Overview
This licence may be issued to experienced electrical licence holders, or a person with an equivalent qualification or experience, who wishes to undertake work inspecting electrical installations for safety or compliance with regulatory requirements.
Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating they have the qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency for the class of licence required, as detailed below.
Assessments
G licence
- All applicants for the Class G licence must complete three assessments: G Class Theory, G Class Practical and Safe Approach.
- Read the LEI assessment information.
- All Class G assessments are conducted by Future Energy .
H, M and V licence classes
Applicants for the specialist Licence classes H, M and V do not require formal assessment, but applicants must demonstrate on-the-job training and competence. See below for further information on the individual classes of licence.
To apply
Applicants must produce evidence demonstrating they have the qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency for the relevant class of licence required. To apply for a licence, log into and lodge your application via the My Applications tab.
Class G
Class G allows an inspector to undertake inspections of any low voltage installations, except for those required under Class H, Class M, or Class V.
It is expected that prospective applicants will have held an Electrician’s Licence for at least five years.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:
- a detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations that are covered by this class
- testing methods for electrical installations that are covered by this class and
- the requirements of the Regulations relating to low voltage electrical installations.
Your LEI application must include:
- G Class theory and practical assessment results
- application fee.
Class H
Class H allows an inspector to undertake inspections of electrical installations located in a hazardous area and electrical equipment associated with the protection of the hazardous area but not installed within the hazardous area.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:
- a detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations in hazardous areas
- testing methods in hazardous areas and for electrical equipment associated with the protection of hazardous areas and
- the requirements of the regulations relating to electrical installations in hazardous areas and electrical equipment associated with the protection of hazardous areas.
Your LEI application must also include:
- details of on-the-job training with a current H Class Inspector, including at least 10 examples of hazardous electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety
- a supporting reference from the H Class Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competence
- any other training or qualifications that you hold in hazardous areas, and
- application fee.
Class V
Class V allows an inspector to undertake high voltage installations, with the exception of electrical equipment that is:
- associated with an electric discharge lighting system
- associated with X-ray equipment
- associated with high frequency equipment
- within self-contained equipment supplied at low voltage and
- associated with electric fences intended primarily for the control or containment of animals.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:
- a detailed understanding of safety in high voltage electrical installations
- testing methods for high voltage installations, and
- the requirements of the regulations relating to high voltage electrical installations.
Your LEI application must also include:
- details of on-the-job training with a current Class V Inspector, including at least 10 examples of high voltage electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety
- a supporting reference from the Class V Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency
- any other training or qualification evidence relevant to high voltage that you hold and
- application fee.
Class M
Class M allows an inspector to undertake inspection of fixed electrical equipment installed in a patient area.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:
- a detailed understanding of safety in fixed electrical equipment installed in a patient area
- testing methods for electrical installations in those areas and
- the requirements of the regulations relating to those areas.
Your LEI application must also include:
- evidence of on-the-job training with a current Class M Inspector, including at least 10 examples of patient area medical/electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety. The 10 examples should include at least 6 inspections of cardiac-protected electrical areas and 4 of body-protected electrical areas
- a supporting reference from the Class M Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency and
- application fee.
Class M – Restricted to Body Protected Inspections Only
Class M (Body Protected Only) allows an inspector to undertake inspection of fixed electrical equipment installed in body protected electrical areas only (does not include inspections of cardiac protected areas).
Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:
- a detailed understanding of safety in fixed electrical equipment installed in a body protected area
- testing methods for electrical installations in those areas and
- the requirements of the regulations relating to those areas
Your LEI application must also include:
- evidence of on-the-job training with a current Class M Inspector, including at least 10 examples of body protected electrical inspections. Please include copies of prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety for at least ten inspections of body-protected electrical areas
- a supporting reference from the Class M Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency
- application fee.
Class RE– Renewable
Class RE will allow an inspector to undertake inspection of electricity generation systems and battery systems. This is a new Class of licence that will come into force from 5 April 2024. This class of licence is currently under development, and further information will be provided in due course.
Responsibilities
A licensed electrical inspector can inspect electrical installation work as permitted by the class endorsed, including disconnecting and reconnecting for testing purposes. This disconnection/reconnection activity is not considered to be electrical installation work and a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is not required.
A LEI must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work if they have been involved with the installation of that work, or if they are the registered electrical contractor engaged to perform the work. A LEI must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work if they have been involved in the design of that electrical installation work.
An LEI must sign the Certificate of Inspection within the Certificate of Electrical Safety certifying that the prescribed electrical installation work carried out, or supervised, by the licensed electrician meets all the requirements of the legislation and regulations.
Fees
Refer to ESV’s Licensing fees.
Application fees include a $70 non-refundable administration component.
Application fees must be paid at the time a licence application is submitted.
Credit card payment is required.
Licence renewal
Renewing your Licensed Electrical Inspectors licence
ESV will send an email reminder to you 3 months prior to your licence expiry.
It is your responsibility to ensure your licence is current and that ESV has the correct contact details for you.
Energy Safe Victoria must cancel the licence of an electrical worker who does not apply for renewal of the licence by the renewal date specified on the licence card.
Read more about renewing or replacing a licence.
You can renew your licence via with a Credit card.
Class L licences that are not renewed by the due date cannot be reissued.
Reinstating your cancelled LEI
You may apply to reinstate a cancelled LEI by completing the LEI Reinstatement Form:
It is important to note that if your G Class LEI has been cancelled for 5 years or more, you will be required to complete the G Class Theory, G Class Practical and Safe Approach Assessments prior to applying to reinstate your licence.
Inspection Companies and ESVConnect
Inspectors can opt to be allocated electronic certificates directly from contractors through and/or through an inspection company.
Inspections are allocated to Inspection Companies via ESVConnect, after Energy Safe Victoria has received consent to add an Inspection Company's details and for these details to be made available to users of ESVConnect.
Complete the Inspection Company request form:
Return the form to:
COES Department
Energy Safe Victoria
PO Box 262
Collins Street West VIC 8007
Or, scan and email to: coes@energysafe.vic.gov.au
Date: 27/05/2023 13:06
Controlled document
The currency and accuracy of this document cannot be guaranteed once printed or saved to a storage device. If in doubt, please check the ESV website for the current version.
Reviewed 20 February 2023