EPRA Electrician Licence 2026: Classes, Requirements, Fees and Renewal

Updated 20 October 2026

Quick answer: To work as an electrician in Kenya you need an electrical worker licence from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA). You apply online on the EPRA portal, upload your ID and academic certificates, and pay an application fee of KSh 250 to KSh 1,000 depending on the class (C2, C1, B, A2 or A1). The licence is renewed every year for KSh 500 to KSh 2,000, and renewing after 31 March adds a 50% penalty. Solar installers need a separate solar PV technician licence (T1, T2 or T3).

This guide is based on EPRA’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Licence Application Guide, published on epra.go.ke. Last verified October 2026.

In this guide

1. The Five Electrical Worker Licence Classes
2. EPRA Electrician Licence Fees
3. How to Apply for an EPRA Electrician Licence
4. How to Renew Your Licence
5. Solar PV Technician Licence: T1, T2 and T3
6. Going Further: The Electrical Contractor Licence
7. EPRA Contacts for Licensing Questions
8. Frequently Asked Questions

The Five Electrical Worker Licence Classes

EPRA grades electricians into five classes. Your qualifications decide two things: the class you start at and the highest class you can ever reach with those qualifications. You move up by gaining experience and applying for a higher class, but only as far as your certificates allow.

Academic level	Technical qualification	Starting licence	Highest licence achievable
KCPE	Electrician Wireman Grade II or equivalent	C2	C2
KCSE	Electrician Wireman Grade II or equivalent	C2	C1
KCSE	Electrician Wireman Grade I or equivalent	C2	B
KCSE	Electrical Technician Part II or III, Final Craft Certificate, Diploma in Electrical Engineering or equivalent	C2	A1
KCSE	Higher National Diploma or BSc in Electrical Engineering, or equivalent	C1	A1
KCSE	Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering and registered as a Technician Engineer by the Engineers Board of Kenya	B	A1
KCSE	BSc in Electrical Engineering and registered as an Electrical Engineer	A1	A1
KCSE	Minimum of Electrician Wireman Grade II or equivalent	A2	A2

Two things stand out. First, a KCPE holder with a Grade II trade test can work, but is capped at C2 unless they go back and add KCSE and higher training. Second, a diploma holder starts at the same C2 level as a Grade II wireman, but can climb all the way to A1, while a wireman cannot. If you are choosing a course, that ceiling matters more than the starting class.

EPRA Electrician Licence Fees

Class	Application fee (new licence)	Annual renewal fee	Renewal after 31 March (with 50% penalty)
A1	KSh 1,000	KSh 2,000	KSh 3,000
A2	KSh 1,000	KSh 2,000	KSh 3,000
B	KSh 750	KSh 1,000	KSh 1,500
C1	KSh 500	KSh 750	KSh 1,125
C2	KSh 250	KSh 500	KSh 750

EPRA’s guide says any renewal done later than 31 March of each year attracts a penalty equal to 50% of the renewal amount. The last column simply adds that 50% to the renewal fee, so a late C1 renewal costs KSh 1,125 instead of KSh 750. Fees are paid by M-Pesa or bank deposit from inside the portal.

How to Apply for an EPRA Electrician Licence

1. Go to epra.go.ke and open the online services portal (portal.epra.go.ke).
2. Click Create Account, choose a personal account and fill in your details.
3. Open the activation link EPRA sends to your email, then log in.
4. Select the Electrician licence type and continue with registration.
5. Choose the class you are applying for. Pick the class your qualifications allow you to start at, from the table above.
6. Fill in your education, work experience and referees. EPRA says your referee must hold the same class of licence as the class you are applying for.
7. Upload scanned copies of your National ID and academic and technical certificates.
8. Pay the application fee by M-Pesa or bank deposit, then click save payment.
9. Submit the application. You will get a confirmation message by email.

Documents to scan before you start

• National ID (front and back).
• KCPE or KCSE certificate.
• Trade test, craft, diploma, HND or degree certificate.
• Engineers Board of Kenya registration certificate, if you are applying at class B or A1 on that basis.
• Details of your work experience and of a referee with the same class of licence.

How to Renew Your Licence

1. Log in to your EPRA portal account. If you have forgotten the password, use Reset Password with an email you can access.
2. Go to Licence Management, then My Licences, and open the licence you want to renew.
3. Click Resume Renewal, upload a scan of your National ID and confirm your details.
4. Pay the renewal fee by M-Pesa or bank deposit and submit.

