Did you just move to Australia? Do you have an overseas electrician’s license but are not eligible to work in Australia? Worry not, you can now work as an electrician in Australia by getting your experience assessed and taking the right steps towards employment. Here is everything you need to know about how to go about it!
STEP 1:
GETTING YOUR SKILLS ASSESSED
If you have acquired your electrical work experience outside Australia or New Zealand, you will have to get your qualifications assessed by Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) or a nominated Registered Training Provider before ESV issues a license to work in Australia.
TRA: Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is a skills assessment service provider specialising in assessments for people with trade skills gained overseas or in Australia, for migration and skills recognition.
ESV: Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is the independent technical regulator responsible for electricity, gas, and pipeline safety in Victoria.
THE PROCESS OF OTSR (Offshore Technical Skills Record)
To receive the OTSR letter from Trades Recognition Australia (TRA), the applicant has to successfully undertake a skills assessment in 3 steps:
- A self-assessment to assist the applicant to determine if they have the required skills
- A paper-based assessment to evaluate the applicant’s qualifications and workplace-based evidence. If the evidence provided meets the requirements, the applicant moves to the final step.
- A practical assessment along with a technical interview conducted by an approved Australian electrician and assessor. While the assessment would include a series of tests that would require the applicant to display their competency as a safe electrical professional, the interview would focus on electrical work-focussed questions.
STEP 2:
PROVISIONAL LICENSE
After meeting the requirements of the assessments, the applicant will be issued an OTSR (Offshore Technical Skills Record) letter to apply to ESV for a Supervised Worker’s License. https://esv.vic.gov.au/licensing-coes/electrical-licences/
With a Supervised Worker’s License, the applicant is limited to carrying out all electrical installation work under the supervision of a licensed electrician for a maximum of three years and may not be renewed. This license is not recognised under mutual recognition and is not valid outside Victoria.
Also, please note that the applicant cannot directly lodge an application with their overseas license with ESV until they have it successfully assessed and issued with an OTSR letter.
STEP 3:
COMPLETING AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT GAP TRAINING
Once the applicant has acquired their Supervised Worker’s License, they will have to complete Australian Context Gap Training. It is a short course designed to provide training and assessment to meet the Australian standards and skill components to earn a Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician.
To apply for this course, the candidate must
- Hold an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR)for a UEE30811 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (or successor)
- Hold a provisional/restricted license issued by the regulatory authority responsible for regulating electrical work and licensing of workers in the jurisdiction where the training will take place
- Be engaged (employed) as an electrical worker or have access to a workplace environment that replicates workplace conditions
- Hold a HLTAID001 certificate of currency for resuscitation (CPR) within the last twelve months and can provide a certificate of currency.
STEP 4:
APPLYING FOR YOUR ELECTRICIAN’S LICENSE
On completion of this certification along with 12 months of supervised work as an Electrical Worker, the applicant is eligible to take the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment (LEA) to earn their Electrician’s License.
To upgrade the Supervised License, the applicant will have to create a profile on ESVConnect and confirm they meet the criteria to apply for their Electrician’s License. They will have to provide the following documents:
- OTSR Certificate
- Certificate III Electrotechnology Electrician
- LEA Certificate of Completion (or Capstone Assessment in another state or territory)
- Applicants must be also able to demonstrate 12 months’ wiring and installation work experience
Here are some links that will help you navigate your way through the process:
ESV licensing fee:
https://esv.vic.gov.au/licensing-coes/electrical-licences/licensing-fees/
Supervised worker’s license application fee: $70 non-refundable
Frontier Institute of Technology
Total fees (Australia Context Gap Training): $3000
Course Duration: 8 weeks
We run small class sizes between 8 and 10.
GOOD LUCK!!