Master Electrician Certification

NOTICE Master Electrician Certification For more information, please call 1-866-421-6929, or visit www.municipalaffairs.alberta.ca

This notice is to provide clarity for the electrical industry and for permit issuers regarding what certification is necessary for an individual to be eligible to hold an electrical permit.

Under the Permit Regulation (AR204/2007) the certification of "Master Electrician" is the only certification eligible to hold permits for any electrical system. Permit Issuers should be looking for a Government of Alberta Master Electrician card for proof of an individual’s eligibility. There may be stickers on the back of some cards indicating a designation of Certified Master Electrician (CME) or Registered Master Electrician (RME). These cards are valid; however, the stickers are for a separate program and are not related to an individual’s eligibility for a permit. Any identification related only to the individual’s status as a CME is not sufficient proof that the individual is eligible to hold an electrical permit.

In May 2010, Municipal Affairs will be introducing a new Master Electrician card. Both the old and the new cards are shown below. Both types of cards are valid until the expiry date shown on the card.

Some Master Electricians have restrictions placed on their certifications by the Administrator. In these cases, the maximum voltage and maximum ampacity (current) of the electrical system for which the individual may obtain a permit will be stated on their card. No indication of restriction means that the individual is eligible to hold permits for any electrical system.

There are other eligible individuals and certifications that may hold electrical permits for specific systems. Please refer to the Permit Regulation for the complete list of eligibility and restrictions.

Under contract with the Government of Alberta, The Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta (ECAA) is continuing to accept applications for new Master Electricians and is collecting fees for renewing Master Electricians. They can be reached at:

Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta 11235 - 120 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2X9 Phone: 1-800-252-9375 Fax: 1-877-321-2551 E-Mail: General Inquiries: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cards and certificates will be mailed to applicants from Alberta Municipal Affairs once the applications and fees have been processed by the ECAA.

The ECAA also offers the Certified Master Electrician Program. This is a voluntary program through which Master Electricians can increase their professionalism through additional training as well as a peer review system. This is not a required certification in order to be eligible for permit privileges. Master Electrician Certification Page 2

To guard against the fraudulent use of Master Electrician certifications to obtain permits, permit issuers should follow these guidelines.

Request the appropriate identification (ID) card to verify certification. Both of the cards below are acceptable provided that they are not expired.

Verify any conditions specified on the ID (e.g. voltage or current limitations).

Verify the applicant’s signature (new cards will have the Master Electrician’s signature on the back) with another piece of signed ID (e.g. driver’s license, VISA, MasterCard, etc.).

When the permit application is faxed in, it should be accompanied with a fax of the applicant’s certification ID along with other signed ID for verification.

If an individual does not have their ID card with them, their certification status can be checked by calling Safety Services, toll-free, at 1-866-421-6929. Picture ID should also be checked to verify the individual’s identity.