Does every electrical job need a registered contractor?

No. The requirement applies to the categories of work defined as restricted electrical works in the regulations. Anything falling inside those categories must be carried out by a registered electrical contractor.

What is a completion certificate and why should I keep it?

A registered contractor issues a certificate for completed restricted works. It is the document that shows the installation was carried out and tested by someone entitled to do it, and insurers and conveyancing solicitors commonly ask for it.

Draft: this page does not yet carry binding information.

How to check whether an electrician is registered in Ireland

Certain electrical work in Ireland may only be carried out by a registered electrical contractor. What the rule covers, why it matters for your insurance, and how to verify a contractor before work starts.

Citations and sources

Irish Statute BookS.I. No. 734/2007, Restricted Electrical Works RegulationsChecked 23/08/2026Safe ElectricRegister of electrical contractorsChecked 23/08/2026

In Ireland, whether an electrician may legally do a particular job is not a matter of experience or price. Certain categories of work are restricted electrical works, and only a registered electrical contractor may carry them out.

What the rule actually covers

The restriction is defined in regulations rather than in general terms. It applies to specified categories of work, not to every task involving a cable. The practical consequence is the same either way: if the job falls inside those categories, registration is a legal requirement and not a badge.

Why it reaches your insurance

Two documents tend to matter later. The first is the contractor's registration. The second is the completion certificate issued for the work. Insurers and solicitors ask for the certificate when a claim or a sale turns on the state of an installation, and it can only come from someone entitled to issue it.

Checking before work starts

Ask for the registration number and check it against the public register rather than against a logo on a van. Registration can lapse, and a certificate issued by somebody who was not registered at the time is worth nothing when it is needed.