What Is a LEW (Licensed Electrical Worker)?
A Licensed Electrical Worker is an electrician who has passed the EMA’s licensing requirements, has a valid practising certificate, and is authorised to:
- Test and commission fixed-wiring electrical installations
- Endorse work as compliant with Singapore Standard CP5 and the Electricity Act
- Issue a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for the work
- Sign off on regulated electrical work, including DB changes, new circuits, RCCB / RCBO additions, and full or partial rewiring
LEWs come in different grades, depending on the type of work they are licensed to do:
- Electrician (LEW Grade) — general installation and maintenance work in residential and light commercial
- LEW (Higher Grade) — typically the grade required for larger commercial, industrial, and high-voltage work
For most HDB, condo, and small commercial jobs, the standard LEW grade is sufficient. We will tell you upfront which grade your specific job requires.
Why it matters for you: without a LEW endorsement, your fixed-wiring electrical work has no legal standing. Your insurer may not cover damage caused by unendorsed work. Your HDB resale handover will not pass. Your MCST will not approve the renovation. This is not red tape — it is the system that keeps every Singapore home and building electrically safe.