Set a reminder for early March. Renewing in January or February costs the normal fee and leaves time to sort out any portal problem before the penalty starts.

Solar PV Technician Licence: T1, T2 and T3

Installing solar systems needs its own licence. EPRA licenses solar workers separately from general electricians, and sets three solar technician classes, each with its own mix of training and verifiable solar installation experience.

Class	Qualification route	Experience EPRA asks for
T1 (Basic)	KCPE, Electrical Government Trade Test 2 and basic solar training	2 years of solar installation
T1 (Basic)	KCSE, certificate in electrical or electronics and intermediate solar training	4 years of solar installation
T2 (Intermediate)	KCSE, diploma in electrical or electronics and intermediate solar training	2 years
T2 (Intermediate)	BSc in Electrical Engineering or a relevant degree, or a Higher National Diploma	1 year
T3 (Advanced)	KCSE, diploma in electrical or electronics and intermediate solar training	4 years
T3 (Advanced)	BSc in Electrical Engineering or a relevant degree, or a Higher National Diploma	2 years

Solar licence fees

Class	Application fee	Grant fee	Annual renewal fee
T1	KSh 250	KSh 1,000	KSh 500
T2	KSh 500	KSh 2,000	KSh 750
T3	KSh 750	KSh 3,000	KSh 1,000

Note the grant fee: for solar licences, EPRA charges one fee to apply and a second, larger fee when the licence is granted. A new T3 licence therefore costs KSh 3,750 in the first year. If you plan to run a solar company, EPRA requires a T3 technician for a class C1 solar contractor or vendor licence.

Going Further: The Electrical Contractor Licence

A worker licence lets you do electrical work. To bid for jobs and run a business that does installations, the company needs an electrical contractor licence. EPRA says it processes contractor licences within 30 days and inspects the premises and tools first. Its requirements include:

• A certificate of incorporation or business registration, and a valid county single business permit.
• Proof of a permanent office, such as a lease agreement or title deed.
• KRA PIN certificates and a valid KRA tax compliance certificate.
• A CR12 not older than one year and IDs of all directors.
• A licensed electrician whose class is not lower than the contractor class, plus a signed and notarised electrical worker consent letter.
• Test instruments: an insulation resistance tester, an earth resistance tester and a clamp meter or multimeter for every class, plus a phase rotation meter (classes A1, A2, B and C1) and an earth loop impedance tester (classes A1, B and C1).

Contractor class	Application fee	Annual renewal fee
A1 and A2	KSh 1,000	KSh 5,000
B	KSh 750	KSh 3,000
C1	KSh 500	KSh 2,000
C2	KSh 250	KSh 1,000

Before you hire anyone to wire a house or connect power, ask for their EPRA licence number and check it against the registers of licensed electrical workers and contractors on epra.go.ke. Our Kenya Power help hub and guide to Kenya Power new connection costs explain the Kenya Power side of a new connection. Looking for electrician jobs or technician vacancies? Openings are listed on JobinKenya.

EPRA Contacts for Licensing Questions

EPRA lists 0709 336000 and 020 2847000 as its phone lines, info@epra.go.ke as its general email and compliance@epra.go.ke for compliance. EPRA also sets fuel and electricity prices; see EPRA fuel prices for October to November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an EPRA electrician licence?

The application fee is KSh 1,000 for A1 and A2, KSh 750 for B, KSh 500 for C1 and KSh 250 for C2. Renewal costs KSh 500 to KSh 2,000 a year depending on the class.

When does the EPRA licence expire?

Licences are renewed every year. EPRA charges a 50% penalty on renewals done after 31 March.

Can I get an EPRA licence with a KCPE certificate?

Yes, with an Electrician Wireman Grade II certificate, but only at class C2, and C2 is also the highest class you can reach on those qualifications.

What is a T3 licence?

T3 is EPRA’s advanced solar PV technician licence. It needs a diploma with intermediate solar training and four years of solar experience, or a relevant degree or HND with two years of experience. The application fee is KSh 750 and the grant fee KSh 3,000.

Do I need a separate licence to install solar panels?

Yes. Solar installation needs an EPRA solar PV technician licence (T1, T2 or T3), separate from the electrical worker licence.

How long does EPRA take to issue a contractor licence?

EPRA says it carries out contractor licensing within 30 days of application, including an inspection of your office and tools.