How to check an electrician is registered and can issue a valid COC

You've got a quote from someone calling themselves an electrician, or you're about to have work done on your home, and you need to know: is this person properly registered, and will they actually be able to issue a Certificate of Compliance? It's not a small question. A COC is a legal document that certifies work meets the National Building Regulations. It's proof for your insurer, your buyer (if you sell), and yourself that the job was done right. An unregistered electrician can't issue one, no matter how good the work looks. Here's how to verify before you hand over money or let them near your switchboard.

Check the ECSA register first

The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) maintains a public register of qualified, registered electrical contractors. Go to the ECSA website and search for the electrician's name or business registration number. You're looking for someone listed as a Professional Electrical Contractor or Electrical Contractor in the category that matches the work you need done. Don't skip this step because the search takes two minutes and either they're there or they're not. Write down their registration number and the date it expires—if it's expired or lapsed, they cannot legally issue a COC, full stop.

While you're checking, look at what category they're registered under. ECSA splits contractors by scope of work: some are licensed only for small wiring jobs, others for full installations, others for testing and inspection. The scope matters. If your job is outside their registered scope, they shouldn't be touching it. Ask them to show you their certificate or registration proof. Legitimate electricians keep this handy—many take a photo of it for WhatsApp quotes. If they get evasive or can't produce it, that's a red flag.

Ask for proof of recent continuous professional development

Registration with ECSA requires ongoing training. Once you've found them on the register, ask them directly: can they show you proof of recent CPD (continuous professional development) activities? This isn't bureaucratic busywork—electrical codes change, new safety standards come out, and registered electricians are required to stay current. They should be able to name a course or training they've done in the last year or two. If they seem blank on this, it's worth questioning whether they're actually keeping their registration active or just coasting on an old certificate.

Request references and verify their track record

Before hiring, ask for contact details of three recent clients—preferably in your area. Don't feel awkward calling them. Ring up and ask: did the electrician turn up on time, explain the work clearly, leave the site clean, and provide a COC after? Did your insurer or real estate agent accept it without queries? Were there any issues that needed fixing later? Most honest homeowners will answer. They may also tell you if the electrician was a good communicator, which matters on electrical jobs where you need to understand what's going wrong and why it costs what it costs.

If references are hard to come by, be cautious. An established contractor should have a handful of people willing to vouch for them. You can also check online reviews on Strove or similar platforms, though remember that one negative review doesn't disqualify someone—look for patterns.

What to confirm in writing before work starts

Once you've verified their registration and checked references, get a written quote that includes: what work will be done, which electrical regulations it must comply with, whether a COC will be issued at the end, and their ECSA registration number on the quote itself. This protects you both. If disputes arise later—say, your insurer won't accept the COC—you have evidence of what was promised.

The electrician's job is to leave you with a signed, stamped COC that covers the work done. Your job is to make sure they're registered enough to issue one before they start. A few quick phone calls and a register search now will save you stress and money later.