Electricians Act

The purpose of this Act is to prescribe the qualifications and obligations of persons engaged in electrical work, thereby contributing to the prevention of disasters caused by defects in electrical work.

①In this Act, "electric facilities for general use, etc." means electric facilities for general use (meaning electric facilities for general use prescribed in Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Electricity Business Act (Act No. 170 of 1964); the same applies hereinafter) and small-scale electric facilities for business use (meaning small-scale electric facilities for business use prescribed in paragraph (3) of that Article; the same applies hereinafter).

②In this Act, "electric facilities for private use" means electric facilities for private use prescribed in Article 38, paragraph (4) of the Electricity Business Act (excluding small-scale electric facilities for business use, power stations, substations, consumer installations with a maximum power of 500 kilowatts or more (meaning an aggregate of electric facilities (meaning electric facilities prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (xviii) of that Act) installed, in order to use electricity, within the same premises as the place of its use (excluding the premises of a power station or substation)), and others specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).

③In this Act, "electrical work" means work to install or modify electric facilities for general use, etc. or electric facilities for private use; provided, however, that minor work specified by Cabinet Order is excluded.

④In this Act, "electrician" means a Class 1 electrician prescribed in paragraph (1) of the following Article and a Class 2 electrician prescribed in paragraph (2) of that Article.

①A person must not engage in work (excluding work found to pose no hindrance to the safety of electric facilities for private use and specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) of electrical work relating to electric facilities for private use (excluding electrical work prescribed in paragraph (3); the same applies in paragraph (4)) unless the person is a person who has been issued a Class 1 electrician license (hereinafter referred to as a "Class 1 electrician").

②A person must not engage in work (excluding work found to pose no hindrance to the safety of electric facilities for general use, etc. and specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) of electrical work relating to electric facilities for general use, etc. unless the person is a Class 1 electrician or a person who has been issued a Class 2 electrician license (hereinafter referred to as a "Class 2 electrician").

③With regard to work of a special kind specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from among electrical work relating to electric facilities for private use (hereinafter referred to as "special electrical work"), a person must not engage in the work (excluding work found to pose no hindrance to the safety of electric facilities for private use and specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) unless the person is a person who has been issued a qualified special electrical worker certificate for that special electrical work (hereinafter referred to as a "qualified special electrical worker").

④With regard to work of a simple kind specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry from among electrical work relating to electric facilities for private use (hereinafter referred to as "simple electrical work"), notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a person who has been issued a certified electrical worker certificate (hereinafter referred to as a "certified electrical worker") may engage in that work.

①The types of electrician license are the Class 1 electrician license and the Class 2 electrician license.

②An electrician license is to be issued by the prefectural governor.

③A Class 1 electrician license cannot be issued to a person unless the person falls under any one of the following items:

④A Class 2 electrician license cannot be issued to a person unless the person falls under any one of the following items:

⑤The prefectural governor may decline to issue an electrician license to a person who falls under any one of the following items:

⑥If an electrician has violated this Act or the provisions of Article 28, paragraph (1) of the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (Act No. 234 of 1961), the prefectural governor may order the electrician to return the electrician license.

⑦Necessary matters concerning the issuance, reissuance, rewriting and return of an electrician license are specified by Cabinet Order.

①A qualified special electrical worker certificate and a certified electrical worker certificate are to be issued by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

②A qualified special electrical worker certificate is to be issued for each type of special electrical work.

③A qualified special electrical worker certificate may not be issued to any person other than a person whom the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has certified, as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as having the necessary knowledge and skills for the special electrical work to which that qualified special electrical worker certificate relates.

④A certified electrical worker certificate may not be issued to any person other than a person whom the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has certified, as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as having the necessary knowledge and skills for simple electrical work.

⑤The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may decline to issue a qualified special electrical worker certificate or a certified electrical worker certificate to a person who falls under any of the items of paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.

⑥If a qualified special electrical worker or a certified electrical worker has violated this Act or the provisions of Article 28, paragraph (1) of the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act (Act No. 234 of 1961), the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may order the return of that person's qualified special electrical worker certificate or certified electrical worker certificate.

