The ACT government has sent out a reminder for employers in the construction industry with apprentices to keep the Construction Occupations Registrar up to date in relation to their apprentices’ training arrangements.The ACT government has sent out a reminder for employers in the construction industry with apprentices to keep the Construction Occupations Registrar up to date in relation to their apprentices’ training arrangements.

This is necessary so that apprentices maintain their exemption from the requirement for a licence. Apprentices and trainees are exempted from the requirement to have a licence, if the work is done under the supervision of a licensed individual, or the nominee of a licensed corporation or partnership, who is licensed to provide the service.

After 1 December 2013, the exemption from licensing only applies if the trainee’s employer, or if the trainee does not have an employer, the provider of the accredited course that the trainee is undertaking, notifies the Construction Occupations Registrar of the training arrangements that are in place.

The notification must be made by the employer, not the apprentice themselves.

The form is available for download here. Notifications can be made by email constructionoccupationslicensing@act.gov.au.

If this information is not provided, and the trainee carries out electrical wiring services without a licence, the trainee will be working unlicensed and could be subject to penalties under section 81 of the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 for providing a construction service without a licence. Supervisors and employers may also be liable for penalties under section 85 of the Act for allowing an unlicensed person to provide a construction service.