How can I check an electrician is licensed and registered?

How to check an electrician is licensed in Victoria

The short answer

Ask to see the electrician's licence, and check the business's Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) number. In Victoria, an electrician doing work for you must work for an REC, and the REC must show its number on its advertising. Energy Safe Victoria's public registers let you look up both. It matters because the Certificate of Electrical Safety for your job comes from that licensed contractor.

Licence and REC are different things

The licence belongs to the person and shows they're qualified to do electrical installation work. The REC registration belongs to the business you're contracting with. Energy Safe Victoria says anyone planning electrical installation work must engage an REC, which sends a licensed, qualified electrician to do it. A sole trader electrician needs both.

Where to look

The REC number should appear on the website, quotes, invoices, ads and often the van. A registered contractor must show it on any advertisement, notice or statement offering electrical contracting work. Energy Safe Victoria's website has a public register of registered electrical contractors and a search for licensed electrical workers, so you can check that the name and number match.

On the day, it's reasonable to ask to see the electrician's licence. Energy Safe Victoria recommends always asking, because it shows they're qualified and gives you avenues for recourse if something goes wrong. Any electrician, including ours, should be comfortable with the question.

Why it matters for your certificate

A Certificate of Electrical Safety is a legal document recording the work, issued by the REC or licensed electrician who did it. Energy Safe Victoria says it's illegal, and potentially fatal, for unlicensed people to do electrical work. Unlicensed work leaves you without that certificate, which you'll want when you sell, rent the property out or bring in the next electrician.

Air conditioning and gas have their own licences

Anyone installing or servicing air conditioning that involves refrigerant needs a Refrigerant Handling Licence from the Australian Refrigeration Council, and the business needs a Refrigerant Trading Authorisation. The electrical connection to an air conditioner still needs a licensed electrician and a certificate.

Gas heater servicing and repairs need a gasfitter licensed for Type A appliance servicing. The Building and Plumbing Commission registers and licenses gasfitters, and the endorsement shows on their Plumbers Identity Card.

Services that can help

Electrical Compliance CertificatesCertificates of Electrical Safety for every job we do.Home & Rental Electrical Safety ChecksAn inspection of the installation, with findings explained.

Sources for this answer

9 sources, with the date each was checked

1.Energy Safe Victoria: Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) – in Victoria an electrician must work for a Registered Electrical Contractor to perform work for a customer. A Registered Electrical Contractor must be registered with Energy Safe… Accessed 30 September 2026.
2.Energy Safe Victoria: If you are planning to have electrical installation work done, you must engage a registered electrical contractor (REC). They will send a licensed and qualified electrician to do the work to the required standards. Accessed 30 September 2026.
3.Energy Safe Victoria: An REC must display their REC number on any advertisements, notices or statements which indicate that the REC is conducting, or willing to conduct, electrical contracting work. Accessed 30 September 2026.
4.Energy Safe Victoria: Gas and electricity are inherently dangerous and it’s illegal and potentially fatal for unlicensed and unqualified people to undertake any electrical or gasfitting work. Homeowners and consumers must always use… Accessed 30 September 2026.
5.Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC): A Refrigerant Handling Licence must be held by any person who carries out work in relation to refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) equipment. Carrying out work in relation to RAC equipment means to do anything with… Accessed 30 September 2026.
6.Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC): The Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Management Regulations 1995 provide that persons or businesses that acquire, store or dispose of refrigerants must hold a current Refrigerant Trading Authorisation issued by… Accessed 30 September 2026.
7.Energy Safe Victoria: Type A appliances include domestic and light commercial type appliances such cookers, space heaters, central heaters, water heaters, catering equipment and leisure appliances. So, when looking to service and repair your… Accessed 30 September 2026.
8.Energy Safe Victoria: The Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) is responsible for registering, licensing and disciplining plumbers and gasfitters in Victoria. Accessed 30 September 2026.
9.Consumer Affairs Victoria: The check must be conducted by a licensed or registered gasfitter who is endorsed in the specialised class of Type A Gas Appliances Servicing - Gas Servicing Type A on the Plumbers Identity Card. Accessed 30 September 2026.

General information for homes in Victoria. Every installation is different, so treat this as a starting point. Where this answer refers to Victorian safety or rental rules, the sources above have the current requirements.