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How are registered electrical workers graded? What qualifications are required for each grade? What kind of electrical works can be conducted by the workers of the respective grades?

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department

Under the registration system for electrical workers of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, there are five grades of certificates of registration. To be qualified, an applicant must possess appropriate qualifications, training and experience. Workers must only conduct electrical works that are allowed under the registered grade.

The qualification requirements for registration as electrical workers for different grades of electrical work are as follows -

Grade of electrical work: 

Grade A

Qualifications requirement:

The applicant is required to have the qualifications and experience listed in one of the following paragraphs (i.e. (a), (b) OR (c)):

(a) (i) he has completed a registered contract of apprenticeship under the Apprenticeship Ordinance (Cap.47) in the trade of electrical fitter or electrician; and

(ii) holds a craft certificate in electrical engineering issued by a technical institute; and

(iii) has at least 1 year of practical experience in electrical work.

(b) he has been employed as an electrical worker for at least 5 years, at least 1 year of which included practical experience in electrical work and he -

(i) holds a Certificate of the Electrician or Electrical Fitter Upgrading Course issued by the Electrical Industry Training Centre of the Vocational Training Council or has an equivalent qualification; or

(ii) has passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services.

(c) he has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under paragraph (a) or (b).

Electrical works that can be conducted:

Grade A electrical work is electrical work on that part of a low voltage fixed electrical installation that has a maximum demand not exceeding 400A, single or three phase, but excludes neon sign installation and unvented electric thermal storage type water heater installation.
 

Grade of electrical work: 

Grade B

Qualifications requirement:

The applicant is required to have the qualifications and experience listed in one of the following paragraphs (i.e. (a), (b), (c) OR (d)):

(a) (i) he has completed a registered contract of apprenticeship under the Apprenticeship Ordinance (Cap.47) in the trade of electrical fitter, electrician or electrical engineering technician; and

(ii) holds a Higher Certificate in Electrical Engineering issued by the Hong Kong Polytechnic or has an equivalent qualification; and

(iii) has at least 2 years of practical experience in electrical work.

(b) (i) he holds a Diploma in Electrical Engineering issued by a technical institute or has an equivalent qualification; and

(ii) has been employed as an electrical worker for at least 5 years, at least 2 years of which included practical experience in electrical work.

(c) he has held, or was qualified to hold, a Grade A certificate for at least 5 years and he -

(i) holds a Certificate in Electrical Engineering issued by a technical institute or has an equivalent qualification and has at least 3 years of practical experience in electrical work; or

(ii) has at least 5 years of practical experience in electrical work and has passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services.

(d) he has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under paragraph (a), (b) or (c).

Electrical works that can be conducted:

Grade B electrical work is electrical work on that part of a low voltage fixed electrical installation that has a maximum demand not exceeding 2500A, single or three phase. Grade B electrical work includes Grade A electrical work, but excludes neon sign installation and unvented electric thermal storage type water heater installation.
 

Grade of electrical work: 

Grade C

Qualifications requirement:

The applicant is required to have the qualifications and experience listed in one of the following paragraphs (i.e. (a), (b) OR (c)):

(a) he has obtained a degree in electrical engineering in a recognised university or an institution of tertiary education or has an equivalent qualification and he -

(i) has completed at least 2 years of post-graduate training in electrical engineering recognized by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services and has at least 2 years of subsequent practical experience in electrical work; or

(ii) has at least 6 years of post-graduate practical experience in electrical engineering including at least 1year of practical experience in electrical work.

(b) (i) he has held, or was qualified to hold, a Grade B certificate for at least 6 years; and

(ii) has at least 6 years of practical experience in electrical work; and

(iii) has passed an examination or trade test approved or set by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services.

(c) he has qualifications and experience that are equivalent to those required under paragraph (a) or (b).

Electrical works that can be conducted:

Grade C electrical work is electrical work on a low voltage fixed electrical installation of any capacity. Grade C electrical work includes Grade A and Grade B electrical work, but excludes neon sign installation and unvented electric thermal storage type water heater installation.
 

Grade of electrical work: 

Grade H

Qualifications requirement:

The applicant is required to satisfy the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services that he is qualified to hold a Grade B or Grade C certificate and he has the qualifications and experience listed in one of the following paragraphs (i.e. (a) OR (b)):

(a) he has completed a training course approved by the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services for the design, installation, maintenance, operation or testing of high voltage electrical equipment and installations.

(b) he has at least 1 year of practical experience in the design, installation, maintenance, testing or operation of high voltage electrical equipment and installations.

Electrical works that can be conducted:

Grade H electrical work is electrical work on a high voltage electrical installation.
 

Grade of electrical work: 

Grade R

Qualifications requirement:

The applicant is required to satisfy the Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services that he has special training and has at least 4 years of experience in the type, or similar type, of electrical work for which he is applying for a Grade R certificate.

Electrical works that can be conducted:

Grade R electrical work may include one or more of the following:

  1. a neon sign installation;
  2. a low voltage air-conditioning installation;
  3. a low voltage generating facility installation;
  4. a low voltage unvented electric thermal storage type water heater installation (not exceeding 200 liters storage capacity);
  5. connection / disconnection of electricity supply to / from an electrical equipment and associated electrical work on the equipment;
  6. any other particular installation, type of installation or type of premises. Details of the electrical work should be clearly specified in the application form.
     

The above requirements of experience must be acquired in Hong Kong and must be acquired with the compliance of all statutory requirements in Hong Kong, including the Electricity Ordinance that the applicant must be employed by a Registered Electrical Contractor or directly by the owner of the fixed electrical installation on a full time basis at a regular wage or salary, and requirements in other legislation such as the Apprenticeship Ordinance.

Documentary proof of electrical work experience should clearly show the details of electrical work carried out by the applicant. For a detailed sample, please click here (PDF).

Apart from the above qualification and experience requirements, from 1 January 2007, all registered electrical workers should have been trained on the new cable colour code (CCC). Upon receipt of an application (including new, renewal or change of registration of electrical work), EMSD will check the applicant’s CCC training record before processing the application. For details of the CCC training, please  click here.

For further enquiries regarding qualification and experience requirements for registration, please call 1823.

 

In case of inclement weather or service adjustments due to special circumstances, the opening hours may be changed. Please refer to the departmental website and the latest press releases.

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Last update: 3 May 2022
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