Licensed Electrical Inspector (LEI) licence

Overview

This licence may be issued to experienced electrical licence holders, or a person with an equivalent qualification or experience, who wishes to undertake work inspecting electrical installations for safety or compliance with regulatory requirements.

Applicants must provide evidence demonstrating they have the qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency for the class of licence required, as detailed below.

Assessments

G licence

Requirements:

• All applicants for the Class G licence must complete three assessments: G Class Theory, G Class Practical and Safe Approach.
• Read the LEI assessment information
• All Class G assessments are conducted by Future Energy Skills

Class RE

The Renewable Energy (RE) Class licence is a new class of licence that came into effect on 5 April 2024. It allows a licensed electrical inspector (LEI) to inspect electricity generation systems and battery systems.

To be eligible for the RE Class licence applicants must hold or be eligible to hold a G Class LEI licence.

As this licence type includes both renewable energy systems, battery systems, and generation systems powered by internal combustion engines, there is both a full 'RE Class' licence, and a conditional 'RE Class (restricted to internal combusion engines)' licence available. A further conditional licence 'RE (excluding internal combustion engines)' was issued to LEIs with relevant experience obtained prior to 5 April 2024, however this conditional licence is not available to new applicants.

Requirements:

• Applicants for the full RE licence must complete the RE theory assessment.
• Applicants for the RE (restricted to internal combustion engines) must complete the RE (restricted to internal combustions engines) theory assessment.
• All RE assessments are conducted at Future Energy Skills.

For further information on the available assessments, see LEI assessments

H, M and V licence classes

Applicants for the specialist Licence classes H, M and V do not require formal assessment, but applicants must demonstrate on-the-job training and competence. See below for further information on the individual classes of licence.

To apply

Applicants will need to produce evidence demonstrating they have the qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency for the relevant class of licence required. To apply for a licence, you will be able to log into ESVConnect and lodge your application via the My Applications tab.

Note: If you have an existing LEI licence, please request additional classes via the ‘Add Inspector Class’ button on your licence profile.

Class G

Class G allows an inspector to undertake inspections of any low voltage installations, except for those required under Class H, Class M, or Class V.

It is expected that prospective applicants will have held an Electrician’s Licence for at least five years.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:

• a detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations that are covered by this class
• testing methods for electrical installations that are covered by this class and
• the requirements of the Regulations relating to low voltage electrical installations.

Your LEI application must include:

• G Class theory and practical assessment results
• application fee.

Class RE

Class RE allows an inspector to undertake inspections of electrical installations that are:

• electricity generation systems including any wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear or accessories installed to provide control or protection to those generation systems (excluding stand-alone power systems with a power rating that is less than 500 voltamperes)
• a battery system including any associated wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear and accessories.

All applicants must have the qualifications, proficiency and experience for the person to be issued a licence to carry out class G electrical inspection work.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:

• a detailed understanding of safety in electricity generation systems and battery systems
• testing methods in for electricity generation systems and battery systems
• the requirements of the regulations relating to electricity generation systems and battery systems.

Your LEI RE application must include:

• class RE theory assessment results
• application fee.

Class RE (restricted to internal combustion engines)

Class RE (restricted to internal combustion engines) allows an inspector to undertake inspections of eelctrical installations that are:

• electricity generation systems including any wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear or accessories installed to provide control or protection to those generation systems (excluding stand-alone power systems with a power rating that is less than 500 voltamperes)
• restricted to electricity generation systems powered by internal combustion engines.

All applicants must have the qualifications, proficiency and experience for the person to be issued a licence to carry out class G electrical inspection work.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency, namely:

• a detailed understanding of safety in electricity generation systems powered by internal combustion engines
• testing methods for electriciaty generation systems powered by internal combustion engines
• the requirements of the regulations relating to electricity generation systems powered by internal combustion engines.

Your LEI RE (restricted to internal combustion engines) application must include:

• class RE (restricted to internal combustion engines) theory assessment results
• application fee.

Class RE (excluding internal combustion engines)

Class RE (excluding internal combustion engines) allows an inspector to undertake inspections of electrical installations that are either:

• electricity generation systems including any wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear or accessories installed to provide control or protection to those generation systems (excluding stand-alone power systems with a power rating that is less than 500 voltamperes)
• a battery system including any associated wiring systems, switchgear, controlgear and accessories.

But excluding electricity generation systems under part (1) where the generation system is powered by an internal combustion engine.

This licence class is no longer available to new applicants. Applicants should instead consider applying for the full RE licence via the assessment pathway.

