Medical gas licensing

Medical gas is a substance used for medical purposes and prescribed by the regulations as a medical gas.

The list of medical gases includes:

• oxygen
• nitrous oxide
• helium
• nitrogen
• carbon dioxide
• medical air
• surgical tool gas
• common mixtures of the gases referred to above
• waste anaesthetic gas
• air at a negative pressure (commonly known as suctioning)

Mechanical services and medical gas work is defined as:

a) The construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of a mechanical heating, cooling or ventilation system in a building, which is associated with the heating, cooling or ventilation of that building and includes:

1. any valve, regulator, pipe, flue, tank, heating or cooling pipe or surface, boiler, burner, solid fuel heater, coil or other item that is used in the system
2. in the case of a cooling tower, any water pipe, valve, pump, automated dosing device or automated bleeding device or any other mechanical component that affects the cooling tower’s cooling water flow rate or wastewater disposal
3. roof sheeting and roof flashing that is necessary for the purpose of any work described in this paragraph or paragraphs (b)–(d), and

b) medical gasfitting work, and

c) the installation, commissioning and any incidental design work that is associated with the installation and commissioning of:

1. any part of a single head split system, or
2. a ceiling cassette system, or
3. an add-on condenser unit for a ducted system associated with the heating and cooling of a building, and

d) any design work incidental to, or associated with, work described in paragraphs (a) and (b).

It does not include:

• gasfitting work
• work on a cooling tower drift eliminator
• treatment of cooling or heating water
• cleaning of a cooling tower
• disassembly or reassembly of a flue terminal for the purposes of cleaning a solid fuel heater
• connection or disconnection of a system referred to in paragraphs (a)–(d) from a water supply other than disconnection of the system from a water supply at an isolating valve adjacent to a mechanical component of that system.

A full description of mechanical services work can be found in Schedule 1 of the Home Building Act

Medical gasfitting is the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of a medical gas installation and includes incidental design work.

Medical gas technician work is the commissioning, testing, verification or certification of a medical gas installation.

To get a tradesperson’s certificate for medical gasfitting work you must have:

a) successfully completed one of the following vocational education and training (VET) qualifications

• Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services),
• Certificate III in Plumbing,
• Certificate III in Gas Fitting, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems, and
• Carry out WHS requirements, and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in medical gasfitting work.

To get a supervisor certificate to do (and to supervise) medical gasfitting work, or an endorsed contractor licence that is equivalent to a supervisor certificate, you must have:

a) successfully completed one of the following vocational education and training (VET) qualifications

• Certificate IV in Plumbing, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems, and
• Carry out WHS requirements, and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in medical gas fitting work.

To get a tradesperson's certificate to do medical gas technician work, you must have:

a) successfully completed one of the following relevant vocational education and training (VET) qualifications:

• Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services)
• Certificate III in Plumbing
• Certificate III in Gas Fitting
• Certificate IV in Engineering, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems
• Carry out WHS requirements, and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in medical gas technician work.

You will be taken to have satisfactorily completed a relevant VET qualification if you have a degree in either:

• Mechanical engineering, or
• Electrical engineering, or
• Biomedical engineering, or
• Mechatronics engineering

or another discipline that, in the opinion of the Secretary, is suitable for a person to do medical gas technician work.

To get a supervisor’s certificate to do (and to supervise) medical gas technician work, or an endorsed contractor licence that is equivalent to a supervisor certificate, you must have:

a) successfully completed one of the following relevant vocational education and training (VET) qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Plumbing
• Certificate IV in Engineering, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems
• Carry out WHS requirements, and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in medical gas technician work.

You will be taken to have satisfactorily completed a relevant VET qualification if you have a degree in either:

• Mechanical engineering, or
• Electrical engineering, or
• Biomedical engineering, or
• Mechatronics engineering

or another discipline that, in the opinion of the Secretary, is suitable for a person to do medical gas technician work.

To get a tradesperson’s certificate to do mechanical services and medical gas work you must have:

a) successfully completed one of the following vocational education and training (VET) qualifications:

• Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services)
• Certificate III in Plumbing, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems (CPCPMS3034)
• Carry out WHS requirements (CPCPCM2043), and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in mechanical services and medical gas work.

Restricted licence

A restricted licence limits the type of work you can do. If you only want to do mechanical services work, you can apply for a mechanical services and medical gas licence (excluding medical gas).

You will still need to complete a Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) or Certificate III in Plumbing, and have at least 2 years experience. You do not need to to complete the two additional medical gas units listed above in part (b).

To get a supervisor certificate to do (and to supervise) mechanical services and medical gas work, or an endorsed contractor licence that is equivalent to a supervisor certificate, you must have:

a) successfully completed the following vocational education and training (VET) qualification:

• Certificate IV in Plumbing, and

b) successfully completed the following units of competency in the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package:

• Install medical gas pipeline systems
• Carry out WHS requirements, and

c) have at least 2 years of experience in mechanical services and medical gas work.

If you apply for a tradespersons certificate, contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate to do mechanical services and medical gas work, and you cannot satisfy the additional units and experience requirements above, you may be issued with an authority subject to a condition that you must not do medical gasfitting work.

