Registering as an Electrical Worker

Introduction

All workers engaged in electrical work on fixed electrical installations must be registered with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD). The purpose is to ensure that such work is carried out only by qualified electrical workers. Electrical work means the work in relation to the installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, maintenance, modification or repair of a low-voltage or high-voltage fixed electrical installation and includes the supervision and certification of the work and the design of the installation. Examples of fixed electrical installations are distribution boards, wiring installations and lighting fittings, etc. that are fixed in premises. Persons engaged in work on portable electrical appliances, such as table lamps, television sets and refrigerators, etc., need not be registered.

Registration Requirements

There are five grades of certificates of registration. To be qualified, an applicant must possess appropriate qualifications, training and experience. Detailed requirements are shown in the Appendix.

How to Apply

1. For submissions in person or by mail:

   1. Obtain appropriate application form(s):

      • New application/Change of grade of electrical work application -
        Form 8 [PDF format (294KB)] and Form 8A [PDF format (347KB)]
      • Renewal application- Form 8 [PDF format (294KB)] only

      From:

      • Customer Services Office, EMSD, G/F, 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong;
      • Telephone hotline: 1823 (for a fax copy);
      • Public Enquiry Services Centre of District Offices;
      • Government Forms web site: www.info.gov.hk/forms; or
      • EMSD website : www.emsd.gov.hk (select "Public Forms")

   2. Complete the application form(s) according to the given instructions.

   3. Submit the completed application form(s) (together with supporting documents in case of new/change of grade applications) and an application fee in person or by mail to Customer Services Office, EMSD.

2. For electronic submissions

   Submission through the web: select "Electronic Submission" at EMSD website and complete the application according to the instructions given.

Renewal applications must be made at least 1 month before and no earlier than 4 months before the expiry date. A certificate of registration for an electrical worker is normally valid for 3 years.

Note: Renewal application submitted after the expiry date of the original registration will be treated as a new registration application, which will be assessed in accordance with the statutory requirements at the time of receiving such application. If the applicant cannot fulfill the registration requirements at that time, the application would be rejected regardless of the previous registration history of the applicant.

New Certificate of Registration of Electrical Worker

For applications submitted after 1 January 2010, EMSD would issue a new Certificate of Registration of Electrical Worker to replace the old one. The new certificate would include a photo of the registered electrical worker.

Sample of the new Certificate of Registration of Electrical Worker

Please note that the existing Certificate would still be valid until its expiry. Holders of old certificate can replace their certificate upon its expiry and are NOT required to replace their certificate at once.

When electrical worker submits a registration application to EMSD (including new registration, registration renewal, change of registered grade, addition of permitted work type, and replacement of certificate), he has to submit a recent colour photograph and a copy of the HKID card with the application. The photograph would have same format as passport photograph with detail requirements as follows:

• Photograph should show full frontal face with clear facial features.
• Plain white background
• Size: 40mm (W) x 50mm (H)

When you take the photo, please do not wear head dress, and avoid heavy make-up or overly dark or overly light-coloured clothing.

The photograph will not be accepted if the applicant in the photograph is:

• Not centered
• Wearing a frame across eyes
• With hair across eyes or eyebrows
• Seen with flash reflection on face / glasses
• With shadow
• Too light
• Too dark

Applicant can submit the photograph in hardcopy, or in the form of digital file (only in CD or through Web Based Registration Services). The acceptable file format of the digital photograph are as follows:

Image type	:	JPEG
File size	:	600Kbytes or below
Acceptable dimension	:	Captured by scanner (600dpi) ¡V Photograph size: 40mm(W) x 50mm(H) Captured by digital camera ¡V Image size: 1200px(W) x 1600px(H)

EMSD would also provide free photograph taking service in the Customer Services Office to those applicants who cannot submit photograph for application.

Enquiries

Customer Services Office, EMSD, G/F, 3 Kai Shing Street, Kowloon, Hong Kong (Operating hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. on Monday to Friday; closed on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)

Tel.	:	1823 (Hotline)
Fax	:	2895 4929
Email	:	info@emsd.gov.hk

Note: This is NOT a legal document and is prepared for general information only.

