For electricians applying for a skills assessment under the TSS or OSAP.
Eligibility
You will need to do a skills assessment with a TRA approved registered training organisation (RTO). If you are successful, you will receive an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR).
You can then apply with Australian state and territory licensing authorities for a:
- provisional licence
- registration, or
- certificate.
This will allow you to work under supervision as an Electrician while you finish the Australian context gap training.
You will also get an outcome letter to apply for a visa with the Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs).
Next steps
The requirements for getting a licence vary depending on the state or territory you want to work in.
To find out more, please select the state or territory you are planning to work in:
Access Canberra is the regulator responsible for issuing ACT electrical licences. If you want to work in the ACT, you must contact Access Canberra to apply for an Unrestricted Permit Electrotechnology Systems.
Holders of an Unrestricted Permit Electrotechnology Systems must:
-
enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (National Training Register - 11297NAT Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia).
- be supervised by a holder of a current and full unrestricted Electrician's licence for at least twelve (12) months
- include a letter of need from the applicant's employer stating:
- i) the principal trade to which the incidental electrical work applies
- ii) the need for the restricted electrical permit or licence in that trade.
For permits, the letter must include the supervisor's name and licence number.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III, an applicant may then apply for an unrestricted electrical licence.
For more information about electrical licences in the ACT, please contact Access Canberra.
Access Canberra
T: 02 6207 8096
E: cwpl@act.gov.au
W: Construction licences - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Planning (act.gov.au)
Building Commission NSW is the regulator responsible for issuing NSW electrical licences. If you want to work in NSW, you must contact Building Commission NSW to apply for a Provisional Tradesperson Certificate.
Holders of a Provisional Tradesperson Certificate must:
- enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (National Training Register - 11297NAT Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia).
- be supervised by someone with a current, full electrician's licence or qualified supervisor's certificate for at least twelve (12) months.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III and a Certificate of Proficiency through the NSW Vocational Training Review Panel, you may apply for a full electrical licence.
You should refer to the Electrical | Building Commission NSW page to view the full requirements for a contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate.
For more information about electrical licences in NSW, please contact Building Commission NSW:
Building Commission NSW
Phone (within Australia): 13 27 00
From overseas: +61 2 3814 0545
NT WorkSafe is the regulator responsible for issuing NT electrical licences. If you want to work in the NT, you must complete an application for electrical work licence training permit.
Holders of an electrical work licence trainee permit must:
- enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (National Training Register - 11297NAT Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia.
- be supervised by a holder of a current, full electrician's licence for at least twelve (12) months.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III, you can apply for a full electrical licence.
For more information on electrical licences in the NT, please contact the NT WorkSafe
NT WorkSafe
T: 1800 019 115
E: Electrical.licensing@nt.gov.au
W: worksafe.nt.gov.au
The Electrical Safety Office is the regulator responsible for issuing Queensland electrical licences. You must contact them to get a restricted electrical work licence/permit in Queensland.
before being eligible for a restricted electrical work licence in Queensland you need to:
- apply for a Queensland electrical work training permit to allow you to undertake training required to obtain the restricted Queensland electrical work licence.
- enrol with a Queensland RTO who delivers the training listed on your permit and work under the supervision of an appropriately licenced electrical worker.
On successful completion of the training, you can apply for a Queensland restricted electrical work licence.
Note: Although permits are for twelve (12) months, your RTO may deem you competent sooner, depending on your previous experience.
For more information on electrical licences in Queensland, please contact the Electrical Safety Office.
Electrical Safety Office
T: 1300 632 993
E: Licensing.ProcessingServices@oir.qld.gov.au
W: Electrical licences | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
The Consumer and Business Services SA is the regulator responsible for issuing SA electrical licences and registrations. If you want to work in SA, you must contact them to apply for a Restricted Electrical Worker Registration.
Holders of a Restricted Registration must:
- enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (National Training Register - 11297NAT Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia).
- be supervised by a holder of a current, full electrician's registration.
On successful completion of the gap training, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III, you can apply for a full electrical registration.
For more information about electrical licences and registrations in SA, please contact Consumer and Business Services South Australia.
Consumer and Business Services South Australia
T: 131 882
E: occupational@sa.gov.au
W: CBS SA
The Tasmanian Government Department of Justice is the regulator responsible for issuing Tasmanian electrical licences. If you want to work in Tasmania, you must contact them to apply for a Provisional Licence.
Holders of a Provisional Licence must:
- enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (10809NAT - Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia).
- be supervised by a holder of a current, full electrician's licence for at least twelve (12) months.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III, you can apply for a full electrical licence (Electrical Practitioner Licence).
For information on electrical licences in Tasmania, please contact the Tasmanian Government Department of Justice.
Tasmanian Government Department of Justice
T: 1300 654 499
E: cbos.info@justice.tas.gov.au
W: www.cbos.tas.gov.au (division of DoJ)
Energy Safe Victoria is the regulator responsible for issuing Victorian electrical licences. If you wish to work in Victoria, you must contact them to apply for a Supervised Workers Licence.
Holders of a Supervised Workers Licence must:
- enrol in and complete Australian context gap training (National Training Register - 11297NAT Course in Electrician - Minimum Australian Context Gap – more information available from Energy Skills Australia).
- be supervised by a holder of a current, full electrician's licence for at least twelve (12) months
- complete the Licensed Electricians Theory (LET) and Licensed Electricians Practical (LEP) assessments.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III and completion of the LET and LEP licensing assessments, you can apply for a full electrical licence.
For more information about electrical licences in Victoria, please contact Energy Safe Victoria.
Energy Safe Victoria
T: 1800 815 721
E: licensing@energysafe.vic.gov.au
W: Energy Safe Victoria
The Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) is the regulator responsible for issuing WA electrical licences. If you wish to work in WA, you must contact them to apply for an Electrical Workers Permit.
Holders of an OTSR must:
- apply to LGIRS by completing the Application Form.
- get an approval letter from the LGIRS to attend an Electrical Licensing Board approved WA registered training organisation (RTO). This allows applicants to complete the Electrician's licence – Completion of electrical trades licensing gap training course application (more information on the gap training is at https://migration.wa.gov.au, assessment and workplace experience for the Certificate III in Electrotechnology – Electrician.
- be supervised by a holder of a current, full electrician's licence for the period of the gap training.
On successful completion of the gap training and supervised employment, you can apply for a Certificate III in Electrotechnology - Electrician.
On receipt of the Certificate III, you can apply for a full electrical licence.
For more information about electrical licences in WA, please contact LGIRS.
Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS)
T: 08 6251 2000
E: electricallicensing@lgirs.wa.gov.au
A: Locked Bag 14 Cloisters Square WA 6850
W: Electrical licensing