What's the difference between an electrical contractor and an electrician?

When it comes to having electrical work completed in your home or office, you want to ensure it is completed by a qualified person and as safely as possible, no matter the job size or type. And, when it comes to choosing the best person for the job, that can sometimes be a little tricky (and that's not just because there are so many electrical companies to choose from!).

Titles like 'electrician' and 'electrical contractor' tend to be used almost interchangeably, but they aren't actually the same thing... which not a lot of people know. For the reason, we thought it would be a good idea to put together some information regarding the two terms, how they are different and which one to hire when you need an electrical job completing.

So, what is the difference between the two? To see how they vary, it is best to start with an explanation of each.

Electrician

An electrician is someone who is a fully licensed tradesperson that, under the relevant Australian Standards, is permitted to complete electrical services. Electricians however are not permitted to work for themselves or invoice customers - they must be employed by someone else.

Electrical Contractor

On the other hand, an electrical contractor is an electrician who has completed further training and qualifications and acquired an electrical contractor's license. An electrical contractor can both work for themselves, and have other people work for them (such as electricians).

Should you employ an electrical contractor or an electrician?

You should hire an electrical contractor! The reason for this is simple - if you hire an electrical contractor, you may have the individual themselves or you may have an electrician working for them attend your job - either way, you are receiving someone that is qualified to complete electrical works. If you do choose to employ someone who works for themselves, ensure you ask to see their electrical contractors license (and check it looks like the above) to check they are permitted to work for themselves.