Limited Certificate for overseas-trained applicants
Working in New Zealand you must hold a Limited Certificate or Provisional Licence to complete your registration requirements.
Limited Certificates
You must apply for a Registration (Overseas Trained Applicants). Once the assessment of your application has been completed and the recommendation has been made you will receive your outcome letter from the Licensing Team.
If you have completed the required amount of work experience covering the limits of works for your Registration class, you will be invited to apply for a Limited Certificate.
A Limited Certificate application will be set up in your EW Portal for you to complete and submit.
Once issued, your Limited Certificate will be valid for a period between 12 and 18 months.
You must complete Safety Training within 3 months of being issued a Limited Certificate.
When you complete your Limited Certificate application, you make a declaration that you will make every attempt to complete all remaining Registration requirements within the duration of that Limited Certificate.
Supervision
You must have a registered and licensed electrical worker to supervise your work while holding your Limited Certificate.
Refer to the Supervision page for information about Supervision Agreements and Supervision Requirements.
Apply for a Limited Certificate
To apply for a Limited Certificate, you will need a completed and signed supervision declaration form from the registered and licensed electrical worker who will supervise you.
Supervision Declaration Form [PDF, 242 KB]
You can pay for your application by credit or debit card. All payments made outside the New Zealand banking system must be made by credit card.
Apply for a Limited Certificate, upload your documents and submit your application through the EW Portal.
Once we have received your application and it is deemed complete, your application should be processed within 20 working days.
Application processing timeframes
Once your application has been completed and approved, you will receive:
- A Limited Certificate approval email with your requirements to complete Registration
- Your Limited Certificate Digital Licence.
Applying for a second or third Limited Certificate
For a second Limited Certificate to be approved, you must show evidence that you have made every attempt to complete your Registration requirements stated in your outcome letter.
A second Limited Certificate will only be issued for 12 months.
Third and subsequent Limited Certificates will be referred to the Board for consideration. The Licensing Team will advise you by email of the documents you must submit before your application is referred to the Board.
The applicant and supervisor may be required to appear before the Board to answer questions or make written submissions with supporting statements from their supervisor, in relation to the efforts they have made to meet Registration requirements.
Third and subsequent Limited Certificates will be issued for a duration as specified if approved by the Board.
Cancellation of Limited Certificates
Any Limited Certificate is subject to cancellation if the Board is satisfied that the holder:
- Did not satisfactorily complete instruction in safe working practices, testing, basic first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as approved by the Board;
- Has not complied with supervision instructions and
- Has repeatedly worked outside the limits of the Limited Certificate.
Refusal to Renew or Cancellation of Limited Certificates
Prior to making any decision about refusal to renew or cancel a Limited Certificate the Board will:
- Observe the rules of natural justice
- Without limiting those rules, give the applicant
- Notice of any matter that may give the Board cause to refuse to renew or cancel a Limited Certificate
- All information the Board will be considering in relation to the matter
- Reasonable opportunity to make written submissions and be heard on the question, either personally or by a representative.