Charger’s certificate

Apply for a charger’s certificate electronically through the Regional administration e-service.

Use of the e-service requires a working email address and online banking codes or a mobile certificate for identification.

1. On the Services page, select the Charger’s certificate from the list, after which you will be directed to identification and to use of the service.
2. Complete the application thoroughly and attach any required documents. Check that the attachments are clear and legible. You can also save the application while it is still incomplete and continue filling it in later.
3. Pay the processing fee. The processing fee is paid through the e-service using online banking codes or a debit or credit card. Paytrail will act as the payment intermediary.
4. Submit the application for processing. If you wish, you can save your application.

Note! If you cannot use the e-service, contact the licensing authority.

You will be notified via the e-service and your e-mail address once the licensing authority has received your application. If necessary, the licensing authority will request additional information from you. You can follow the processing of your application in the e-service.

Required attachments to the application:

• An official passport photo as an electronic jpg or jpeg image file for a photo permit card. (Note! The licensing authority is unable to receive photograph IDs. Please ask your photography studio for an electronic jpg or jpeg image file, as a photo taken by yourself or a photo of a paper passport photo cannot be used for a permit card.)
• Medical certificate (recommended: T form, only page 2/2 "employer's copy")
• Training certificate for completing the training required for a charger’s certificate
• Interview certificate (may not be older than two years)
• Certificate(s) of employment from an employer or contractors.

The medical certificate must state that the health examination has been performed for the work of a charger and that the applicant is fit to work as a charger. The medical certificate may not be older than three months.

The certificate of employment must include a description of blasting and excavation work (what, where, when),

time spent on blasting and excavation work (employer’s or contractor’s estimate in months of how much of your total working time has been spent on blasting and excavation work), duration of employment (date of start and end of employment or information that the employment relationship continues), and the charger acting as head charger (name and the charger's certificate number).

The certificate of employment must indicate the work experience for the charger’s certificate you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a chief charger’s certificate for work over ground and underground, you must have a certificate of employment for both working conditions (over ground and underground).

If you are not a Finnish citizen:

• You must have a Finnish identity code. It is not possible to apply for a charger’s certificate without a Finnish identity code.
• You must also submit copies of your passport’s photo and personal data pages.

A charger’s certificate of competency can be issued to a person who is at least 20 years of age for a five-year period.

The charger’s certificate can be issued to an applicant who is:

• suitably healthy
• reputable in nature
• adequately qualified and experienced.

In order to obtain a certificate of competency, the person must complete the charger's training and the associated interview and have accumulated a sufficient amount of work experience. The length of the training and work experience depend on the certificate of competency that the person is applying for.

According to the Charger Act, an applicant must undergo a concise security clearance vetting before they can be issued a charger’s certificate. The licensing authority will ask the Finnish Security Intelligence Service to conduct a concise security clearance vetting on you.

A charger’s certificate expires when the charger reaches the age of 68. The licensing authority may, for special reasons, grant a person aged 68 or over the right to work as a charger. The exemption is granted for three years at a time.