⑦Matters necessary for the issuance, reissuance, rewriting and return of qualified special electrical worker certificates and certified electrical worker certificates are specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

A Class 1 electrician must, except where there are unavoidable grounds specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, receive, within five years from the date of receiving a Class 1 electrician license, a course on the safety of electric facilities for private use given by a person designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The same applies on or after the date on which the person received that course.

①When engaging in electrical work operations relating to electric facilities for general use (excluding work specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 3, paragraph (2)), an electrician, qualified special electrical worker or certified electrical worker must perform that work so as to conform to the technical standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 56, paragraph (1) of the Electricity Business Act; and when engaging in electrical work operations relating to small-scale electric facilities for business use (excluding work specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 3, paragraph (2)) or electrical work operations relating to electric facilities for private use (excluding work specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under Article 3, paragraphs (1) and (3)), the person must perform that work so as to conform to the technical standards specified by the competent ministerial order under Article 39, paragraph (1) of that Act.

②When engaging in the electrical work operations referred to in the preceding paragraph, an electrician, qualified special electrical worker or certified electrical worker must carry an electrician license, qualified special electrical worker certificate or certified electrical worker certificate.

①The types of electrician examination are the Class 1 electrician examination and the Class 2 electrician examination.

②The Class 1 electrician examination is conducted on the knowledge and skills necessary for the safety of electric facilities for private use, and the Class 2 electrician examination on the knowledge and skills necessary for the safety of electric facilities for general use, etc.

③Electrician examinations are conducted by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

④The examination subjects, application procedures and other details of the administration of electrician examinations are specified by Cabinet Order.

⑤A prefectural governor may, when the governor finds it necessary with regard to electrician examinations, state an opinion to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

①The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may have a person the Minister designates (hereinafter referred to as a "designated examination body") conduct the administration relating to the conduct of electrician examinations (hereinafter referred to as "examination administration").

②The designation under the preceding paragraph is made upon application by a person who intends to conduct examination administration, as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

③When the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has made a designation under paragraph (1), the Minister is not to conduct examination administration.

A person who falls under any of the following items may not receive the designation under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article:

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry must not make a designation under Article 7, paragraph (1) unless no other person has received the designation under that paragraph and the Minister finds that the application for the designation under that paragraph conforms to each of the following items:

①A designated examination body must establish rules concerning the conduct of examination administration (hereinafter referred to as "examination administration rules") and obtain the approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The same applies when it intends to change them.

②Matters to be provided for in the examination administration rules are specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

③If the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry finds that examination administration rules approved under paragraph (1) have become inappropriate for the fair conduct of examination administration, the Minister may order the designated examination body to change the examination administration rules.

A designated examination body must not suspend or abolish all or part of examination administration without obtaining the permission of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

①A designated examination body must, before the start of each business year (for the business year that includes the date on which it received the designation, without delay after receiving the designation), prepare a business plan and an income and expenditure budget for that business year and obtain the approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. The same applies when it intends to change them.

②A designated examination body must, within three months after the end of each business year, prepare a business report and a statement of income and expenditure for that business year and submit them to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The appointment and dismissal of officers of a designated examination body do not take effect unless approved by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

If an officer of a designated examination body has violated this Act (including dispositions under this Act) or the examination administration rules, or has committed a grossly inappropriate act in relation to examination administration, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may order the designated examination body to dismiss that officer.

①When conducting examination administration, a designated examination body must have the administration relating to the determination of whether a person has the knowledge and skills necessary as an electrician carried out by an electrician examiner (hereinafter referred to as an "examiner").

②When a designated examination body intends to appoint an examiner, it must appoint the examiner from among persons who meet the requirements specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

③When a designated examination body has appointed an examiner, it must notify the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to that effect, as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The same applies when there has been a change of examiners.

④The provisions of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to examiners.

①An officer or employee of a designated examination body (including an examiner; the same applies in the following paragraph), or a person who formerly held such a position, must not divulge any secret learned in relation to examination administration.

②An officer or employee of a designated examination body who is engaged in examination administration is deemed to be an employee engaged in public service pursuant to laws and regulations for the purpose of the application of the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) and other penal provisions.

①The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, have the Minister's staff enter the offices of a designated examination body and inspect the status of its business or its books, documents and other articles, or question persons concerned.