Class H

Class H allows an inspector to undertake inspections of electrical installations located in a hazardous area and electrical equipment associated with the protection of the hazardous area but not installed within the hazardous area.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:

• a detailed understanding of safety in electrical installations in hazardous areas
• testing methods in hazardous areas and for electrical equipment associated with the protection of hazardous areas and
• the requirements of the regulations relating to electrical installations in hazardous areas and electrical equipment associated with the protection of hazardous areas.

Your LEI application must also include:

• details of on-the-job training with a current H Class Inspector, including at least 10 examples of hazardous electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety
• a supporting reference from the H Class Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competence
• any other training or qualifications that you hold in hazardous areas, and
• application fee.

Class V

Class V allows an inspector to undertake high voltage installations, with the exception of electrical equipment that is:

• associated with an electric discharge lighting system
• associated with X-ray equipment
• associated with high frequency equipment
• within self-contained equipment supplied at low voltage and
• associated with electric fences intended primarily for the control or containment of animals.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency:

• a detailed understanding of safety in high voltage electrical installations
• testing methods for high voltage installations, and
• the requirements of the regulations relating to high voltage electrical installations.

Your LEI application must also include:

• details of on-the-job training with a current Class V Inspector, including at least 10 examples of high voltage electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety
• a supporting reference from the Class V Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency
• any other training or qualification evidence relevant to high voltage that you hold
• your application fee.

Class M

Class M allows an inspector to undertake inspection of fixed electrical equipment installed in a patient area.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:

• a detailed understanding of safety in fixed electrical equipment installed in a patient area
• testing methods for electrical installations in those areas and
• the requirements of the regulations relating to those areas.

Your LEI application must also include:

• evidence of on-the-job training with a current Class M Inspector, including at least 10 examples of patient area medical/electrical inspections. Please include relevant copies of the prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety. The 10 examples should include at least 6 inspections of cardiac-protected electrical areas and 4 of body-protected electrical areas
• a supporting reference from the Class M Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency
• your application fee.

Class M – Restricted to Body Protected Inspections Only

Class M (Body Protected Only) allows an inspector to undertake inspection of fixed electrical equipment installed in body protected electrical areas only (does not include inspections of cardiac protected areas).

Applicants should be able to demonstrate their qualifications, experience, competency and proficiency in:

• a detailed understanding of safety in fixed electrical equipment installed in a body protected area
• testing methods for electrical installations in those areas and
• the requirements of the regulations relating to those areas

Your LEI application must also include:

• evidence of on-the-job training with a current Class M Inspector, including at least 10 examples of body protected electrical inspections. Please include copies of prescribed Certificates of Electrical Safety for at least ten inspections of body-protected electrical areas
• a supporting reference from the Class M Inspector who provided the training and is willing to attest to your competency
• your application fee.

Responsibilities

A licensed electrical inspector can inspect electrical installation work as permitted by the class endorsed, including disconnecting and reconnecting for testing purposes. This disconnection/reconnection activity is not considered to be electrical installation work and a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) is not required.

A LEI must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work if they have been involved with the installation of that work, or if they are the registered electrical contractor engaged to perform the work. A LEI must not inspect prescribed electrical installation work if they have been involved in the design of that electrical installation work.

A LEI must sign the Certificate of Inspection within the Certificate of Electrical Safety certifying that the prescribed electrical installation work carried out, or supervised, by the licensed electrician meets all the requirements of the legislation and regulations.

Fees

Refer to Energy Safe's Licensing fees

Application fees include a $70 non-refundable administration component.

Application fees must be paid at the time a licence application is submitted.

Credit card payment is required.

Licence renewal

Energy Safe will send an email reminder to you 3 months prior to your licence expiry. It is your responsibility to ensure your licence is current and that Energy Safe has the correct contact details for you.

Energy Safe must cancel the licence of an electrical worker who does not apply for renewal of the licence by the renewal date specified on the licence card.

Read more about renewing or replacing a licence

You can renew your licence via ESVConnect with a credit card.

Class L licences that are not renewed by the due date cannot be reissued.

Reinstating your cancelled LEI

You may apply to reinstate a cancelled LEI by completing the LEI Reinstatement Form:

It is important to note that if your G Class LEI has been cancelled for 5 years or more, you will need to complete the G Class Theory, G Class Practical and Safe Approach Assessments before applying to reinstate your licence.

Inspection companies and ESVConnect

Inspectors can opt to be allocated electronic certificates either:

• directly from contractors through ESVConnect
• through an 'inspection company'.

Inspections are allocated to inspection companies through ESVConnect after we have received consent:

• to add an inspection company's details
• for these details to be made available to users of ESVConnect.

Complete the inspection company request form:

Post the completed form to:

COES Department
Energy Safe Victoria
PO Box 262
Collins Street West VIC 8007

or

Scan and email the completed form to: coes@energysafe.vic.gov.au