Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic

If you want to work in the ACT, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence and
• the Electrotechnology Systems Restricted Permit (Refrigeration and Air-conditioning),

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), and
• Access Canberra who is the regulator responsible for issuing the Electrotechnology Systems Restricted Permit.

You need both licences to work, supervised, in the ACT as an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic.

Once you hold the above licence and permit, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence, related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• A Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• a Restricted – Electrotechnology Systems Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Licence with Access Canberra.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in the ACT, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Access Canberra

If you want to work in NSW, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence and
• the Provisional Tradesperson Certificate,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), and
• Building Commission NSW who is the regulator responsible for issuing the Provisional Tradesperson Certificate.

You need both licences to work, supervised, in NSW as an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic.

Once you have the above licence and certificate, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a current holder of an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Licence or Certificate.

New South Wales has the following two (2) types of licence/certificates for AIRCONDITIONING AND REFRIGERATION:

• Qualified Supervisor Certificate, which allows the holder to work as an employee, or supervise the work.
• Endorsed Contractor Licence, which is for a sole trader who can contract for work and undertake or supervise the work.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Licence or Certificate with Building Commission NSW.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in NSW, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

If you want to work in the NT, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace).

Once you have the above licence, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• a Restricted Electrical Licence with the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in the NT, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Board

Refrigerant handling licence

If you want to work in Queensland, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace).

Once you hold the above licence, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220)

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years).

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in Qld, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Electrical work licence

If you hold an OTSR as an air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic, you must get:

• a Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32211)

before being eligible for a restricted electrical work licence in Queensland.

Whilst holding the OTSR and the Trainee Licence, you must have a licensed person carry out the disconnecting, reconnecting and fault finding of any electrical equipment you need to work on.

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for a restricted electrical work licence.

In most cases, applicants will receive an electrical work training permit and need to undertake more on and off the job training to get the licence. For more information, please contact the Electrical Safety Office on 1300 632 993.

Refrigeration and Air-conditioning work licence

If you hold:

• a Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32211) and
• a Refrigerant Handling Licence issued by the ARC,

you need to apply to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) for licensing for refrigeration and air-conditioning work.

For more information, please visit the QBCC website www.qbcc.qld.gov.au or contact QBCC on 139 333.

If you want to work in SA, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence and
• the Restricted Electrical Worker Registration,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), and
• Consumer and Business Services SA, who is the regulator responsible for issuing the Restricted Electrical Worker Registration (under supervision).

You need both licences to work, supervised, in SA as an Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic.

Once you have the licence and registration, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply:

• for a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• to upgrade your Restricted Registration to remove the supervision restriction with Consumer and Business Services SA.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in SA, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Consumer and Business Services South Australia

If you want to work in Tasmania, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace).

Once you have the above licence, you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months.

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• a Restricted Electrical Licence with the Tasmanian Government Department of Justice.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in Tasmania, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Tasmanian Government Department of Justice

If you want to work in Victoria, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence and
• the Restricted Electrical Workers Licence Class 2 (disconnect/reconnect) and Class 1 (fault finding),

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), and
• Energy Safe Victoria, who is the regulator responsible for issuing the Restricted Electrical Workers Licence.

If you hold an OTSR as an air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanic, you are not eligible for any electrical licence in Victoria. Whilst holding the OTSR and the Trainee Licence, you must have a licensed person carry out the disconnecting, reconnecting and fault finding of any electrical equipment you need to work on.

Once you have the above Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), you must:

• enrol in and complete Australian context gap training, and
• be supervised by a holder of a current, full licence related to the work you are training in, for at least twelve (12) months

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220).

On receipt of the Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) and
• Restricted Electrical Workers Licence Class 2 (disconnect/reconnect) and Class 1 (fault finding).

Before applying for a Restricted Electrical Workers Licence, you will also need to complete an independent practical licensing assessment. Refer to Energy Safe Victoria’s website for further information.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in Victoria, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Energy Safe Victoria

If you want to work in WA, to apply for:

• a refrigerant handling licence and
• an approval letter for training and assessment for a licensing outcome for a Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic Licence,

you must contact:

• the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), who issue the Trainee Licence (for handling of refrigerant in classroom and workplace), and
• Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS), who will issue a letter of approval to attend an approved RTO to undertake training and assessment.

You need both the licence and letter above to work in WA as a Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic.

Once you have an OTSR, you must:

• apply to the LGIRS by completing the application form refrigeration-and-airconditioning-mechanics-licence-application-overseas
• get an approval letter from LGIRS to attend an Electrical Licensing Board approved WA RTO. This allows you to complete gap training and assessment for the MEM30205 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning).

On successful completion of the above, you can apply for:

• a MEM30205 Certificate III.

On receipt of the MEM30205 Certificate III, you may apply for:

• a full Refrigerant Handling Licence – Qualified Persons (2 years) with ARC and
• a Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Mechanic’s Licence with Energy Safety.

For more information on air-conditioning and refrigeration licences in WA, please contact:

Australian Refrigeration Council

Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS)