Working in Victoria with overseas qualifications
If you're an electrical worker with qualifications obtained outside Australia or New Zealand and you want to carry out electrical installation work in Victoria, you may be eligible to apply for a Victorian electrical worker’s licence.
You must have a licence issued by Energy Safe Victoria to work in Victoria.
While you may be qualified in your home country, those qualifications must be assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or their nominated training providers before an application can be lodged with Energy Safe. Energy Safe does not assess overseas qualifications.
More information is available online at TRA or contact TRA on 1300 360 992.
Obtaining a Supervised Worker’s licence (L)
If your qualifications meet Victoria’s requirements, TRA will issue an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR), which can be used to apply to Energy Safe for a Supervised Worker’s Licence. The Safe Working Practice assessment required to obtain this licence will be carried out as part of your OTSR assessment.
Applicants are also required to meet non-skill licensing requirements.
Gap training
Once you have been issued an OTSR and obtained a Supervised Workers Licence, you must complete Australian Context Gap Training.
Successful completion of this training will earn the applicant a Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician qualification.
The registered training organisations offering the Course in Electrician – Minimum Context Gap Course (course code: 10809NAT) are:
Victoria
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
New South Wales
Applicants who hold this Certificate are then eligible to sit the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA), which is mandatory to apply for an Electrician’s Licence.
Some registered training organisations (RTOs) offer optional preparation courses to undertake the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA), which may assist with these assessments. See Undertaking the Licensed Electrician's Assessment (LEA).
Upgrading to an Electrician’s licence
You must work under supervision for a minimum of 12 months before you can apply for an electrician’s licence.
During this time, applicants must have completed the LEA Theory and Practical assessments at a centre approved by Energy Safe to carry out the assessments.
To have a Supervised licence upgraded, you will need to log into your ESVConnect account and complete the eligibility checker to confirm you meet the criteria to upgrade your licence.
Please ensure you have:
- an OTSR Certificate (provided to a successful OSAP applicant)
- a Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician
- a LEA Certificate of Completion (or Capstone Assessment in another state or territory)
- a letter or letters to demonstrate 12 months’ wiring and installation work experience in Victoria
- paid the licence fee
The OSAP and OSTR
The Offshore Skills Assessment Program (OSAP) is for persons who require a skills assessment to apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a skilled migration visa.
A skills assessment determines if you have the skills and experience necessary to work in Australia at the required level for your occupation.
Detailed information about the OSAP, obtaining an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) and the pathway to electrical licensing is available from Trades Recognition Australia
You can also find a Trade Recognition Services (TRS) training provider
Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC)
Before 30 September 2014
Applicants who received an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate before 30 September 2014 can still use this as evidence of overseas skills assessment.
An ARTC holder who is an Electrical Mechanic must undertake the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment in its entirety at a centre approved by Energy Safe to carry out assessments.
You can also apply to Energy Safe for a Supervised Worker’s Licence after completing the Safe Working Practices (SWP) assessment. Some registered training organisations (RTOs) offer optional preparation courses to undertake the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA), which may assist with these assessments.
An ARTC holder who is an Electrical Fitter or Electrical Fitter (Instruments) can seek to undertake the Safe Working Practice Assessment at a centre approved by Energy Safe to carry out assessments to apply for a Supervised Worker’s Licence.
Holders of this licence will be able to apply for an Electrician’s Licence once they can provide evidence of 12 months’ installation experience and have completed the Practical and Theory assessments of the LEA.
You will need to create a user profile in ESVConnect, and complete the eligibility checker to ensure you meet the criteria.
Please ensure you have a TRA Certificate (ARTC) and one of these:
- Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA) results (for an Electrician's Licence)
- Safe Working Practices (SWP) assessment result (for a Supervised Workers Licence).
Your responsibilities
It is your responsibility as a licence holder to understand the legislation and regulations, and to work within these rules:
- Electricity Safety Act 1998 and Electricity Safety (Installations) Regulations 2009
- You must ensure your work is under effective supervision of a Licensed Electrician if issued with a Supervised Worker’s Licence
- The work undertaken is signed off with a Certificate of Electrical Safety (COES) by you or your supervisor.
See Your responsibilities for more information.
Date: 05/10/2024 14:30
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