Appendix

Qualification Requirements for
Registration as Electrical Workers for
Different Grades of Electrical Work

Grade A Electrical Work

A Grade A applicant must have the qualifications and experience listed in EITHER (a), (b) OR (c):

1. completed a registered contract of apprenticeship under the Apprenticeship Ordinance (Cap. 47) in the trade of electrical fitter or electrician and

   1. olds a craft certificate in electrical engineering issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education; and
   2. has at least one year of practical experience in electrical work.

2. has been employed as an electrical worker for at least five years, at least one year of which included practical experience in electrical work and

   1. holds a Certificate of the Electrician or Electrical Fitter Upgrading Course issued by the Electrical Industry Training Centre of the Vocational Training Council or an equivalent qualification; or
   2. passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services.

3. has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under either (a), or (b).

Grade B Electrical Work

A Grade B applicant must have the qualifications and experience listed in EITHER (a), (b) , (c) OR (d):

1. has completed a registered contract of apprenticeship under the Apprenticeship Ordinance (Cap. 47) in the trade of electrical fitter, electrician or electrical engineering technician and

   1. holds a Higher Certificate in Electrical Engineering issued by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or an equivalent qualification; and
   2. has at least two years of practical experience in electrical work.

2. holds a Diploma in Electrical Engineering issued by Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or an equivalent qualification and has been employed as an electrical worker for at least five years, at least two years of which included practical experience in electrical work.

3. has held, or qualified to hold, a Grade A certificate for at least five years and

   1. holds a Certificate in Electrical Engineering issued by Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or an equivalent qualification and has at least three years of practical experience in electrical work; or
   2. has at least five years of practical experience in electrical work and has passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services.

4. has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under either (a), (b) or (c).

Grade C Electrical Work

A Grade C applicant must have the qualifications and experience listed in EITHER (a), (b) OR (c):

1. has obtained a degree in electrical engineering in a recognized university or an institution of tertiary education or an equivalent qualification and

   1. completed at least two years of post-graduate training in electrical engineering recognized by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services and has at least two years of subsequent practical experience in electrical work, or
   2. has at least six years of post-graduate practical experience in electrical engineering including at least one year of practical experience in electrical work.

2. has held, or qualified to hold, a Grade B certificate for at least six years and

   1. has at least six years of practical experience in electrical work, and
   2. passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services.

3. has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under (a) or (b).

Grade R Electrical Work

A Grade R applicant must have special training and have at least four years of experience in the type, or similar type, of electrical work for which he is applying.

Grade H Electrical Work

A Grade H applicant must be qualified to hold a Grade B or Grade C certificate and have the qualifications and experience listed in EITHER (a) OR (b):

1. has completed a training course approved by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services for the design, installation, maintenance, testing or operation of high voltage electrical equipment and installations.
2. has at least one year of practical experience in the design, installation, maintenance, testing or operation of high voltage electrical equipment and installations.

NOTES:

1. Grade A means electrical work on a low voltage fixed electrical installation not exceeding 400A, single or three phase.
2. Grade B means electrical work on a low voltage fixed electrical installation not exceeding 2500A, single or three phase.
3. Grade C means electrical work on a low voltage fixed electrical installation of any capacity.
4. Grade R includes electrical work on one or more of the following types of installations:
   1. a neon sign installation;
   2. a low voltage air-conditioning installation;
   3. a low voltage generating facility installation;
   4. any other particular installation, type of installation or type of premises. Details of the electrical work should be clearly specified in the application form.
5. Grade H means electrical work on a high voltage electrical installation.
6. Practical experience in electrical work means local experience on fixed electrical installation relevant to the grade being applied.
7. Documentary proof of electrical work experience should clearly show the details of electrical work carried out by the applicant. For details, please click here [PDF format (31KB)].
8. From 1 January 2007, applicants applying for new, renewal or change of registration of electrical worker should have been trained on the new cable colour code (CCC). Applicants may attend the video-based or computer-based training at the EMSD Customer Services Office in person and complete the CCC quiz or the computer-based self-assessment. An applicant may also complete other valid CCC training after submission of the application. Registered Electrical Worker applicant may complete and pass the web-based self assessment training at the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk -> Protecting Public Safety -> Electricity -> New Cable Colour Code -> Training for the Trade -> Self assessment) so as to have his/her CCC training properly recorded. Upon receipt of an applicant¡¦s advice for completion of such a course, and on confirmation of a valid training record, EMSD will further process his/her application.

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