②A staff member who conducts an on-site inspection or questioning pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry a certificate showing the staff member's identity and present it to the persons concerned.

③The authority prescribed in paragraph (1) must not be construed as having been granted for the purpose of criminal investigation.

①If the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry finds that a designated examination body has ceased to conform to any of the items of Article 7-3 (excluding item (iii); the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph), the Minister may order the designated examination body to take the measures necessary to conform to those items.

②In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry finds it necessary for the enforcement of this Act, the Minister may issue to a designated examination body any order necessary for supervision in relation to examination administration.

①If a designated examination body has ceased to conform to Article 7-3, item (iii), the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry must revoke its designation.

②If a designated examination body falls under any of the following items, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may revoke its designation or order the suspension of all or part of its examination administration for a specified period:

①A designated examination body must keep a record book and enter in it the matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in relation to examination administration.

②The record book referred to in the preceding paragraph must be preserved as provided by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

①The examination on the date of a hearing relating to a disposition under Article 4, paragraph (6), Article 4-2, paragraph (6), Article 7-8 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7-9, paragraph (4)) or Article 7-13 must be conducted in public.

②If an interested person in a disposition has requested, pursuant to Article 17, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993), to participate in the procedures relating to the hearing, the presiding officer of a hearing under Article 7-8 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 7-9, paragraph (4)) or Article 7-13 must grant permission.

A person who is dissatisfied with a disposition relating to examination administration conducted by a designated examination body, or with its failure to act, may file a request for review with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. In this case, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is deemed to be the superior administrative agency of the designated examination body for the purpose of the application of Article 25, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 46, paragraphs (1) and (2) and Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Complaint Review Act (Act No. 68 of 2014).

①The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry is to conduct all or part of examination administration in person when a designated examination body has suspended all or part of examination administration with the permission under Article 7-5, when the Minister has ordered a designated examination body to suspend all or part of examination administration pursuant to Article 7-13, paragraph (2), or when it has become difficult for a designated examination body to conduct all or part of examination administration because of a natural disaster or other cause and the Minister finds it necessary.

②Where the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry conducts all or part of examination administration in person pursuant to the preceding paragraph, where a designated examination body abolishes all or part of examination administration with the permission under Article 7-5, or where the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has revoked the designation of a designated examination body pursuant to Article 7-13, the handover of examination administration and other necessary matters are specified by Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry must give public notice in the Official Gazette in the following cases:

①A prefectural governor may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act and as provided by Cabinet Order, have an electrician, qualified special electrical worker or certified electrical worker make a report on the business of electrical work.

②The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, have a designated examination body make a report on the status of its business or accounting.

①A person who intends to take an electrician examination, or to receive the issuance, reissuance or rewriting of a qualified special electrical worker certificate or a certified electrical worker certificate, must pay a fee in the amount specified by Cabinet Order, taking actual costs into account.

②The fees under the preceding paragraph are to be the revenue of the national treasury with regard to those paid by persons who intend to take an electrician examination conducted by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or persons who intend to receive the issuance, reissuance or rewriting of a qualified special electrical worker certificate or a certified electrical worker certificate, and the revenue of the designated examination body in question with regard to those paid by persons who intend to take an electrician examination for which a designated examination body conducts the examination administration.

Matters that fall within the authority of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under the provisions of this Act may be handled by the Director of an Industrial Safety and Inspection Department, as specified by Cabinet Order.

A person who violates the provisions of Article 7-10, paragraph (1) is punished by imprisonment for one year or less or a fine of 300,000 yen or less.

If there is a violation of an order suspending examination administration under Article 7-13, paragraph (2), the officer or employee of the designated examination body who committed the violation is punished by imprisonment for one year or less or a fine of 300,000 yen or less.

A person who violates the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (1), (2) or (3) is punished by imprisonment for three months or less or a fine of 30,000 yen or less.

In any of the following cases, the officer or employee of the designated examination body who committed the violation is punished by a fine of 200,000 yen or less:

A person who fails to make a report under the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (1), or makes a false report, is punished by a fine of 10,000 yen or less.

A person who falls under any of the following is subject to a civil fine of 10,000 yen or less: