Dris proposal for national licensing of the electrical occupations

Current licence categories

Electrician

Electricians are currently licensed in all jurisdictions; however, the title of the licence varies, as shown in Table D.2, below.

Table D.2 Current licence titles by jurisdiction – electricians

Jurisdiction	Licence title
New South Wales	Qualified Supervisor Certificate – Electrical
Victoria	Electrician’s Licence
Queensland	Electrical Mechanic Licence or Electrical Fitter Mechanic Licence
Western Australia	Electrician’s Licence
South Australia	Electrical Workers Registration – Any Electrical Work
Tasmania	Electrical Technicians/Electrician’s Licence
Australian Capital Territory	Unrestricted Electrician Licence
Northern Territory	Electrical Workers Licence – Endorsed Electrical Mechanics or Electrical Workers Licence – Endorsed Electrical Mechanics and Fitter

Electrical fitter

Electrical fitting work is regulated in five jurisdictions, as shown in Table D.3, below.

Table D.3: Current licensing arrangements by jurisdiction for electrical fitters

	NSW^c	Vic^a	Qld^a	WA^a	SA^b	Tas^e	ACT^d	NT^a
Electrical Fitter	N	Y	Y	Y	Y	N	N	Y

a Victoria (switch gear only⁶³), Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory license as a separate category.

b South Australia regulates this scope of work under a general electrician’s licence (other than registrations granted under the mutual recognition principles). Those that wish to perform electrical fitting work are required to complete the qualification to be granted a full electrician’s licence that allows them to do electrical fitting work.

c New South Wales issues a restricted electrical licence for disconnect and reconnect work.

d The Australian Capital Territory does not issue a licence and any work outside the boundary of the electricity utility and within the scope of electrical work must be undertaken by an unrestricted electrician.

e Tasmania does not issue an electrical fitter’s licence; fitters operate under an Electrical Safety Management Scheme and/or are issued a restricted electrical licence.

Electrical lineworkers

Electrical linework (transmission and distribution) is regulated in four jurisdictions. Two jurisdictions also regulate rail traction, as shown in Table D.4, below.

Table D.4: Current licensing arrangements by jurisdiction – lineworkers

	NSW^c	Vic^d	Qld^a	WA^c	SA^b	Tas^a	ACT^e	NT^a
Electrical transmission line worker	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y
Electrical distribution line worker	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y
Electrical rail traction line worker	N	N	Y	N	Y	N	N	N

a Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory have clearly identifiable licences for lineworkers.

b South Australia regulates this scope of work under a general electrician’s licence, as well as a separate category.

c New South Wales and Western Australia operate accreditation schemes whereby workers employed by a network operator are required to fulfil employer qualification requirements, and are not licensed.

d Victoria has a system of registration for lineworkers based on an industry/government agreement. These workers are not authorised to do electrical work outside the distribution network.

e In the Australian Capital Territory all linework outside the boundary of the electricity utility must be undertaken by a licensed electrician.

Electrical cable jointers

Electrical cable jointer licences are issued in four jurisdictions, as shown in Table D.5, below.

Table D.5: Current licensing arrangements by jurisdiction – cable jointer

	NSW^c	Vic^d	Qld^a	WA^c	SA^b	Tas^a	ACT^e	NT^a
Electrical cable jointer	N	N	Y	N	Y	Y	N	Y

a As with lineworkers, Queensland, Tasmania and Northern Territory have clearly identifiable licences for cable jointers.

b South Australia regulates this scope of work under a general electrician’s licence, as well as separate categories.

c New South Wales and Western Australia operate accreditation schemes whereby workers employed by a network operator are required to fulfil qualification requirements.

d Victoria does not currently require licensing of people undertaking this work.

e In the Australian Capital Territory, all cable jointing work outside the boundary of the electricity utility must be undertaken by a licensed electrician.

Electrical contractor

All jurisdictions currently issue electrical contractor licences, as shown in Table D.6, below.

Table D.6: Current licensing arrangements by jurisdiction – electrical contractor

	NSW	VIC	QLD	WA	SA	TAS	ACT	NT
Electrical contractor	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y