Electrical licences

On this page

Key information

When you need an electrical licence

Licence types

Qualifications and experience needed

Apply for a licence or certificate

Renew or restore a licence

Change the details on a licence

Working interstate and mutual recognition

Insurance requirements

Insolvency matters

Cancelled or suspended licences

Contact us

Key information

• In NSW, you need an electrical licence before you can do any electrical wiring work regardless of the cost of the work or whether the work is residential, commercial, or industrial.
• There are different types of licences available depending on the work you need to do.
• You must have the right qualifications and experience before you can apply for a certificate.
• You can apply to have a licence or certificate issued for 1, 3 or 5 years.

When you need an electrical licence

You must have an electrical licence before you can do any electrical wiring work in NSW, regardless of the cost of the work and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial, or industrial.

Electrical wiring work

Electrical wiring work means the actual physical work of installing, repairing, altering, removing or adding to an electrical installation or the supervising of that work.

Electrical installation

An electrical installation means any fixed appliances, wires, fittings, meters, apparatus or other electrical equipment used for (or related to) conveying, measuring, controlling and using electricity in a particular place.

Electrical installation does not include:

• any electrical equipment (other than a meter) used, or intended to be used, to generate, transmit or distribute electricity that is:
  • owned or used by an electricity supply authority, or
  • located at a place that is owned or occupied by such an authority
• any electrical article connected to, and extending or situated beyond, any electrical outlet socket
• any electrical equipment in or around a mine
• any electrical equipment operating at not more than 50 volts alternating current or 120 volts ripple-free direct current
• any other electrical equipment, or class of electrical equipment, prescribed by the regulations.

Remember, it is an offence to do electrical wiring work without a licence or certificate. You can be fined $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 as a company for doing unlicensed electrical work.

To learn more about what is considered electrical wiring work or an electrical installation, see the definitions used in NSW laws. For licensing purposes, electrical wiring work is defined in the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Safety) Act 2017.

Also refer to the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules called AS/NZS 3000:2018, Electrical Installations, published jointly by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.

Licence types

Electrical work is specialist work.

There are different types of licences available in NSW depending on whether you want to contract for another party, supervise work, do the work, or a combination of these roles. These are explained below.

Contractor licence

A contractor licence allows you to contract and advertise to do work. You can only do the types of work described on your licence card. Contractor licences can be issued to individuals and to companies and partnerships.

You can apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year licence.

Qualified supervisor certificate

A qualified supervisor certificate allows you to supervise and do the work described on your certificate. Qualified supervisor certificates are only issued to individuals. A qualified supervisor certificate does not allow you to contract for work.

You can apply to have a qualified supervisor certificate issued for 1, 3 or 5 years.

Endorsed contractor licence

An endorsed contractor licence is issued to individuals who apply for a contractor licence and who also have the qualifications and experience needed to be a qualified supervisor.

Endorsed contractor licence cards have ‘contractor licence (Q)’ printed on them to show they are also equivalent to a qualified supervisor certificate.

Tradesperson certificate

A provisional tradesperson certificate can only be issued in select categories of electrical work if you have the approved offshore technical qualifications. These are:

• electrical
• air conditioning
• refrigeration.

A tradesperson certificate allows you to work with minimum supervision, but you can only do the types of work described on your certificate.

Individuals who hold a tradesperson certificate cannot sign off on work. Any work you do must be overseen and signed off by someone who holds a contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate.

A provisional tradesperson certificate is only issued for three years and cannot be renewed.

Qualifications and experience needed

There are multiple ways to get your electrical licence or certificate. Each pathway is listed and explained below.

You need to meet all the requirements of one pathway only.

To find organisations that deliver nationally recognised training, go to training.gov.au and search via the course code or name.

If you are currently an apprentice or trainee, you cannot apply for a licence or certificate.

If you hold a licence from interstate or New Zealand, and want to work in NSW, see Mutual Recognition.

If you trained overseas, see Overseas Trained Applicants.

Assessing experience

Where we say “experience” is required, this means experience you have gained as an employee who has been paid in line with an award or enterprise agreement. You can get the experience during or after completing an apprenticeship.

You must get referees to verify your experience via the ‘Referee Statement for Electrical work’ form.

We may require evidence of your employment to confirm the time periods you were employed and to verify you are able to do or supervise the categories of work you are applying for.

Transitional arrangements

The qualification pathways listed above came into effect on 1 January 2019.

If you gained 12 months experience in electrical wiring work before 1 January 2019, we will consider experience you have from using knowledge and understanding of AS/NZS 3000:2018 or AS/NZS 3000:2007 when assessing your application. Note: this transitional pathway ends 31 December 2023.

If you enrolled in TAFE’s Re-Licensing for Electricians Course 800-27213-200TE-020 before 1 January 2019, we may accept your completion of an assessment on wiring rules AS/NZS 3000:2007. If you enrolled on or after 1 January 2019, your assessment must be on wiring rules AS/NZS 3000:2018.

Apply for a licence or certificate

This information is for individual applications. See information for company and partnership licences.

Once you know what type of licence you want, and you have checked you have the right qualifications, you can apply for a licence or certificate.

Note: if you’re an apprentice or trainee, you can’t apply for a licence or certificate.

How to apply

What happens next?

Once we have your completed application, supporting documents, and fee payment, we will assess your application.

Processing times for completed applications can change. If we request additional information, the processing time will increase. Current processing times can be found on the licensing and qualifications page.

Check your inbox for any emails from Fair Trading.

If your application for a licence is approved, we will send you a new licence card. In the meantime, you can check the public register to see if your application has been granted.

It is an offence to make a false statement or leave out information when applying for a licence. If it is found that your licence has been issued on misleading grounds, you may be prosecuted and your licence may be cancelled.

Sometimes we do not approve applications. Reasons for this can include:

• you have not met the qualification or experience requirements
• you failed to provide details requested by Fair Trading
• you have been disqualified from holding a licence
• you owe money to Fair Trading as a result of a judgement
• you hold a provisional licence or certificate
• you are an apprentice or trainee
• you have not complied or are unable to comply with insurance requirements
• you are bankrupt or were bankrupt within three years before the date of the application
• you are or were a director or a person concerned in the management of a company:
  • that is or was the subject of a winding up order or
  • for which a controller or administrator has been appointed or
  • when a controller or administrator was appointed (within 3 years prior to your application for licence). This includes where you stop being a director or a person concerned in the management of a company within 12 months prior to the external administration.
• you are subject to an unsatisfied tribunal order
• you have had an unreasonable number of:
  • complaints
  • penalty notices
  • formal cautions
  • paid insurance claims
• you used false information in your application
• a close associate (who is not a fit and proper person to hold a licence) has significant influence over you or the operation and management of your business
• you are considered to be an unfit or improper person to hold a licence or certificate.

If we refuse your application, only part of the fee may be refunded, the rest is to cover processing costs.

Renew or restore a licence

You need to renew your licence or certificate before it expires.

If your licence or certificate isn't renewed by the due date it will expire, and you will no longer be authorised to work in NSW.

We will send you a renewal form several weeks before the expiry date with details of how to renew. We may also send you an SMS reminder.

If your licence is going to expire soon and you have not received your renewal form, contact us on 13 32 20. It is your responsibility to renew your licence on time.

If eligible, you can renew your licence or certificate online.

• Renew a contractor licence
• Renew a qualified supervisor certificate
• Renew a tradesperson certificate

You're not able to renew online, if:

• you want to seek an exemption from continuing professional development (CPD) obligations, or
• you need make changes to your licence other than your contact details and address.

If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, you can also renew in person at your nearest Service NSW centre.

If we approve your application, we will post your new licence to you. Find out why an application may be denied.

Restoring your licence after expiry

If your licence or certificate expired less than three months ago, you can restore it for a fee at a Service NSW Centre.

You can use the details on your renewal form to apply to restore your licence or certificate.

If your licence is renewed or restored, you’ll keep your existing licence number. In this instance, your licence is considered to have been renewed from the day the licence expired.

If your licence has been expired for more than 3 months, restoration may not be an option and you will need to reapply.  You cannot trade until your new licence is issued.

To check the status of your licence, you can search the public register.

Replace your licence

If your licence or certificate has been damaged, lost or stolen, you can apply for a replacement at a Service NSW Centre.

To replace your licence you will need:

• an Application for duplicate licence, certificate or permit form
• your personal details and certificate number
• payment for the fee. See our fees page for details.

Change the details on a licence

As a licence holder, it is your responsibility to tell us within 7 days if your name, address or other details change.

Change of address and contact details

If you hold a current licence or certificate and your address or contact details have changed, you can update them online, as long as your current email address or mobile phone number is registered with NSW Fair Trading.

Note: Only your address and contact details can be changed online.

If needed, you can also update your details in person at a Service NSW centre by completing the notification of change of address form.

Update your name

If you want to change your name, you'll need to visit a Service NSW Centre with:

• an original copy of the name change document, such as a marriage certificate, and
• a completed change of name and use of other names or aliases form.

Change of licence class

If you gain further qualifications that allow you to work in additional classes, you can add or change a class on your contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate at a Service NSW Centre.

