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Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Home > Electrical Safety > Electrical licensing eligibility policy > 8. Eligibility requirements for a restricted electrical work licence

8. Eligibility requirements for a restricted electrical work licence

A restricted electrical licence authorises the holder to carry out or perform electrical work only of a particular type stated in the licence s.30(1), ESR 2002.

The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations issues restricted licences in accordance with the National Restricted Electrical framework which consists of eight work area categories (endorsements) relating to work on particular types of equipment. An applicant for a restricted licence must be able to demonstrate a need to carry out restricted electrical work i.e. they must demonstrate a trade or calling.

Endorsements on a restricted licence can include:

  1. Composite equipment
  2. High voltage electrical propulsion
  3. Plumbing/Gas
  4. Electronics
  5. Pre-assembled signs
  6. Electric motor
  7. Refrigeration/Air conditioning
  8. Instrumentation/Process control

There are six units of competence with further subdivisions for two of the units (units 3 & 4). These units of competence may be grouped in various ways to match the skills needed by workers who are required to perform restricted electrical work. Restricted electrical licences are issued based on the units of competence achieved.

Unit of competence No.

Unit of competence descriptor in endorsed area only
(e.g. endorsements 1 to 8 above)

1

Occupational health & safety

2

Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired equipment

3A

Locate and rectify faults in 250V equipment (motors)

3B

Locate and rectify faults in 250V equipment (water heaters)

3C

Locate and rectify faults in 250V equipment (appliances)

4A

Locate and rectify faults in 650V equipment (motors)

4B

Locate and rectify faults in 650V equipment (water heaters)

5

Attach flexible cord and plug to 250V equipment

6

Attach flexible cord and plug to 650V equipment

Application on the basis of mutual recognition

Applicants must satisfy the chief executive that they met any regulatory standards in the state where they previously performed the electrical work. This may typically be evidenced by a current electrical licence or certificate.

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

Completed mutual recognition statutory declaration which addresses all the elements listed in section 19(1) of the Mutual Recognition Act (Queensland) 1992 (PDF, 413 KB) or section 18 of the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 2003 (PDF, 471 KB). This includes evidence that the person holds a current registration required by or under legislation, as listed in either Schedule 13 of the MD 09/02/2007 or listed in Attachment A.

Refer to section three – Mutual recognition for information on the process for applying on the basis of mutual recognition.

Queensland apprentice (s.38(2), ESR 2002); or non-Queensland apprentice (s.38(3), ESR 2002)

To be issued a restricted electrical work licence the applicant must have:

  1. satisfactorily finished a course of training under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 984 KB) , or equivalent course of training outside Queensland, that the chief executive considers to be appropriate; and
  2. satisfactorily finished a course of instruction decided by the chief executive; and

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

Refer Attachment B – Table 2 for courses of training and instruction considered appropriate or decided by the chief executive.

  1. produced to the chief executive a written statement that:
    1. states that the applicant is competent in performing electrical work the subject of the application; and
    2. is verified by the supervising registered training organisation, or equivalent non-Queensland training organisation that issues a qualification or  statement of attainment for the course; and

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

Completion statement completed and signed by a nominated representative of the supervising registered training organisation, or equivalent supervising non-Queensland training organisation.

  1. if the course is training delivered to the applicant under a training plan or apprenticeship or traineeship - produced to the chief executive a written statement that:-

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

For apprentices, a completion statement completed and signed by:-

  1. a nominated representative of the supervising registered training organisation or
    equivalent non-Queensland supervising training organisation;
    and
  2. the employer under whom the applicant finished their apprenticeship; and
  3. the apprentice or permit holder; or
  1. satisfied the chief executive the applicant is competent to perform electrical work the subject of the licence.

Usually satisfied for new licence applications if the applicant meets eligibility requirements (a) through (d).

Relevant qualification application (s.38(5), ESR 2002)

The applicant must have -

  1. a relevant qualification defined as:
    1. a tradesperson's certificate within the meaning of the Tradesmen's Rights Regulation Act 1946 (Cwlth) in a calling that the chief executive has decided requires the tradesperson to perform the electrical work; or
    2. a tradesperson's certificate issued by a corresponding training department in a calling that the chief executive has decided requires the tradesperson to perform the electrical work; or
    3. a certificate or other document issued by a relevant assessing authority stating that the holder’s skills are suitable for an occupation that is or includes a calling that the chief executive has decided requires the holder to perform electrical work; or
    4. has equivalent qualifications or experience in a calling that the chief executive decides requires the person to perform electrical work; or
    5. the person held a restricted electrical licence (with the same endorsements they are applying for) issued under the Act that has expired; and

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

Refer to Attachment D for standards to satisfy the chief executive that a person has a trade or calling that requires the performance of incidental electrical work.

  1. satisfactorily finished a course of instruction decided by the chief executive; and
  2. produced a written statement that-
    1. states that the applicant is competent in performing electrical work the subject of the application; and
    2. is verified by the registered training organisation that delivered training to the applicant; and 
  3. if the course is training delivered to the applicant under a training plan- produced a written statement that states that the applicant has satisfactorily finished the training to be delivered under the training plan/s, and is verified by the person who as an employer is party to the training plan; and
  4. satisfied the chief executive the applicant is competent to perform electrical work the subject of the licence.

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

Completion statement completed and signed by supervising registered training organisation, or equivalent supervising non-Queensland training organisation, the applicant's employer (where applicable) and the applicant.

Refer to Attachment E for relevant qualifications, courses of instruction and on-the-job training programs accepted by the chief executive. Each is mapped to a licensing outcome.

Last updated 22 July 2009