Becoming an electrician in South Africa has its challenges due to the number of requirements needed to complete the entire process from start to finish. We often hear of students who get halfway through their studies and realise they have taken the wrong study course and will not be allowed to work in specific fields within electrical engineering. This can be devastating news and often discourages students from studying further. Discovering these pitfalls earlier in the process will safeguard your future.
To help you navigate this journey, we have created this free electrician course to help prospective students navigate the complexities of becoming an electrician in South Africa.
In this course we share our insights, industry experience, and help you navigate the complexities of electrical engineering and some of the lessons we have learnt while working as electricians. In this course, you will gain insights from real electricians working in the field.
Getting Started
There are various requirements that need to be met before you can become an electrician. We have carefully crafted a set of checklists that will allow you to track your progress on this exciting journey. The main checklist below, links to other course modules and checklists that you can follow to keep your progress on track. Use this checklist as your main point of reference when you are busy with this course. You may also find it useful to print this checklist.
Checklist - How to become an Electrician
Follow this checklist to track your progress for becoming an electrician
Prerequisites before you can study to become an electrician.
Course modules:
Determine if you would like to work with single and three phase electrical installations.
Course modules:
Determine what Electrical Engineering NQF levels you need to study.
You will need Electrical Engineering NQF 1,2 and 3 for single phase electrical installations and NQF 1,2,3 and 4 for three phase electrical installations.
Course modules:
Determine at which college you would like to study
Course modules:
Complete your studies
Once you have completed you studies, you can continue with the checklist.
Pass the Trade Test for Electricians.
The trade test is a trade qualification. If you have passed the trade test, you can call yourself an electrician. A trade test is a final integrated summative assessment that is conducted at an accredited Trade Test Centre by an Assessor registered with the National Artisan Moderating Body (NAMB).
Pass the SANS 10142-1 National Exam.
This vital standard is used in South Africa for all types of low voltage electrical installations. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act), requires that electrical installations comply with the requirements of SANS 10142-1. It also requires that a registered person, as defined (master installation electrician, installation electrician or electrical tester for single phase), will issue a Certificate of Compliance for an electrical installation in line with the requirements set out in SANS 10142-1.
Course modules:
Get your Wiremans licence (Registered Person licence).
This licence registration is done at the Department of Labour (DOL) and is subject to certain qualifications and requirements. When registering with the DOL, you will need to select one of three registered person categories: Electrical tester for single phase; installation electrician and master installation electrician. One of the requirements is the electrician trade test. If you don't have a wiremans licence, you are considered an unlicensed electrician.