The electrical trade is one of the most challenging professions to get into in Australia. The process is very stringent and could sometimes take over two years. For years, many Electricians have come to Australia but haven’t been able to work as fully qualified Electricians, mainly due to a lack of information on this topic.

The second reason is that the licensing bodies want to avoid risking it due to the hazardous nature of the profession. Further in the blog, we will discuss how to apply for a visa and work in Australia. The requirements for obtaining an electrical licence may vary depending on the state or territory where you wish to work.

Do I need to be licenced in Australia to work in any of the vocational trades?

In Australia, to work as a foreign-trained electrician, you must first obtain a licence. Unfortunately, there isn’t one licensing organisation for all the trades. Instead, there are numerous bodies for various vocations. This is because licensing regulations vary across Australian states. It’s important to note that all electrical work MUST be performed by a licenced electrician. Many foreign-trained electricians start by working for construction or electrical companies for one year with an electrical permit under the supervision of an Australian Electrician. If you haven’t acquired an electrical permit, you will need to work as a trade assistant to an Electrician.

If you have already arrived in Australia

You can apply for an electrical work permit in Australia if you are already in Australia on a working holiday or a student visa.
The first step is to get an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) to apply for a job in Australia.
Supposing you do not have any electrical industry qualifications from outside Australia, you must complete an electrical apprenticeship before you apply for an electrical licence.

Certifications

If you are a student who is not an Australian and wants to pursue a career in electrical, you should get an apprenticeship and enrol in Cert 3 in Electrotechnology. Doing this will enable you to acquire all the fundamental skills required to begin employment. If you’re starting, earning your Certificate III in Electrotechnology as an Electrician is a good idea. To pursue a higher-paying position, you can also enrol in a diploma course in electrical and instrumentation at a later stage. Your apprenticeship is an essential factor in acquiring your Electrical licence.

Apprenticeship

If you haven’t completed your training in your respective country, you can enrol in an apprenticeship after finishing a pre-apprenticeship course. Pre-apprenticeship training is an excellent opportunity to put everything you’ve learned into practice and decide whether you want to pursue this vocation further in Australia. You will work under supervision while you learn the trade during your apprenticeship.

If you are a Qualified Offshore Electrician, you need to get OTSR Electrician:

What is an OTSR Electrician exactly?

A nationally recognised document called an OTSR (Offshore Technical Skills Record) entitles the holder to apply for a provisional licence. Many Australian state and territory regulatory authorities have decided to recognise the OTSR as an entry-level licence. Please remember that in Australia, licensing and registration are state-based obligations, and certain states have unique criteria for determining licence outcomes.

Why an OTSR Electrician instead of a Certificate III vocational qualification?

The TRA will assess your foreign technical skills through a practical and theory exam. However, since you are unfamiliar with Australian industry-specific information like codes of practice, Australian standards, and occupational health and safety regulations, an OTSR Electrician (Offshore Technical Skills Record) will be awarded instead of an Australian Cert III qualification. Before you are granted a Certificate III from a college in Australia, you must complete Minimum Australian Context Gap (MACG) training and work under the supervision of another Australian Electrician.

Getting Your Skills Evaluated at Trades Recognition Australia

Suppose you obtained your electrical work experience outside of Australia or New Zealand. In that case, your qualifications must be assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or a recognised Registered Training Provider before the state agency awards you a licence to work in Australia.

Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is an organisation that provides skills assessment services focusing on evaluations for people who have acquired trade skills abroad or in Australia, as well as assessment for immigration and skills recognition.

Please check out the process of the recognised assessment and regulatory authority where you are looking for an opportunity.

The OTSR Electrician Process (Offshore Technical Skills Record – TRA Electrician Process)

In this process, the applicant must show during an OTSR that they possess the technical skills required to perform the job in Australia. This can be accomplished by comparing your previous education and experience to the technical competencies obtained through an Australian qualification.

Step 1. Obtain an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR Electrician – TRA Electrician)

If you complete a skills assessment, you will be issued an OTSR. 

