Clarification on licensing for electricians

The Registrar for the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority (PSPLA) has provided a guideline document for electricians, providing clarification on an issue long considered a licensing sore point.

As a result of an exemption at Section 22 of the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010, it has long – and somewhat controversially - been interpreted that registered electricians installing security systems do not need to hold a security license or CoA.

The new guidance confirms that EWRB-registered electricians carrying out the work of a security technician only are not likely to need a security license/ CoA, but those selling and advising on security devices are likely to need a security consultant license/CoA.

In addition, the guidance confirms that because companies are not registered with the EWRB, those companies that carry out the work of security technicians or security consultants must also hold a company licence with the PSPLA even if their directors and employees are registered electricians.

According to New Zealand Security Association CEO Gary Morrison, “this has been a contentious area for a long time and we applaud the Registrar for documenting what is considered best practice.”

A full extract from the guideline document follows:

Guidelines for electricians in relation to registering with the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority

The Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Act 2010 requires all security technicians and security consultants to hold either a licence or certificate of approval with the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority.

A security consultant is someone who sells or advises on security devices as defined in s 7 of the Act. Security technician is defined in s 6 of the Act and includes installing and repairing burglar alarms, warning devices, locking devices, safes and strongrooms.

Section 22 (d) of the Act provides an exemption from needing to hold a licence or certificate of approval for carrying on an “occupation or business in accordance with a practicing certificate, licence, permit or other authority, granted or issued under any other enactment”.

This exemption is unlikely to apply to registered electricians who carry out the work of security consultants because selling and advising on security devices is not listed in the type of work covered in the various electrical registration classes. Therefore, electricians who carry out the work of security consultants are required to hold a licence or certificate with the PSPLA even if they are registered with the EWRB.

Individuals registered with the EWRB may fit within the exemption in s 22 of the PSPPI Act if they carry out the work of security technicians only. Therefore, they may not need to be registered under both regimes. However, that exemption is unlikely to apply to companies as companies are not registered with the EWRB unless they have the status of an employer company.

Therefore, companies that carry out the work of security technicians or security consultants must also hold a company licence with the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority even if their directors and employees are registered electricians.

Given the above guidelines the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority considers it is best practice for all electricians who carry out the work of security technicians and security consultants to also hold a licence or certificate of approval with the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority unless that work is only a minor or incidental part of their work.