An electrician with a license, known as a “registered person”, has applied to the Department of Labour (DoL) and has demonstrated his knowledge, skills and ability to conduct verification and certification of the construction, testing and inspection of the electrical installations for which he has been registered. The registered person is permitted to issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC), which proves that the electrical installation is compliant.
There are three categories of registered person permitted to issue CoCs: electrical tester for single phase; installation electrician, and master installation electrician.
Electrical tester for single phase
This is an electrician who has been registered as an electrical tester for single phase in terms of regulation 11 (2) for the verification and certification of the construction, testing and inspection of electrical installations supplied by a single-phase electricity supply at the point of control, excluding specialised electrical installations.
Installation electrician
An electrician who has been registered as an installation electrician in terms of regulation 11 (2) for the verification and certification of the construction, testing and inspection of any electrical installation, excluding specialised electrical installations.
Master installation electrician
This is an electrician who has been registered as a master installation electrician in terms of regulation 11 (2) for the verification and certification of the construction, testing and inspection of any electrical installation.
Three options
There are three options for each of the registration types – practical knowledge, theoretical knowledge and knowledge of statutory requirements – and each contains criteria or conditions that the applicant must comply with before applying for registration.
A criterion for persons applying for registration as installation electricians is that they must have a trade qualification as either an electrician; an electrician (engineering); an electrician (construction); a millwright (electro-mechanical); a lift mechanic, or the Electric: Chemical Electrical NQF
level 4 qualification issued by the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA).
The next step is to submit documentary proof of having complied with industry standards on inspection, testing and certification of three phase industrial or commercial installations prescribed by the ESETA.
These standards require that an assessor, registered with the ESETA, assesses applicants to ensure that they have the ability to interpret the codes of practice in various electrical installations.
Applicants will also have to use test instruments and inspection reports to demonstrate that they are familiar with these, and evaluate a CoC against an electrical installation correctly.
Once the assessor has found the applicant to be competent, the details are sent to the ESETA, which will then issue the applicant with a letter for the DoL to this effect.
Theoretical qualifications
The minimum theoretical qualifications for registration as an installation electrician is an N3 certificate issued by the Department of Education, with a minimum pass mark of 40% in mathematics, engineering science, and electrical trade theory or electro-technology. Also acceptable is a Grade 12 certificate with a minimum pass mark of 40% in mathematics, science, and a technical/electrical subject. This may include an N3 subject.
Legislation, health and safety
Finally, the applicant must submit proof of knowledge of the legislation and relevant health and safety standards applicable to electrical installations by passing the subject Installation rules as administered by the Department of Education through a further education and training campus or college.
There are two examinations for this subject and the applicant must achieve a minimum of 50% for each. Although it is not a prerequisite to write them simultaneously, the second paper must be passed within twelve months of passing the first. However, if the applicant obtained more than 75% in any of the examinations, they will be permanently exempted from having to rewrite that examination.