To receive the OTSR Electrician letter (Electrician Australia Certificate) from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA Electrician), the individual must complete a skills assessment in three consecutive stages mentioned in the TRA.

Firstly, they must complete a self-assessment to determine if they possess the necessary skills.

They will then need a paper-based assessment to assess their qualifications and workplace-based evidence. They can proceed to the next stage if the evidence meets the requirements.

Finally, they must complete a practical assessment and a technical interview conducted by an approved Australian electrician and assessor (aka Electrical Skills Assessment Australia or Trade Skills Assessment Record). The assessment will encompass various tests to demonstrate their competence as a safe electrical professional, while the interview will focus on work-related electrical questions.

Step 2: Apply for a provisional licence.

This qualifies you to apply for a provisional Supervised Worker’s Licence under the respective licencing authority of the state or territory where you want to work. You will also need to meet the non-skill requirements for the specific trade. This licence is only valid for all electrical installation work under the supervision of a licenced electrician for a specified time in that state or territory, typically one year.

While you are enrolled in the Australian Context Gap Training Electrician, you will be permitted to work under the supervision of another Australian electrician. 

Please remember that the applicant can only immediately apply for a provisional electrical licence with their overseas licence to the state once they have obtained the OTSR. After meeting the requirements of TRA, you will obtain an OTSR Electrician letter (Electrician Australia Certificate).

Step 3: Participate in Minimum Australian Context Gap Training Electrician (MACG Training)

Formal training is required to obtain Australian-specific information for your occupation.

The gap training process is unique for every licenced occupation and the state or territory where you wish to work. After obtaining their Supervised Worker’s Licence, the applicant must take Australian Context Gap Training. It is a brief electrician course in Australia designed to train an overseas electrician to meet Australian standards and obtain a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician.

To enrol in this program, the applicant needs to have an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) for a UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (or a successor). 

They must also possess a provisional/restricted licence issued by the regulatory authority overseeing electrical work and worker licensing in the area where the training will occur. 

Additionally, they should be employed as an electrical worker or have access to a work environment that simulates actual workplace conditions. 

Furthermore, they must possess an HLTAID001 CPR certificate that is valid within the past twelve months and be able to provide proof of validity.

Step 4: Obtain an Australian Vocational Education and Training Qualification

You must obtain an Australian VET qualification and extra training and work experience in your field. You may need a Certificate III Australian VET qualification to get a full licence. 

While on a provisional licence, the bearer must operate in Australia under supervision and complete gap training or Australian-specific training. For instance, Australia requires that you pass a safety training course.

The name and course terminology may differ depending on the state or territory where you intend to work. 

AUSINET is one of the ELECTRICIAN MINIMUM AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT GAP COURSE PROVIDERS – 11297NAT (supersedes 10809NAT) (MACG Training)

Details of the Minimum Australian Context Gap Training course are as follows:

Course Duration: 12 months self-paced Online/Blended

Total Fees: $6500

 Step 5: Obtain an Australian occupational licence.

Upon successful completion of the Gap training, as well as completing 12 months of supervised work as an Electrical Worker, the individual can apply for an Electrical licence in their state or territory.

Typically, you will be required to submit the following credentials:

1. Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR Electrician) or Trades Recognition Australia Electrician (TRA Electrician) Certificate

2. Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician(Gap training)

3. Low voltage rescue training

4. Identification documents e.g. attested copy of your passport

5. Additionally, applicants must be capable of providing evidence of wiring and installation work for 12 months. 

We advise you to check and confirm the requirements and eligibility criteria of the required licences with the relevant state or territorial licensing authority.

Please remember that obtaining an unrestricted electrical licence does not entitle you to work as an electrical contractor. A contractor’s licence typically requires further training and experience. You can work as an electrician but only conduct an electrical business once you obtain an electrical contractor’s licence. This can be achieved by enrolling into the QTP course.

We hope this information makes it easier for you to find opportunities in Australia. If you have any queries, please let us know in the comments. We will be more than happy to assist you. Cheers!!