When a licensed electrician finishes a job at your place, you should receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety, often shortened to COES. Plenty of people file it away without a second look. Here’s what it is, when you should get one, and why it’s worth keeping.
Checked against Energy Safe Victoria guidance on 7 October 2026.
What is a Certificate of Electrical Safety?
A COES is a legal document issued by a Registered Electrical Contractor or licensed electrician. It records the details of the electrical work they’ve done on your property: what was installed or changed, where, and when.
Only registered electrical contractors and licensed electrical workers can obtain and issue certificates. Someone who isn’t licensed can’t give you one, which is one of the easiest ways to spot unlicensed work.
When do you need one?
Certificates are required for electrical installation work in Victoria. That covers most of the jobs electricians do in homes, from new power points and lights to switchboard upgrades and EV chargers.
If you haven’t received one after a job, ask your electrician for it.
Prescribed and non-prescribed work
There are two types of certificate, depending on the work:
Prescribed work
This is higher-risk work, such as work on consumer mains, switchboards, solar systems and battery storage. Before it’s finished, it must be inspected by an independent Licensed Electrical Inspector. You should receive your certificate within 4 days of that inspection being completed.
Non-prescribed work
This covers more routine jobs, such as installing lights, power points and air conditioning circuits. No independent inspection is needed. You should receive your certificate within 30 days of the work being completed.
Does it cost extra?
Electricians pay for each certificate. Under the rules, they can charge you the cost of the certificate plus a handling fee. That’s normally included in your quote or shown on your invoice.
What’s on the certificate?
A certificate typically records the address of the property, details of the electrician and contractor who did the work, a description of the work, and the date. For prescribed work, it also records the inspection by the Licensed Electrical Inspector. Check that the description matches what was actually done.
Common questions
Do I get one for a small job?
If the job is electrical installation work, such as a new power point or light, a certificate should be issued, even for small jobs.
Do I get one for a rental safety check?
A safety check is an inspection rather than installation work, so you get a written check report. If repairs are done as a result, those repairs come with their own certificate.
I’ve lost my certificate. What now?
Ask the electrician or contractor who did the work. They should be able to give you a copy.
Why you should keep it
- Proof the work was done properly. It shows the work was done by a licensed electrician and, for prescribed work, independently inspected.
- Selling your home. Buyers and their inspectors may ask about recent electrical work.
- Insurance. If there’s ever a claim involving your electrics, records of licensed work help.
- Renting out a property. Certificates and check reports help landlords show they’ve met their obligations. See landlord electrical safety obligations.
- Future work. The next electrician can see what was done and when.
Keep certificates with your other home documents, along with photos of the work if you have them.
What if your electrician didn’t give you one?
First, ask for it. Most of the time it’s simply been delayed. If the electrician won’t provide one, or you’re worried the work wasn’t done by a licensed person, you can contact Energy Safe Victoria. You can also search its public register to check a licence.
Doing electrical work yourself is never an option in Victoria. Read why DIY electrical work is illegal.
Our approach
We’re a Registered Electrical Contractor, and we issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety for every job that needs one. For switchboards and other prescribed work, we arrange the independent inspection too.
Source
Buying a home? Ask the seller for certificates for any recent electrical work, such as a switchboard upgrade, solar or a new kitchen. If they can’t produce them, consider having the electrics inspected before you settle, so there are no surprises later.
Need work done properly, with a certificate?
We’re a family-owned, licensed electrical business based in Point Cook, with more than 25 years of experience. We work across Williams Landing, Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina and the rest of Melbourne’s west, and we take emergency calls 24/7. See all our electrical services.
Call us on 0405 418 132, or send a few details and a photo of the job. Every job is quoted before we start.