Career pathways
There are a range of career options and pathways available for electrical trades in New Zealand.
Electrician, Line Mechanic and Electrical Engineering are just some of the career options available. The outlook for electrical careers in New Zealand is good due to the construction boom and a shortage of suitable electrical workers within the industry.
Becoming a qualified and licensed electrical worker can take as little as 2 years for an electrical serviceperson, or 4 years for an electrician or electrical engineer.
Doing prescribed electrical work in New Zealand requires registration and licensing. We have 16 classes of registration, each with different requirements, limits of work and career opportunities.
Electrical trade classes - low voltage
Electrician
Work ranges from wiring up domestic houses to maintaining equipment in a large industrial plant.
Training and experience will take 4 years. If you would like to work while training, you will need a Limited Certificate.
Electrical Installer
Work ranges from installing security systems to installing air-conditioning units or renewable energy systems.
Training can take 2 to 3 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Electrical Service Technician
Work includes servicing commercial refrigeration units and maintaining 3-phase electrical equipment.
Training plus getting experience will take 18 months. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Electrical Appliance Service Person (with or without endorsement to disconnect and reconnect)
Work ranges from repairing a household appliance to maintaining gaming machines. The disconnection/reconnection is from fixed wiring to allow replacement only.
Training plus getting experience will take 18 months. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Electrical Engineer
Work includes designing the electrical wiring of a building and doing the work of an electrician.
Training can take up to 4 years (including your qualification) and combines work experience as well as completing an electrical engineering degree or diploma. Depending on your work experience your registration may have a limitation imposed. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Electrical Inspector
Work ranges from inspecting the work done by electricians to doing the work of an electrician.
Training can take just a few weeks if you are already an electrician and have been for 3 years.
Associated Tradesperson
Work ranges from installing water heaters to servicing waste disposal units. Training can take just a few weeks if you are already a registered plumber and/or gasfitter.
Master Plumbers and Gasfitters(external link) has a course co-ordination.
Electrical trade classes - high voltage
Electrician
Work ranges from installing and connecting power supplies to maintaining power stations and substations
Training and getting experience will take 4 years. If you would like to work while training, you will need a Limited Certificate.
Distribution Line Mechanic
Work includes installing and maintaining overhead and underground power lines from substations, installations and restoring power after big storms.
Training and getting the required experience will take 2 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Distribution Line Mechanic (Endorsed)
Work includes repairing or replacing faulty components in a distribution network, consumer installation, fault response and switching.
Training and getting the required experience will take 2 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Transmission Line Mechanic
Work includes installing high voltage transmission lines from power stations to sub-stations and the maintenance of these networks.
Training and getting the required experience will take 2 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Traction Line Mechanic
Work includes installing and maintaining power lines used in the rail network as well as by tramways and trolley buses.
Training and getting the required experience will take 2 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Substation Maintainer
Work involves installation and maintenance of conductors and fittings within a power substation.
Training and getting the required experience will take 3 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
Cable Jointer
Work involves installing and joining high voltage power lines.
Training and getting the required experience will take 2 years. Experience must be gained while holding a Limited Certificate.
