Electrical Licensing in Australia

The Licensing of Electrical Workers in Australia

To work in certain electrical trades in Australia you must register and/or have a license from the relevant State or Territory electrical registration and licensing authority. Licenses are issued in various grades which define the work you can do.

A separate license is required in each State and Territory in which you may wish to work. However, there are arrangements for the mutual recognition of interstate licenses which facilitate the issue of similar licenses in different States and Territories.

To obtain a license to perform the full range of electrical work without supervision, you must pass a test in the Australian electrical wiring rules. Working under supervision in Australia will help you learn the rules.

You should contact the electrical registration and licensing authority in the State or Territory, in which you intend to work, to determine how you can obtain electrical registration and/or license.

A list of electrical registration and licensing bodies in the States and Territories of Australia is attached, together with a web link related to that State.

Getting an Electricians Licence may be easier to obtain in South Australia than in other Australian States, but it is relatively easy to then transfer the licence.

You can apply for your Australian Recognised Trade Certificates (ARTC) whilst in the UK, using distance learning, which will save time once you arrive in Australia.


Prepared by Trades Recognition Australia

National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition

Examples

How to get an Electrical Licence in Queensland

Trade skills assessment for migration

VETASSESS - Vocational Education Training and Assessment Services
VETASSESS leads a Consortium that assesses the trade skills of people intending to migrate to Australia from the United Kingdom, India, Sri Lanka, South Africa and the Philippines for various trades:

These trades include:


• General Electrician
  General Plumber
  Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic
  Motor Mechanic
  Carpenter and Joiner
  Electrical Powerline Tradesperson
  Cable Jointer
  Bricklayer

Australian Licencing Authorities

Licensing or registration requirements:

In many occupations you must be registered with or obtain a license from a local authority in the state or territory where you wish to practise your occupation.

Select from the following:

Australian Capital Territory - Licensing is compulsory.

Building, Electrical and Plumbing Control
ACT Planning and Land Authority
Dame Pattie Menzies House
16 Challis St
Dickson ACT 2602
Telephone: 61 2 6207 7775
Website: http://www.actpla.act.gov.au

Electricians may be issued one of three types of licenses:

• electrical contractor�s licence;
  
• unrestricted electrician�s licence; or
  
• restricted electrician�s licence
.



New South Wales - Licensing is compulsory for unsupervised trade work.

Department of Fair Trading (DFT)
Home Building Licensing
Locked Bag A 5020
Sydney South NSW 1235
Telephone:133 220
Fax: 61 2 9377 9325
Website: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

You must have a contractor licence or employ the holder of a qualified supervisor certificate to contract, subcontract or advertise to do: electrical wiring work



Northern Territory - Licensing is compulsory.

Electrical Workers and Contractors Board
Electrical Licensing Board
C/- NT Build office
33/12 Charlton Court
Woolner-Winnellie NT 0820
Postal Address:
GPO Box 1680 Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: 61 8 8981 5435
Fax: 61 8 8923 9318
Website: www.electricallicensing.nt.gov.au

Electrical industry workers in the Northern Territory must be adequately trained to ensure that electrical installations are produced safely. Workers must obtain a licence and meet certain requirements before any electrical work is carried out.



Queensland - Licensing is compulsory.


Department of Industrial Relations
Business and Occupational Licensing
Postal Address:
PO Box 820
Lutwyche Qld 4030
Telephone: 61 7 3247 4711 or 1300 650 662
Website: http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/electricalsafety/

Overseas applicants have to meet certain eligibility criteria prior to the issue of a Queensland electrical work licence.



South Australia - Licensing is required for electrical work.


Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
Business & Occupational Services
Level 3, Chesser House, 91 - 97 Grenfell Street
Adelaide SA 5000
Postal Address:
GPO Box 1719
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: 61 8 8204 9696
Website: http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au

Any person (including a company) who carries on business or holds himself or herself out as a plumber, gas fitter or electrician, must be licensed as a contractor under the Plumbers, Gas Fitters and Electricians Act 1995. If a business operates as a partnership then each partner must hold their own licence



Tasmania - Licensing is required for electrical work.

Electricity Standards and Safety
Postal Address:
PO Box 56
Rosny Park Tas. 7018
Telephone: 61 3 6233 7851
Website: http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/industries/electricity

An electrician's licence entitles the holder to perform electrical work, but not to enter into a contract to perform electrical work (as defined by the Electricity Industry Safety and Administration Act 1997). An electrician's licence is valid for 3 years and may be renewed.



Victoria - Licensing is required for electrical work.

Energy Safe Victoria
Level 3, 4 Riverside Quay
Southbank Vic. 3206
Postal Address:
PO Box 262, Collins Street West
Melbourne Vic. 8007
Telephone: 1800 815 721
Fax: 61 3 9686 2197
Website: http://www.esv.vic.gov.au

An Electrician's License entitles the holder to carry out all types of electrical installation work in Victoria without supervision.
However, to contract, or offer to contract, to carry out electrical installation work, a licensed electrician must also be registered as an electrical contractor.



Western Australia - Licensing is required for electrical work.

Electrical Licensing Board
20 Southport Street
West Leederville WA 6007
Telephone: 61 8 9422 5282
Fax: 61 8 9422 5244
Website: http://www.energysafety.wa.gov.au

In Western Australia, the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations 1991 provide that electrical work may only be carried out by persons with the appropriate electrical worker's licence (as issued by the Electrical Licensing Board) unless it is a type of work that is exempted by regulation.

Links

• Queensland Electrical Training - Click here for link