Get Your Licence

Requirements for ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence

In Ontario only electrical contractors licensed by ESA may do electrical work for hire. Obtaining a license is mandatory for all Electrical Contractors and Master Electricians in Ontario.

In order to become licensed as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, each applicant is screened to ensure they meet the requirements of the Electricity Act and Regulation 570/05 (Licensing Regulation).

The Licensing Regulation prohibits ESA from issuing a license to a contractor that does not meet minimum prescribed requirements. All Licensed Electrical Contractors must meet the following to obtain a licence:

  1. Be at least 18 years of age;
  2. Be a Master Electrician, or have at least one Master Electrician working for you at all times;
  3. Have an address for service in Ontario;
  4. Have public liability and property damage insurance coverage of at least $2,000,000;
  5. Be registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, if required to register under the Work Place Safety and Insurance Act, 1997;
  6. Have filed returns with the Ministry of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency. You must also have paid or made arrangements to pay any tax, penalty or interest assessed under the Excise Tax Act, Retail Sales Tax Act or the Corporations Tax Act; and
  7. Not owe ESA any money for which you have not yet made arrangements to pay.

If these requirements are not met, the Director of Licensing may refuse to grant a licence and may issue a Notice of Proposal to Refuse the License.

Once the license is issued, to keep it valid, the Licensed Electrical Contractor must conduct business with honesty, integrity and in accordance with the law. Failure to do so may result in compliance action or proposal to revoke/suspend the license.

Duties of a Licensed Electrical Contractor

A Licensed Electrical Contractor:

  1. Will make sure all electrical work done on your behalf meets all applicable laws. This includes the Electrical Safety Code and laws relating to health and safety, employment standards, consumer protection, business tax and business practices.
  2. Will name one or more Master Electricians to carry out electrical work on the contractor’s behalf.
  3. Will not name a Master Electrician if doing so makes that person a designated Master Electrician for more than one electrical contractor at the same time.

View License Holder Guidelines and Standard of Conduct here.

Please visit the Contractor Licensing Forms page to apply for an ECRA/ESA Electrical Contractor Licence. The form package includes a checklist to ensure you include everything required. You can also call 1-877-ESA-SAFE for assistance.