Existing authority holders

A tradesperson certificate authorising the holder to do mechanical services and medical gas work may be issued to a person who:

1. immediately before 1 March 2023, holds a tradesperson certificate authorising the holder to do plumbing and drainage work, and
2. meets the additional units and experience requirements, and
3. otherwise meets the requirements for the issue of the certificate.

An endorsed contractor licence or a supervisor certificate authorising the holder to do and supervise mechanical services and medical gas work may be issued to a person who:

1. immediately before 1 March 2023, holds an endorsed contractor licence or a supervisor certificate authorising the holder to do and supervise plumbing and drainage work, and
2. meets the additional units and experience requirements, and
3. otherwise meets the requirements for the issue of the licence or certificate.

An authority does not authorise the holder to do or supervise plumbing and drainage work for the purposes above if the authority authorises the holder to do or supervise only draining work and no other specialist work. Draining work has the meaning given by the Home Building Regulation 2014, Schedule 4.

If the applicant with an existing authority cannot meet the additional units or experience requirements, they may be issued with an authority subject to a condition that they must not do medical gasfitting work (Mechanical services and medical gas (excluding medical gas)).

Before you begin your application make sure you have:

• an application form
• an application checklist
• a referee statement form (Medical Gasfitter and Medical Gas Technician)
• a referee statement form (Mechanical Services and Medical Gas)

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

You will also need:

• proof of identity (such as driver’s licence or passport)
• an original copy of your qualifications
• details of any licence or certificate you currently hold (or previously held)
• details of your employment and experience
• details of any past compliance issues, insolvency matters, or criminal offences (if applicable)
• certificate of eligibility to obtain insurance (if applicable)
• one passport sized photo
• payment for the licence fee. See our fees page for details.

Licence applications are lodged with Service NSW. If needed, you can book an appointment online to complete your application at a Service NSW centre.

Apply for a contractor licence

This is for new applicants only. Find out how to renew your licence below.

Before you begin your application make sure you have:

• an application form
• an application checklist
• a referee statement form (Medical Gasfitter and Medical Gas Technician)
• a referee statement form (Mechanical Services and Medical Gas)

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

You will also need:

• proof of identity (such as driver’s licence or passport)
• an original copy of your qualifications
• details of any licence or certificate you currently hold (or previously held)
• details of your employment and experience
• details of any past compliance issues, insolvency matters, or criminal offences (if applicable)
• certificate of eligibility to obtain insurance (if applicable)
• one passport sized photo
• payment for the licence fee. See our fees page for details.

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

Licence applications are lodged with Service NSW. If needed, you can book an appointment online to complete your application at a Service NSW centre.

Apply for a qualified supervisor certificate

This is for new applicants only. Find out how to renew your licence below.

All applicants for a tradesperson certificate must apply online.

Apply for a tradesperson certificate

Your application will be reviewed and assessed to check it meets eligibility requirements.

We might contact you (by email or SMS) if we need more information.

Application processing times

Due to an increase in new applications, our standard turnaround time of 30 business days (6 weeks) does not apply at this time.

The estimated wait time for a new application to be determined is approximately 10-12 weeks.

Note: It’s important that you submit all the required information and documents with your original application. If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase.

If your application is successful, we will contact you via SMS and send you a licence card in the post. Your approved licence details will be added to the public register.

If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll be advised of the reasons in writing and be provided with your options. For more information about the internal review process see Reviews of Fair Trading decisions.

No.

If you are applying for a restricted Mechanical Service and Medical Gas (excluding medical gas) licence, you will not need to complete the two medical gas courses.

However, you will still need to have completed the relevant qualifications and have 2 years’ experience.

Yes.

You must apply for the relevant medical gas work category to be able to undertake the work regardless of whether you hold a current licence in plumbing.

If you hold a tradesperson certificate authorising you to do plumbing and drainage work before 1 October 2022 (or 1 March 2023 for mechanical services work),  you can automatically apply for a licence.

You will still need to have completed at least 2 years of experience and the relevant qualifications.

No.

Only a person with a Mechanical Services and Medical Gas licence or a restricted Mechanical Services and Medical Gas licence (excluding medical gas) can carry out mechanical service work.

Learn more about each category of work.

Schedule 1 of the Home Building Act outlines lines what is and is NOT mechanical services and medical gas work.

Schedule 4 of the Home Building Regulation 2014 has a full list of what is, and is NOT, included in:

• air-conditioning work
• refrigeration work.

No.

Medical gas and mechanical services work is specialist work.

You need a Medical Gasfitting, Medical Gas Technician or Mechanical Services and Medical Gas licence before you can do any medical gas work in NSW, regardless of the cost of the work and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial.

Current descriptors detailed in the Home Building Act 1989 outline work that requires a licence. Generally, work that is installation, commissioning and decommissioning would be considered specialist work and therefore requires a licence.

Work that generally falls under water treatment and includes inspection, chemical analysis and microbial testing which is required to be undertaken by a duly qualified person is not considered ‘specialist work’ and therefore would not need a licence.