Electrical Licensing! Quickest way? Can I get more than a restricted license?

ozzy81uk · 08-09-2008, 06:11 PM

Hi Everyone,
Calling all electricians and Instrument fitters!
Im planning on moving to Queensland next summer and this license thing sounds like a nightmare!
Im an Instrument & Electrical Technician by trade but have been working the last two years as a commissioning and maintenance electrician in Germany.
Got my ARTC already and been classed as an Electrical Fitter (Instruments), which from what I've read only qualifys me for a restricted license. So I wouldnt be able to do any of the elctrical work I do know, which restricts my employment opportunities!
Ive heard a few times that applying for a license in SA is the easiest and quickest way. However with this ARTC, I can probably only get the restricted license no matter where I apply??
Does anyone know if I can still get a full license and if so what do I have to do?
How can I do this quickly? and what can be prepared from Germany/UK?

If I can only get a restricted license, should I still go through SA and what is the exact process, the SA websites etc seem to provide little info on the exact procedure. HELP! Do I just need the ARTC or do I need resus course and wiring regs etc?

The Queensland route seems to be out of the question with training permits and logbooks and all sorts of bureaucracy. Can't afford to be messing around for months, want to get working, and need to get the best license I can!
I was told the only way to get a electrical mechanic license would be to do an apprenticeship in Australia, which would be obsurd!

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks guys

Danny

Count Zero · 08-09-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy81uk

Hi Everyone,
Calling all electricians and Instrument fitters!
Im planning on moving to Queensland next summer and this license thing sounds like a nightmare!
Im an Instrument & Electrical Technician by trade but have been working the last two years as a commissioning and maintenance electrician in Germany.
Got my ARTC already and been classed as an Electrical Fitter (Instruments), which from what I've read only qualifys me for a restricted license. So I wouldnt be able to do any of the elctrical work I do know, which restricts my employment opportunities!
Ive heard a few times that applying for a license in SA is the easiest and quickest way. However with this ARTC, I can probably only get the restricted license no matter where I apply??
Does anyone know if I can still get a full license and if so what do I have to do?
How can I do this quickly? and what can be prepared from Germany/UK?

If I can only get a restricted license, should I still go through SA and what is the exact process, the SA websites etc seem to provide little info on the exact procedure. HELP! Do I just need the ARTC or do I need resus course and wiring regs etc?

The Queensland route seems to be out of the question with training permits and logbooks and all sorts of bureaucracy. Can't afford to be messing around for months, want to get working, and need to get the best license I can!
I was told the only way to get a electrical mechanic license would be to do an apprenticeship in Australia, which would be obsurd!

Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks guys

Danny

You can still do service work and work as an instrument tech and I have seen a few jobs for these lately. You can't install fixed power systems so forget house re-wires etc. Its crazy, I worked with guys with a fraction of the experience I have but they could wire a house and I couldn't, not even my own!
I was in QLD so I don't know what its like else where.

Good luck.

leeob77 · 09-09-2008, 10:21 AM

tricky one this. cant see a way to getting a full license in a quick way to be honest. im going through SA because of the speed but my artc is electrical fitter - not electrical fitter (instruments). might be worth sending an email to the licensing authority and explain the situation. only thing i can think of is doing a course at a tafe college but im only guessing to be honest.
have a look on seek.com.au to see if there are any jobs in your field and see what licenses they are asking for?

good luck anyway.

lee.

fatpom · 10-09-2008, 09:48 AM

As a general rule you must do a four year electricians apprenticeship or a four year electrical engineering degree to get an unrestricted licence.
The restricted licence is for fitters, electronics technicians, service technicians and plumbers to disconnect/reconnect for servicing or replacement of "like for like" electrical equipment only.

Notwithstanding your obvious frustration its a very good system. At a previous place I worked at an electronics guy (a migrant) was doing power electrical work. He was only licenced to do restricted electrical (same as me). The work he was doing was very dodgy - simply didn't comply with AS3000 and I'm not fully conversant with the standard. I'm sure he "felt" he was sufficiently competant?

Some of his work was potentially lethal. Apart from the poor sod he could kill he would go to jail for killing someone and would face a hefty fine if 'dobbed in' to the authorities.

He has since been stopped... not for his sake so much as for the sake of the companies potential liability.

If you intend to work in aus on electronics or instrumentation you don't need a full licence anyway.

