How to Find a Licensed Electrician in Singapore (2026 Checklist)
Disclosure: GetElectrician.sg is operated by the owner of this site. We recommend it below, and we only state what it publishes on its own pages.
To find a licensed electrician in Singapore, ask for the person’s Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) licence number and check it on the Energy Market Authority’s free ELISE register before any work starts. Then confirm the licence class suits your job, get the scope and price in writing, and make sure the electrician tests the circuit before handover. This guide walks through each check, with every rule linked to EMA’s own pages, checked on 3 November 2026.
The short answer: three checks before you hire
- Licence: the person doing or supervising the work holds a valid EMA electrical worker licence. Search the number on ELISE, or call EMA on 6835 8075, as EMA’s electrical safety page advises.
- Licence class: the licence covers the size of your installation. For a HDB flat, EMA says you need a Licensed Electrician.
- Written scope: a quote that says what will be done, what parts are included, the call-out fee and how the work will be tested.
If you’d rather skip the legwork, GetElectrician.sg says on its home page that regulated work is carried out by an LEW, and it publishes a minimum call-out of S$100 with the scope confirmed before work begins. You should still ask for the LEW’s licence number and check it yourself; that’s the point of this guide.
Why the licence matters in Singapore
EMA’s Engaging Licensed Electrical Workers page (checked 3 November 2026) says electrical work at home or in the office should be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker. It lists the kind of jobs this covers:
- installing, repairing or modifying electrical wiring;
- adding, extending or replacing power points such as socket-outlets, switches or lighting points;
- repairing or replacing consumer control units or circuit breakers.
The ELISE search page itself states that it is an offence to carry out electrical work without a valid electrical worker licence, and also an offence to knowingly engage someone who isn’t licensed. So the check protects you legally as well as physically. EMA also notes that new wiring, rewiring and extensions have to be tested by an authorised officer from SP Services before the supply is turned on.
In practice, that means most of the jobs homeowners call an electrician for, from a new ceiling light to a DB box upgrade, need a licensed person. Changing a light bulb doesn’t; replacing the light point does.
Which licence class do you need?
EMA licenses three classes of electrical worker. Each can work on installations up to a certain size. This table is copied from EMA’s page as published:
| Class | Approved load | Voltage level |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Electrician | Not exceeding 45kVA | 1,000V and below |
| Licensed Electrical Technician | Not exceeding 150kVA (design); not exceeding 500kVA (operation) | 1,000V and below |
| Licensed Electrical Engineer | No limit | Subject to licence conditions |
Source: EMA, checked 3 November 2026.
EMA’s own example: work in a HDB flat needs an electrician, while a larger installation such as a food court may need an electrical technician or engineer. For most homes, a Licensed Electrician is the right class. For a shop, office or factory, ask the contractor which class the job needs and check that the named LEW holds it.
How to check a licence on ELISE, step by step
ELISE (e-Licence Information Services) is EMA’s public register. You don’t need an account.
- Ask for the licence number. A good electrician will give it to you with the quote. EMA says every LEW is issued a licence card with a photograph, name, identity card number and licence number, and asks consumers to verify the card before work starts.
- Open the ELISE licensed workers search and enter the licence number or the worker’s name.
- Read the result. Check that the name matches the person on the card, that the licence is valid, and that the class covers your job.
- If you can’t find them, call EMA on 6835 8075. Don’t let work start until you’ve confirmed it.
Licences belong to individuals, not companies. A company can be a well-run business and still send someone else to your flat, so check the person who will actually do or supervise the work.
Licensed electrician vs. registered contractor: what’s the difference?
You’ll see two kinds of credential when you compare electricians in Singapore, and they answer different questions.
- EMA LEW licence (a person): says an individual is allowed to do electrical work. This is the one the law requires for your job.
- BCA contractor registration (a company): BCA’s Contractors Registry lists firms under workheads such as ME05 (electrical engineering), each with a grade from L1 to L6. It tells you the company exists and has been assessed, not who will turn up.
Every electrician company page in our Electricians directory shows its BCA registration, grade and expiry date from the registry dataset published on data.gov.sg, together with its ACRA status. Use that to shortlist companies, then use ELISE to check the person.