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

• an Application Form - Individual
• a relevant Checklist for Individuals (if applicable)
  • General Building Work
  • Specialist Work
  • Other Building Work and Trade Work
• the Additional Details Form/s as indicated on the application form (if applicable)
• proof of identity
• one passport size photograph
• documentation that validates the change of class
• your referee's statement (if applicable)
• a certificate of eligibility to obtain insurance (if applicable)
• payment for the fee. See our fees page for details.

You can also ask for these forms at your nearest Service NSW centre.

Change the conditions on a licence

Your licence or certificate allows you to do and/or supervise the work described on your licence card, subject to any specified conditions.

These conditions may be imposed for a number of reasons to limit the scope of work you are able to do, or place other requirements on the licence or certificate holder.

They may be as a result of mutual recognition processes, disciplinary action, bankruptcy, external administration or other factors.

If your circumstances change (such as your qualifications), and this affects the conditions under which your licence or certificate has been issued, you must let us know within 7 days and you'll need to amend your details. You can do this at a Service NSW Centre.

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

• an Application Form - Individual, or a letter explaining the details of the condition change
• proof of identity
• one passport size photograph (if applicable)
• evidence of qualifications or documentation to validate the change of condition
• payment for the fee. See our fees page for details.

Working interstate and mutual recognition

There are different ways that make it easier for many licensed electricians to work interstate.

Recognition under the East Coast Electrician's scheme applies to some licence holders - see the tables below to see if your licence is eligible.

Other licence holders must apply under mutual recognition to have their licence recognised.

Queensland, Victorian or ACT electricians working in NSW

Licensed electricians from Queensland, Victoria and the ACT can be automatically recognised under the East Coast Electricians scheme.

If you hold a recognised licence in the following list, you can work under the NSW equivalent licence without applying for a NSW licence.

Queensland, Victorian or ACT electricians that have moved to NSW

If you’re an electrician holding a recognised licence and relocate your primary place of residence to NSW, you will need to apply for a NSW licence using the mutual recognition application form.

Go to the Working interstate and in New Zealand page for more information.

NSW electricians working in Queensland

Note: to be a contractor in Queensland, you need to apply for the Queensland Electrical Contractor licence under mutual recognition. Visit the WorkCover Queensland website or call WorkCover Queensland – Electrical Safety on 1300 362 128.

NSW electricians working in Victoria

Contact Energy Safe Victoria, Licensing and registration on 1800 815 721 or email [email protected].

NSW electricians working in the ACT

Contact the ACT Environment and Planning Directorate on (02) 6207 8096 for more information.

Insurance requirements

If you are a licensed builder or tradesperson in NSW, you need to get home building compensation (HBC) cover for each home building project over $20,000 including GST.

HBC cover, which used to be called ‘home warranty insurance’, protects homeowners as a last resort if you cannot complete building work or fix defects.

Visit the State Insurance Regulatory Authority's website for more information.

Insolvency matters

Current bankruptcy and external administration

If you are applying for a licence and are currently bankrupt or the director of a company that is under external administration (other than external administration resulting from a member's voluntary winding up of the body corporate), a contractor’s licence may be granted with the condition 'contracts not to exceed $20,000 in value'.

Bankruptcy or external administration within three years

If you are applying for a licence and have been discharged from bankruptcy or were previously a director of a company in external administration (other than external administration resulting from a member's voluntary winding up of the body corporate), and if we grant you a contractor licence, it may come with the condition:

• contracts not to exceed $20,000 in value, or
• contracts not to exceed $20,000 in value, except for subcontract to licensed contractor.

Cancelled or suspended licences

Your licence or certificate can be cancelled or suspended if you:

• become involved in unlawful activity
• get a licence by misrepresentation or fraudulent means
• become bankrupt or subject to a winding up order.

Also, if the holder of a company or partnership licence goes more than 30 days without an acceptable nominated supervisor, without prior consent from Fair Trading, the licence will be cancelled.

If your licence is cancelled, we will not refund any of the fees paid.

Immediate action required

If your licence or certificate has been cancelled or suspended you must immediately:

• stop all business activity that relates to the licence or certificate
• remove any sign or advertisement which indicates the conduct of business activity that relates to the licence or certificate
• return the licence or certificate to NSW Fair Trading by mail or at a Service NSW centre.

You should also let your clients know, either verbally or in writing, that your licence has been cancelled or suspended and you are unable to complete any unfinished work.

Automatic licence suspension

Your licence will be automatically suspended if you do not comply with an order by a court or the NSW Civil or Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to pay money for a building claim.

Read more about automatic licence suspensions.

Contact us

Need help applying?

If you need help with your application or have a question, please call 13 32 20.

Unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful, you can ask for a review.

A review involves another officer from Fair Trading, who was not involved in the original decision, reviewing the decision on your application.

For more information about the process see reviews of Fair Trading decisions.