News & Views

More and more members are asking about licencing of electrical workers from inter-state.

For information concerning any electrical licence in Australia, go to the Federal Government website called Licence Recognition. Information is available for:
 

• Licence equivalence search,
• Licencing contacts for all States
• Mutual recognition information
   

For information concerning any electrical licence in NSW, go to the Fair Trading website. Under the Mutual Recognition (New South Wales) Act, electricians from other States who will be living in NSW, can have a comparable NSW licence to their existing State licence. This situation usually applies in reverse as well. An electrician completes the Fair Trading Mutual Recognition registration application form HB003 and submits it to a Service NSW Centre.
 

Automatic mutual recognition works like a driver’s licence and allows licenced electricians living in one State to work in another state without the need to apply for a licence in the second State.
 

Information and forms for mutual recognition and automatic mutual recognition can be found here on the Fair Trading website or contact Fair Trading on 133220.
 

 The Fair Trading website shows equivalent qualifications for the following areas:
 

• Queensland - WorkCover Queensland  ; Contact 1300 362 128
• Victoria - Energy Safe Victoria; Contact 1800 815 721
• ACT Website - Environment and Planning Directorate; Contact 02 6207 8096
   

Don’t forget that there is a difference between an Electrical Qualified Supervisor licence and an Electrical Contractor licence. States outside of NSW may require additional training before granting a Contractor licence in that State, even through mutual recognition. An example is Victoria that requires business training before granting a Contractor licence or proof that your finances are managed through an accountant. Also remember that nothing is free so fees will apply for all transactions in every State.