practical and theory tests - electrical fitter

[leeob77]

bill, have you had a positive assessment by TRA yet? i am a maintenance spark and i did assessment as electrician - special class. i didnt do the general electrician one as i didnt feel it described my job correctly.
The first thing you will need is an ARTC certificate. go to the TRA website and you can download the forms / notes etc. you can apply from the uk when you have proof of residency (visa in passport). cost is $300. you apply as either electrical mechanic (general spark) or electrical fitter (maintenance spark)
once you have an ARTC cert you can either wait till you get to oz and apply to the state licensing authority to sit the practical and theory exams OR go via PEER training (as lots of sparks have done). peer is like a training college. you can apply while still in the uk and do the first part (workbook) before you go. you will still have to sit the exams in SA.

[billm]

Leeob77,
Thanks for the info, they don't believe in making it easy do they. I have had a positive TRA assessment, apparently I'm a General Sparky. Do I have to be certified to do electrical work in Oz and do my Brittish qualifications mean nothing over there? Where are you planning going? Good luck and hope it won't be much longer, the waitings a killer isn't it.
--------------------------------
TRA sent and approved (General Electrician)08/07 - 175 VISA sent 02/08 - Acknowledgement received 02/08 - Still waiting for a Case Officer, getting bored waiting, will it ever happen.......

[leeob77]

sorry mate but all electrical work in oz has to be licensed. all your qualifications will do is help pass the artc certificate (together with work history etc). there is some excellent advice both on here and on britishexpats discussion forum. there are also some posts on what the licensing exams entail. if your struggling let me know and i'll send you the info i have on the process.
cheers
lee.

[no1spark]

May i be of help at all to all people migrating if you want to work in the electrical game in Australia, after you pass the ARTC thats just a foot in the door for Australia when your here you must do exams again for the A class license, its as simple as that some states are harder than others, the best is S/A ask wends on British Ex Pats she can give you info for S/A.

you can do the exams in S/A then have the A class registration transfered to the state your going to live in. the difference between Mechanic & Fitters license is in some state's the fitter is NOT allowed to work or connect anything to the mains being 230V or 415V, i would be going for the mechanics license that covers all.

In melbourne its a nightmare to be honest the exams are the worst in australia, if your not to confident on testing or even wiring stop starts then ask Stev'o on Ex Pats he has some good drawings for people. I can only say this in melbounre you can do a 12 week course x 1 night per week to bring you up to the australian standard ( thats a joke believe me some here are as rough as guts) i have never heard of one person who has passed without doing the pre course thats how bad it is here in Melbourne.

doing the exams is a real mix bag of testing + theory+ cable calcs, disconnect & reconnect of an appliance, i can tell you on the day its nerve racking for all concerned if i can be of any help to people just ask

[doginthebath]

I finally passed the electrical fitter practical exam, after having to re-sit 2 questions (failing is not advisable as you have to go to the back of the class and wait a whole month again to resit). It is nerve wracking going into the class and the 4 hours do fly by but for those who are waiting to sit their practical if you read this thread then you can't go far wrong (remember you can make notes in your reg's book!)

If anybody wants some advice/feedback on the practical then feel free to message me.

If anybody has any info on the fitter's theory exam then I would certainly appreciate it!

[leeob77]

congratulations mate. hopefully not too long till you get your license now.
got visa yesterday so sending off ARTC application as soon as passport gets back.
hope to get out there and get license done this year.

well done again.

lee.

[no1spark]

May i please clear something for you all, once you get the ARTC either Electrical Mechanic or Fitter thats a foot in the door for migration once your here, you must sit all exams again for the A class license its as simple as that some states seem a little easier than others the best ive been told is S/A Adelaide thats the easiest, regardless of what state your going to live in you must obtain the A class license. Once you have the license you then apply for the transfer to the state your living in. The fitters license IN some states will only let do do electrical work like panel wiring NO mains connections at all of 3 phase or single phase however if you apply for the mechanics license you can do all "Unsupervised" work anywhere in Australia. As i say some states limit you with the fitters license to Supervised work this means your NOT allowed by Law to work alone regardless of experience or qualifications from the UK or where ever. I would advise you all to make inquiries with the local Tafe (College or tech) before you get to Australia to see what the time line is for doing a short 12 week course in the evenings to bring you up to Australian standards (thats a frigging Joke) ( some of the aussie sparks) are just ****e. dont bother bringing your pipe vice here at all its 99.9% PVC conduit, also throw your Pyro gear in the bin its not used only maybe petro chemical sites. Apart fro S/A (Adelaide) most other states require you to sit exams for the mechanics license covering fault finding on switchboards you must find X amount of faults also the required wiring rule + all sub rules. Then a disconnect & reconnect of an appliance if you stuff this then your gone for the day. Then wire a switchboard (consumer unit) & test record your results the test shall fail). Then cable calcs for volt drop + correct cable selection + any de rating tables & the questions are designed to have de rate tables in them. Then more wiring rules questions you again must find the right rules, then a schematic drawing of a industrial switchboard there are 5 faults on the drawing you must find them then find the wiring rules. then a question on Resistors in series then parallel eventually making the one resistor then you find the volt drop in the resistor. Then more faults looking at an installation you must again find 4 or 5 faults + wiring rules. the exams can now be done in single exams costing lots of money im now talking of the exams in Melbourne thats why PEER in S/A is easier. if you need help just ask thats what we do on here

[leeob77]

been talking to mrs and due to the state of the housing market etc have decided to do peer course and then transfer to WA. mainly due to needing to get work asap when we arrive as we are probably going to rent out house. have applied for ARTC with our friends address. will fly in for exams in SA and hopefully transfer to full license in WA.
thanks for everyones help and advice.

[fredrick]

hi did you have any response if so send it ti me please fred

[fredrick]

did you have any sucses if so please help me fred