Ensure that Certificates of Electrical Safety are issued and completed
• Ensure that workers which hold supervisory licences are suitably supervised throughout the course of their duties
• Ensure that the details of your technical and business nominees/supervisors remain correct with ESV at all times.
• Maintain a workers list of all licensed workers, who are employed by you as a Registered Electrical Contractor, which can also be validated online via Online Services.