Licensed Electricians and the CCEW (NSW)
A short guide for property owners, tenants and businesses in New South Wales.
Why you should only use a licensed electrician
Safety. Faulty wiring is a leading cause of electric shock and house fires. Licensed electricians are trained and assessed to install, test, and verify work safely.
It's the law. In NSW, electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician (or a supervised, authorized trainee. Using an unlicensed person puts both them and the property owner at risk of penalties.
Compliance with standards. All installation work must meet the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules (AS/NZS 3000) and the NSW Service and Installation Rules.
Insurance. Insurers may refuse a claim if a fire or damage is linked to unlicensed or non-compliant electrical work.
Resale and leasing. Proof of compliant work protects property value and helps with sales, inspections and lease obligations.
Accountability. A licensed electrician is answerable to the regulator. If the work is defective, you have a path to have it fixed or lodge a complaint.
What is a CCEW?
A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) is the document an electrician issues to confirm that electrical work has been tested and complies with the relevant standards. It is required under the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017 and the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety)
The rules around the CCEW
Timing: the completed CCEW must be provided within 7 days of completing the safety and compliance testing.
Testing first: the work must be tested and verified, with results recorded on the certificate.
Who gets a copy:
Any electrical work: the customer
New installations: customer, network distributor and the regulator
Work on a switchboard or associated equipment: customer, distributor and regulator
Alterations needing network connection work: customer, distributor and regulator
Stand-alone power systems: customer and regulator
Meter installation, alteration or replacement: customer and regulator
Approved form: Electricians use the regulator's approved CCEW form available through their registered portal.
Record keeping: Electricians are expected to keep a copy of each certificate. Industry guidance has put this at a minimum of five years.
Penalties: failing to supply a CCEW can attract on-the-spot fines of up to $1,000 per occasion, with further penalties possible.
Note: NSW Fair Trading's electrical compliance functions are now shown on NSW Government pages under Building Commission NSW, so check for the current form and submission details.
Your checklist as a customer
Check the licensee before work starts, using the NSW Government license check, and confirm the name and number match the person turning up.
Get a written quote that describes the work.
Ask for the CCEW when the job is finished. You should receive it within 7 days.
Keep it safe with your property records, insurance papers and any warranties.
Never pay for unlicensed work and be cautious about cash-only deals with no paperwork.
Report concerns about unsafe or unlicensed work to the regulator.
Red flags
No license number on quotes, invoices, ads or vehicle
Reluctance to provide a CCEW or paperwork
Offering to skip testing or certificates to save cost
Pressure to pay in full upfront in cash
Where to find more
NSW Government: Electrical compliance requirements (Building Commission NSW / NSW Fair Trading)
NSW Government license check
SafeWork NSW (electrical safety at work)