Hiring an electrician looks like a skills question. In Singapore, it is also a legal one. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) says electrical work must be done by a licensed electrical worker, and that shapes how electrician outsourcing in Singapore works. Before you compare rates or availability, check the licence class against the job.
Why you need a licensed electrical worker
EMA states that a licensed electrical worker must carry out all electrical work. It lists new wiring, rewiring and extensions as examples. Carrying out electrical work without a valid licence is an offence. So is knowingly engaging someone who is not licensed to do it. In other words, the hirer carries legal exposure as well as the worker.
Our electrician service sits with our other technical roles, including the M&E technician role. The post on M&E technician services in Singapore covers that side in more detail.
Three classes of licensed electrical worker
EMA licenses three classes, and each class is limited by load and voltage. A licensed electrician can work on installations up to 45 kVA at 1,000 V and below. The technician class can design up to 150 kVA and operate installations up to 500 kVA, also at 1,000 V and below. Engineers have no load limit, subject to licence conditions.
EMA gives an example of how this plays out. Work in an HDB flat needs an electrician, while a larger installation such as a food court needs a technician or even an engineer. Match the class to the job at the start, not when an inspector asks.
The table below sets out how EMA sets the limits. Match the class to the installation before you shortlist anyone.
| Class | Approved load | Voltage level |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed electrician | Not exceeding 45 kVA | 1,000 V and below |
| Licensed electrical technician | Design up to 150 kVA; operation up to 500 kVA | 1,000 V and below |
| Licensed electrical engineer | No limit | Subject to licence conditions |
How a licensed electrician gets an EMA licence
EMA sets three routes to an electrician licence. One is a relevant NITEC certificate, or another qualification EMA accepts, with at least two years of practical experience in Singapore. Another is at least ten years of practical experience in Singapore with no academic qualification. The third combines at least five years of experience with the EN032 Licensed Electrician Preparatory Course from the Singapore Institute of Power and Gas.
These routes are why an experienced tradesperson without formal qualifications can still hold a licence. They also explain why “ten years’ experience” on a CV is not the same as a licence. The licence must be held and valid.
The table shows the three routes side by side. Check which route a candidate used, because “ten years on site” and “a licence” are not the same thing.
| Route | Qualification | Practical experience in Singapore | Course |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Relevant NITEC certificate, or another qualification EMA accepts | At least 2 years | Not required |
| B | None | At least 10 years | Not required |
| C | None | At least 5 years | EN032 Licensed Electrician Preparatory Course |
Electrical installation licence: who takes charge of the installation
EMA’s handbook on electrical installation licences explains that the scheme began in 1975. Its aim is for owners and users of certain installations to engage a licensed electrical worker to take charge of and maintain them. It also says licensed workers should inspect large installations and certify them fit for operation every year. If you run a factory, cold room or large commercial building, the electrician you outsource may be the licensed worker you appoint to take charge.
Ask up front whether the outsourced person will take charge of an installation or only carry out tasks under someone else. The answer decides which class of licence and which paperwork you need. It also decides who is accountable when something trips.
Electrician outsourcing or a contractor?
An outsourced electrician joins your team for a fixed term and works to your priorities. A contractor delivers a defined job at a set price. If you have steady maintenance, a shutdown or a project with changing scope, the first usually works better. For a one-off installation with a clear specification, the second does. Our page on safe and compliant electrical works covers the contractor side.
For broader maintenance cover, look at our handyman and facilities maintenance post. The repair and maintenance technicians and facilities maintenance technician pages also help. Together they show how electrical cover fits into a wider maintenance arrangement.
How to check an EMA licence
EMA advises consumers to engage licensed workers. It points to its e-Licence Information Services portal (ELISE), where you can search for licensed individuals. Use it. Ask the candidate for the licence number and class, confirm both on the portal, and note the licence conditions. Repeat the check when a placement is extended, in case the licence status has changed.
How ProSkill Workforce supplies electricians
ProSkill Workforce supplies electricians for maintenance, shutdown and project work. Tell us the installation size and voltage, and whether the person will take charge of it. We will then say which licence class the job calls for. Plant shutdown manpower services covers shutdown demand, and construction manpower supply covers construction sites.
Electrician outsourcing: frequently asked questions
Can anyone carry out electrical work in Singapore? No. EMA says a licensed electrical worker must carry out all electrical work, including new wiring, rewiring and extensions. Carrying out electrical work without a valid licence is an offence.
Can the hirer be penalised for using an unlicensed electrician? EMA says it is also an offence to knowingly engage a person who is not a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work. The legal exposure sits with the hirer as well as the worker.
What can a licensed electrician work on? Installations not exceeding 45 kVA at 1,000 V and below. EMA’s example is an HDB flat, while a larger installation such as a food court needs a licensed electrical technician or engineer.
How do I check that an electrician is licensed? Ask for the licence number and class, then search for the person on EMA’s e-Licence Information Services portal, known as ELISE. Repeat the check when a placement is extended, in case the licence status has changed.
How does an electrician get licensed? There are three routes: a relevant NITEC certificate with at least two years of experience in Singapore; at least ten years of experience with no qualification; or at least five years of experience plus the EN032 preparatory course. EMA’s page lists an application fee of S$50, which is non-refundable. The licence fee is S$30.
Does the person I outsource need to take charge of the installation? That depends on the job. EMA’s handbook explains that the scheme exists so owners of certain installations engage a licensed electrical worker to take charge of and maintain them. Licensed workers should also inspect large installations and certify them fit for operation every year. Ask up front whether the person will take charge or work under someone else.
Need a licensed electrician?
Send us the site, the installation size, the duration and the start date. Call +65-90900468 or +65-88338400, or email inquiry@proskillworkforce.com. You can also use our contact page. We’ll reply with licensed candidates matched to the installation. ProSkill Global Recruitment Pte Ltd, EA Licence No. 26C3677 (Comprehensive Licence), provides recruitment and placement; see our recruitment services page.
Sources
- EMA, Engaging licensed workers: https://ema.gov.sg/consumer-information/electricity/engaging-licensed-workers
- EMA ELISE, Search for licensed electrical workers: https://elise.ema.gov.sg/elise/LEWs.jsp
- EMA ELISE, installation application note (classes of licensed electrical worker): https://elise.ema.gov.sg/elise/eisiInstallationApplyNote.jsp
- EMA, Electrician’s licence: https://www.ema.gov.sg/regulations-licences/licences/worker-licences/electricians-licence
- EMA, Handbook for Application of Electrical Installation Licence: https://www.ema.gov.sg/content/dam/corporate/resources/educational-materials/handbook/handbook-pdfs/english/EMA-Resources-Educational-Materials-Handbook-Application-Electrical-Installation-Licence.pdf