If you want to train as an electrician then it wouldn't be too hard to do an electrical apprenticeship. I've known people who have done mature apprenticeships... gone from fitters to sparkies. Better money and easier work.

ozzy81uk · 15-09-2008, 02:44 PM

Hmm,
Do you think the electrical fitter and the electrical fitter (instruments) is that different?
So with a restricted license I can still do electrical maintenance work and service technician work if i dont get a job as an instrument tech? But anything involving installation is a no-go?

the following link backs up the fact that you can get a full license as an Electrical fitter. but doesnt mention Electrical fitter (instruments)

thread number 19
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=560149&page=2 http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=560149&page=2

fatpom · 16-09-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzy81uk

Hmm,
Do you think the electrical fitter and the electrical fitter (instruments) is that different?

So with a restricted license I can still do electrical maintenance work and service technician work if i dont get a job as an instrument tech? But anything involving installation is a no-go?

the following link backs up the fact that you can get a full license as an Electrical fitter. but doesnt mention Electrical fitter (instruments)

thread number 19
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=560149&page=2 http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=560149&page=2

I'm not sure what the difference is between electrical fitter and electrical fitter (instruments) to be honest but I do know about the restricted licence (up to a point of course).

The restricted only allows you to disconnect and then reconnect up to 650V for maintenance such as disconnecting an electric motor to service a pump (say?). Some licence conditions allow under strict limits "like for like" replacement - a plumber replacing a domestic hot water heater (say?). So you can't do electrical maintenance except to make safe electrical equipment so that you can do maintenance work on machinery or plant associated with your trade.
For example most of the blokes who did the restricted course with me from work were mech graduates - so they could never get a restricted licence because they hadn't done an apprenticeship and so couldn't claim a licence because they would never be required to do maintenance work (this was NSW by the way

). The only reason that we did the course was because the employer was worried about the graduates working on or near live equipment for lab testing prototype products - fitting instrumentation and data logging equipment (one nearly fried himself). A crazy situation in this case but it normally makes sense.

New installations are definately not permitted without a full licence. How to get one other than as stated previously I don't know - probably not possible.

To give you another idea of how it is, I know an Aussie who did an electrical apprenticeship - well almost! He was less than three months short of his four years when his boss had to retire through ill health. He couldn't find someone to take him on - due to recession at that time. He never got his licence. How tough is that?

The electricians and plumbers use the licence system to their advantage by restricting and controlling trade practice - a job protection scheme in effect. But its not as if lawyers, accountants, medics and such like haven't been doing that for years.

markstott1980 · 06-10-2008, 10:32 PM

Are the qualifications you take with you from the UK considered when applying for a licence?

I did a 4 year apprenticeship with the ECITB and have an NVQ 3 in Electrical Maintenance and HNC in Electrical Engineering. Through my work I have also gained City and Guilds Certs in PAT Testing, IEE Wiring Regulations, Electricity at Work Regs. I also have a current Compex Certificate and have been working as an HV authorised electrician for 5 years in the North Sea.

It seems ridiculous to have to do it all again.

no1spark · 07-10-2008, 11:41 AM

there is No quick way to get the A class license, if your a instrument fitter you wont get the a class license unless you can get your TRA or ATRC changes to electrical mechanic its as simple as that sorry to say, it looks the best you will get is the fitters license thats working as a restricted fitter on a permanent basis, this may even limit you to panel wiring only or limiting you to dicsconnect/reconnect of an appliance, i would be trying like hell to change from fitter to mechanic, then you may sit the emams at PEER in S/A

regards

Arthur

ddr · 30-10-2008, 01:14 PM

TRA offering Electrical Fitter trade test at Adelaide.
Is there any special book for above said test?
I want to appear AS/NZS 3000:2000 exam for A grade license.
How can study through distance learning?
Is there any institute for distance learning study from aboard?

no1spark · 31-10-2008, 10:20 AM

ddr;
if you do the electrical fitters license then you may find this very restricting in respect you may NOT be allowed to work alone or NOT work on any main 3 phase or 1 phase equipment, you need to be applying for the electrical mechanics license to be able to apply for a course to bring you up to the Australian standards then after that you apply to do the exams to sit the A class license, as i say the fitters license is restricting in some states, people doing the fitters license may ONLY be able to do panel wiring 7 thats all.???? so make sure you get the correct ARTC to start with (Mechanics).

all the best