What it's called, and when you should have it
| Name | Deadline | |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) | Lodged within 7 days of finishing the work and testing |
| Victoria | Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) | Within one month for minor work; within 4 business days of the inspection for major work |
| Queensland | Certificate of testing and compliance | As soon as practicable after the work is connected |
| Western Australia | Electrical Safety Certificate | Within 28 days of finishing |
| South Australia | Electronic certificate of compliance (eCoC) | Within 30 days of finishing |
| ACT | Certificate of electrical safety | Lodged within 14 days of testing, with a copy to the owner |
| Tasmania | A record of the work in an approved form | A copy as soon as practicable once the work can be switched on |
| Northern Territory | Certificate of compliance | Within 20 business days of finishing |
New South Wales: the CCEW
A CCEW is needed for any work that installs, repairs, adds to or alters electrical equipment, like-for-like replacements included. The person who tested the work lodges it within 7 days, and since 1 July 2026 it must go through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal. Paper and PDF forms are no longer accepted.
If the electrician enters your email, eCert sends you a copy as soon as it's lodged. Every CCEW is uniquely numbered, and a tenant who receives one has to pass a copy to the owner or agent. On-the-spot fines of up to $1,000 apply each time a CCEW isn't supplied to Building Commission NSW.
Victoria: the Certificate of Electrical Safety
A licensed electrician must provide a Certificate of Electrical Safety whenever they complete electrical installation work, and only people licensed or registered by Energy Safe Victoria can issue one. You get the certificate, and a copy goes to Energy Safe Victoria.
Energy Safe Victoria splits work into two kinds. Minor (non-prescribed) work, such as lights, power points and hot water, needs its certificate within one month of the electrician completing the work's certificate of compliance. Major (prescribed) work, such as consumer mains, solar and batteries, must be inspected by a licensed electrical inspector within 8 business days, can't be switched on until it has been, and the certificate follows within 4 business days of the inspection. For major work, the distribution business gets a copy too.
A contractor can't refuse to issue one for any reason, including payment issues or a contract dispute.
Queensland, WA and South Australia
Queensland: the licensed electrical contractor who connects the work gives you a certificate of testing and compliance. It shows your name and address, the installation tested, the test date and the contractor's licence number, and the contractor keeps a copy for at least 5 years.
Western Australia: only a licensed electrical contractor can issue the Electrical Safety Certificate, and you should have a copy within 28 days, except for maintenance and like-for-like replacements. If it doesn't arrive, Building and Energy says to ask the contractor, then tell your network operator, which in most areas is Western Power or Horizon Power.
South Australia: whoever did the work issues an eCoC within 30 days, signed off by the worker and any other contractor involved. It confirms the work was tested and is safe, and that you've been told about any existing safety concerns. SA Power Networks still requires one for every EV charger installation.
The ACT, Tasmania and the NT
ACT: the electrician lodges a certificate of electrical safety form within 14 days of testing the work, listing what was done and the tests, and gives a copy to the owner. Access Canberra audits all new installations, and they can't be switched on until they pass.
Tasmania: the person responsible for the work keeps a record in an approved form for at least 10 years, and gives you a copy as soon as practicable once the work is, or can be, switched on. We haven't confirmed the form's official name, so ask for it by description.
Northern Territory: the certificate of compliance goes to the owner and occupier, whoever the work was done for, and the Electrical Safety Regulator within 20 business days. Maintenance and like-for-like swaps don't need one, and the Regulator keeps certificates for 30 years.
When the job's done
Ask for it by name, up front
Put the certificate in the quote so there's no argument later about whether it's included.
Check the details
Your address, a description of the work, the date, and a licence number you can look up on the register.
Keep it with the house papers
A future buyer, or the next electrician who works on the house, may want to see it.
Chase it if it's late
Ask the electrician first. If that doesn't work, contact your state's regulator, or in WA, your network operator.
Your part, and the electrician's
You can
- Ask which certificate you'll get before work starts.
- Give the electrician your email address (in NSW, eCert can send your copy straight to you).
- Check the licence number on it against the register.
- File it, and chase it if it's late.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Testing the work before it's switched on.
- Completing and lodging the certificate on time.
- Arranging an inspection where your state requires one.
- Notifying the network when the work needs it.
Our rule of thumb
Treat the certificate as part of the job, not paperwork that might turn up. We'd name it in the quote, give the electrician an email address for it, and follow up the week it's due. If it never arrives, take that as a sign something about the job wasn't right, and ask your regulator.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.