The hiring checklist: what to check before you say yes
Licence checks are the legal minimum. These are the practical checks that separate a smooth job from a callback.
1. A clear description of the problem
Send photos and tell the electrician which points are affected, when it started and whether there was a spark, heat, smell or trip. GetElectrician.sg asks for exactly this on its home page before a site visit, and any careful electrician will want the same.
2. The call-out fee, in writing
Most electricians charge to come out and diagnose. GetElectrician.sg publishes a call-out from S$100 that, according to its pricing page (checked 3 November 2026), covers travel, an on-site inspection, diagnosis and an explanation of the repair scope, and is typically absorbed into the invoice if you go ahead. Ask any electrician whether their fee works the same way. For wider price ranges, see our electrician cost guide.
3. Scope and parts confirmed before work starts
The quote should list the work, the parts and their brand or rating, and what happens if a hidden fault turns up behind a false ceiling or wall. Avoid anyone who starts dismantling before you’ve agreed a price.
4. Testing and handover
Ask how the circuit or point will be tested before the electrician leaves. For rewiring and new circuits, ask who handles the certification and SP Services test EMA describes. Our rewiring cost guide covers what a full or partial rewire involves.
5. HDB or condo rules
HDB flat owners should check HDB’s renovation guidelines for electrical works, and condo owners may need MCST approval for some jobs, such as an EV charger (see our EV charger installation guide). Ask the electrician whether your job needs a permit or approval.
6. Invoice and warranty
Get an itemised invoice. It’s your record if something fails later. GetElectrician.sg says on its pricing page that it issues an itemised digital invoice and that completed installations and wiring include a service warranty; ask others what their warranty covers and for how long.
Red flags to walk away from
- No licence number, or a reluctance to show the licence card.
- A name on ELISE that doesn’t match the person at your door.
- A price given over the phone for a fault nobody has seen, which then rises once work begins.
- Pressure to pay the full amount upfront, in cash, before any work is done.
- Joining frayed cords with insulation tape. EMA’s safety page specifically says to replace the cord instead.
- Advice to bypass or remove a tripping circuit breaker. EMA says all homes must have an RCCB or ELCB rated at no more than 30mA.
Check your RCCB while you’re at it
If you’re hiring an electrician anyway, it’s a good time to check your home’s residual current circuit breaker. According to EMA’s electrical safety page (checked 3 November 2026), all residential premises must have an RCCB or ELCB, the grace period for flats without one ended on 1 July 2025, and homeowners without one may face a fine of up to S$5,000. EMA notes that HDB flats built before 1985 didn’t come with one unless the owner installed it later. The RCCB sits in your DB box and has a “Test” button; EMA suggests testing it once a month.
Where to find licensed electricians
- GetElectrician.sg (featured partner, operated by this site’s owner): publishes LEW-led electrical services for HDB flats, condos, landed homes and businesses, a call-out from S$100, and hours of 8am to 10pm daily.
- Our Electricians directory: Singapore companies with BCA electrical registration, each with its registration grade and expiry shown.
- For specific shortlists, see our guides to the best electricians in Singapore for home repairs and to getting a same-day electrician.
Licensed electrician Singapore: FAQ
How do I check if an electrician is licensed in Singapore?
Ask for their licence number and search it on EMA’s ELISE portal, or call EMA on 6835 8075. Check that the name matches and the licence is valid.
Do I need a licensed electrician for a HDB flat?
Yes. EMA says electrical work in a HDB flat needs a Licensed Electrician, and that work such as rewiring, adding power points or replacing a circuit breaker should be done or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker.
What is an LEW?
A Licensed Electrical Worker: someone licensed by EMA as an electrician, electrical technician or electrical engineer. Each class can work on installations up to a different size.
Is it illegal to hire an unlicensed electrician?
According to EMA’s ELISE page, it’s an offence to knowingly engage someone who isn’t a licensed electrical worker to carry out electrical work.
Is a BCA-registered company the same as a licensed electrician?
No. BCA registration applies to the company, while the EMA licence applies to the individual doing the work. Check both: the company in our directory, the person on ELISE.
Get a licensed electrician quote
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