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Saturday, 26. July 2008
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Electrical Licence in Queensland, Australia |
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How to get an Electrical Licence - Queensland
Here is an example of someone's own experiences, with a username "MigrantOz"
I've written this post so that all you sparkys waiting to
come over to Oz are aware of what you may have to do to become fully
licensed so that you can get work as an electrician.
I did an electrical apprenticeship in the early 80s and have only ever
worked as an electrician of one form or another (mostly industrial).
Soon after arriving in Australia I got work as a Trades Assistant with a
local contracting firm. They told me that I needed both an Electrical
Mechanics Licence and an Electrical Fitters licence before they could employ
me as an Electrician. I was told the same by a sawmills that wanted to
employ me as an Industrial electrician but couldn't because they required me
to have both too.
When I applied for recognition for the purposes of migration the only likely
choice I could make was Electrician Special Class (which I chose because I
have mainly industrial experience) or General Electrician (which is more for
Domestic/Commercial electricians skilled in installation work).
However when you actually get to Australia you are required to gain an ARTC
but there isn't an ARTC for an Electrician Special Class or for a General
Electrician. You are either an Electrical Mechanic or an Electrical Fitter.
I believe there are other ARTC professions such as Linesman but for the most
part the trades are Mechanics or Fitters.
I was assessed as being an Electrical Fitter by the TRA. I am not sure but I
believe it would have been easier if I had been assessed as an Electrical
Mechanic.
There are 3 main Electrical Licences in Queensland, 1 - Electrical Mechanic,
2 - Electrical Fitter, 3 - Electrical Contractor.
Although most people regard TRA recognition as the major hurdle (which it
probably is) it is actually the quickest. The licence process is very drawn
out, tedious and expensive. Don't let this put you off though, I'm just
telling it how it is. Well this is how it has been for me in Queensland
since arriving last April.
May 2005 - Attend at TRA office to show original trade certificates and pay
the fee which I believe was $100. The TRA office is in Brisbane so I have
pay the travelling costs to get there. I have heard that they have recently
moved to Melbourne so I wonder if I would be required to fly down there just
to present my trade certificates.
Early July 2005 - Wait approximately 3 weeks until my Australian Recognised
Trade Certificate (ARTC) turns up.
Fill in a licence application form for overseas applicants. Oh another fee
of $50. Also before I could post it off I had to have a current CPR course
certificate, cost of this course was £100. Plus of course the time involved
in locating a course and then the wait time until I could take it. So now I
can send the application off.
Late July 2005 - About 3 weeks later an Electrical Workers Permit to work
under supervision arrives along with information about the Colleges I can
attend to take the assessment I need to take and pass in order to be awarded
with an Electrical Fitters licence. Only problem is the information about
the Colleges doesn't arrive so I have to phone up to find out where I have
to go. Armed with this information I phone the nearest designated College
and they invite me to pay the $499 dollars for the assessment.
August 2005 - Once I have gone and paid the fee I then have to phone the
College back whereupon they invite me in to the College for an interview. At
the interview they want to see my proof of payment for the assessment
course, Electrical Workers Training Permit to work under supervision, ARTC,
etc. They give me a work book lashed together from the Electrical Mechanics
Licence Assessment course - Its a question and answers book, mostly about
the Wiring Rules and Code of Practice document. The questions and answers
didn't actually match up half the time and some of the pages aren't in
numerical order.
I am told to work through the book and then contact the College once I am
ready to take the assessment. So over the next 3 months I work through the
book. It took me so long as I was working hard every week during this time
and found it quite hard to sit down and study for any longer than an hour in
the evenings.
Early November 2005 - When I phoned up the College they arranged a day the
following week for me to go in. I did the assessment on my own, it took all
day and consisted of a 3 hour written exam in the morning followed by a
practical in the afternoon.
The written exam was NOT multi-choice and was about Wiring Rules and Codes
of Practice. In the practical I had to Isolate a machine Carry out some
basic tests (Earth continuity, insulation, polarity) and then put the
machine back in service. I also had to wire up a DOL starter including
running lamp, trip lamp through overload. The practical wasn't at all
difficult really, some of the written questions were a little tricky. At the
end of the day I am told I have passed my assessment and now need to wait
until the College have sent the paperwork to the electrical licensing
authority.
I wait until the beginning of the next week and phone to ask the College if
they have forwarded the paperwork which they confirm. I then send off my
Licence application with the appropriate forms. Luckily I don't have to pay
another fee as it's less than 6 months since I sent in my application for a
Permit to work under supervision. Around 3 weeks later my Electrical Fitters
Licence turns up in the post in the form of a Credit Card size card.
Early December 2005 - Now I have to go through the same procedure for the
Electrical Mechanics licence. I pay the fee for the Electrical Mechanics
licence which is $850 - this game is getting really expensive as that's way
more than I take home in a week.
Once I pay the fee I phone up the College to go in for another interview so
that they can give me my new work book. I phoned up in the first week in
December and the guy I speak to says that it's their last day and that they
can't see me until January 24th at the earliest. So even though they have
taken $850 from me I can't start studying yet for nearly 2 months. A couple
of weeks ago I managed to get in for an interview and to collect my new work
book. It's over 350 A4 sized pages of mostly questions and answers with some
instructional text. I don't actually attend college for any instruction, its
all self taught from the book. That $850 pays for the text book which is
very home made and a one day assessment.
Anyway at the moment I am on page 30 of the text book and I'm trying to get
in about 10 hours study a week.
I've been in Australia 10 months and am still unable to get employment as an
Electrician. I need those licences; one down one to get. Maybe two to get if
I go for the contractors licence too.
On the up side there is plenty of
electrical work and you can get work as a Trades Assistant quite easily.
Good luck.
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