You will need your Wireman’s License to ensure that you operate legally in South Africa.
It is a valuable piece of paper that not only affirms the hard work you put into your studies but proves to all your potential customers that you know exactly what you are doing. With this license in your hands, you will be allowed to issue a CoC (Certificate of Compliance) and prove your competence to test and inspect electrical installations
A Wireman’s License is not the same as your DOL registration to become an electrical contractor, that’s the next step in the journey.
You do need to get a recognised qualification before you set off to get your Wireman’s License.
The South African Qualifications Authority provides you with a complete breakdown of precisely the qualifications you need to have to qualify for this certification. You can opt to do a degree or you can attend a trade college, undergo an apprenticeship and pass a trade test to become qualified.
Now you need an EWSETA accredited assessor to assess you
A registered assessor will determine whether or not you are able to do the job. He or she will ask you to perform specific tasks to prove you can correctly evaluate a CoC against an existing electrical installation. This is incredibly important as only a qualified, registered electrician is able to issue a CoC and the assessor’s job is to ensure you know what you are doing.
If EWSETA is happy with your work and you’ve passed all the relevant tests, then you will be issued with a letter that you will need to submit to the DOL as part of your application for a Wireman’s License. According to the Department of Labour, your educational requirements need to be relevant across whichever registration you are applying for.
Know what the registrations are and how these affect your application
An electrician can register across three specific categories, each one allowing him or her to work on different phases of installation with regards to electricity.
• Phase 01: A single-phase electrician who usually works on homes and electrical supplies of 220 V. This the most relevant one if you want to install prepaid meters.
• Phase 02: Installation electrician who can handle both single and three-phase installations, but isn’t qualified for specialised installations.
• Phase 03: A master installation electrician who specialises in hazardous locations and specialised electrical installations. Once you have received your ESETA Letter and achieved your qualifications, you can submit your application for your Wireman’s License to the DOL. You can find the form at www.labour.gov.za
You need to follow the following steps to get DOL’s attention:
• Have a trade qualification that includes electrician, electrical engineering, construction electrician, and other diplomas, degrees or qualifications that focus on the role of the electrician (chemical, construction, mechanical, et al).
• Pass the trade test, have an NQF Level 3 minimum with a Technical Senior Certificate and pass the Installation Rules Paper 1 and Paper 2, which can be written at an FET or TVET college.
• Documentation and certified proof of the qualification. In the next column, we will talk about the difference between the wireman’s license and registration with the DOL as an electrical contractor.
How do I get a Wireman’s license in South Africa?
The basic requirements for this registration require the person to have:
- Trade Test.
- Installation Rules.
- N3 Certificate (3 Subjects)
- Completed Unit Standards on Inspection, Testing and Certification of Three-phase industrial/commercial Installations.