Senior Authorised Person (SAP)
Use your electrical expertise to make sure high-voltage areas operate efficiently and safely.
Also known as: senior electrical authorised person, hv sap, high-voltage senior authorised person
About the job
What it's like
In a high-voltage environment, safety is the top priority. Are you up for the challenge of keeping everyone safe, while making sure electrical systems work well?
As a Senior Authorised Person (SAP), you’ll ensure high-voltage equipment is safe for others to work on. For example, you may diagnose a fault in an electrical system. You’ll then isolate that section of machinery to prevent safety risks. Finally, you'll issue a permit so an engineer or technician can do the necessary repairs.
You could work in lots of different settings – from solar farms to hydroelectric plants and wind farms.
Your daily tasks might include:
leading safety briefings and discussing planned projects with engineers
issuing or approving permits for skilled tradespeople to do high-voltage work
carrying out switching procedures to safely isolate electrical faults
investigating power faults or equipment failures and arranging solutions
checking ongoing electrical work to make sure it meets safety standards
completing system checks before re-energising electrical systems
filling out incident reports and keeping records of permits you’ve issued
Green job
In this job, you could be doing work to help the environment. You might:
work in green energy settings, such as a wind farm or hydroelectric plant
supervise ongoing electrical projects to make sure they meet environmental standards
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Engineering and manufacturing Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- high voltage
- switchgear
- commissioning
- sap applications
- low voltage
- transformers (electrical)
- safety culture
- power distribution
- business workflow analysis
- asset integrity management systems
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- written communication
- innovative
- making decisions
- verbal communication
- developing a plan
- cooperating
- ethical
- attention to detail
- problem solving
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Applications of Mathematics
Foundation Apprenticeship: Engineering
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
Engineering Science
Maths (Mathematics)
Physics
Business Management
Design and Manufacture
Skills for Work: Building Services Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
To become a Senior Authorised Person, you need qualifications and experience.
You’ll spend time working in a relevant electrical role first. Once you’ve secured a few years of experience, you can specialise as a Senior Authorised Person.
Many Senior Authorised Persons transition from a career as an electrician, electronic technician or high-voltage engineer. And to get into these roles, you’ll need qualifications.
University
Scotland has a range of relevant university degrees. Studying subjects like Electrical Engineering can help you get straight into an electronics career.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, can help you get a job or move on to more advanced study. Subjects you could do at college include:
Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Engineering
Apprenticeships
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
An MA is a very popular way into an electrical career! Explore all the MA vacancies on Apprenticeships.scot.
In a Graduate Apprenticeship (GA) you’ll get paid while you work towards a degree. These GAs are particularly relevant if you want to build an electrical career:
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you break into the electrical industry. Search for electrics-based opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Remember, any electrical volunteering will look amazing on your CV!
To work in electronics, you’ll need:
an ECS card, issued by the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB)
to pass a Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust (SECTT) pre-employment assessment
Don’t worry – most college courses and apprenticeships will help achieve these things.
Also, a Senior Authorised Person must have normal colour vision. You’ll work with different coloured wires, indicators and safety signals – it’s important you can tell them apart!
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