markstott1980

I got a license!!! Electrical Mechanic or whatever that means!! 

Came over with my VETASSESS completed. All my HNC and NVQ certificates. My college logbooks from 2001.

Gap training through Skillstech - distance learning - in Brisbane. 5 modules to complete.

My logbook from working in NSW as an unlicensed electrician.

3 day Capstone exam.

Done!!

...................only took 6 years, 3 RTOs in 2 states, 2 jobs and almost $6000!!

I worked as an unlicensed Electrician In Sydney for 34 bucks an hour in 2011/12

A provisional license in NSW or Training Permit in QLD require 'general supervision' only.

Not direct man for man supervision, like an apprentice requires. 

A provisional license in NSW or Training Permit in QLD require 'general supervision' only.

Not direct man for man supervision, like an apprentice requires. 

I came over with Vetassess on a PR visa and worked for a contracting company as an unlicensed Electrician in Western Sydney. 

I am doing the gap training now, years later, in Brisbane via distancelearning. Contact Skillstech for more information. 

Hi guys

It's been a while since I posted on this thread. I gained my OTSR with VETASSESS back in 2011 and moved to NSW and paid for my Tradespersons Certificate, and worked under supervision of a local company.

As my background was oil and gas based, I took an overseas FIFO job which means I was no longer working for an Australian employer and not gaining Australian experience.

I'm in QLD at the moment and was thinking about going through the full loicensing process again but I am wondering if things have changed in the last 4 years. Do I need to apply to a nearby RTO (like TAFE) to get my qualifications assessed and complete gap training?

Thanks

Mark

Sounds good, we are moving up there in Dec/January. 2 kids, going in to P1 and P5.

Hi Bath Spark

I went over to Sydney with my VETASSESS OTSR and got a provisional license from the NSW Office of Fair Trading. I then worked for a contracting company on their unlicensed electrician rate.

The enquiries I made into the licensing arrangments led me to Ultimo TAFE as the only branch of TAFE registered to carry out a course specifically for VETASSESS immigrants. In 2012 it was $1800, Monday and Tuesday, 1800-2100, for 18 weeks.

Then while you are working you have to fill in a learners portfolio, logging approximately 1000 hours of varied on the job training.

To be honest, I gave up, there was no way I was going house bashing and cable pulling again after 11 years on the rigs!!

I'm back on the rigs now, in foreign waters and not needing a license!!

​

I don't think travelling to Angola all the time will get me my citizenship though. At the end of the day, I want to contribute to the Australian Oil & Gas industry!

Just found this, which kind of answers my question:

[h=1]Clarification of ARTC Requirements for OTSR Holders[/h]

Trades people currently holding an Offshore Technical Skills Record (OTSR) who have not completed their Australian context training and period of supervised employment requirements are not eligible to apply for an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate (ARTC).

Upon arrival in Australia tradespersons in licensed trades who hold an OTSR are required to work under the supervision of a licensed tradesperson and undertake Australian context training to gain Australian specific knowledge such as occupational health and safety regulations, wiring rules, codes of practice and other Australian standards.

For OTSR holders who choose to apply for an ARTC before completing their Australian context training and supervised employment, TRA will notify the relevant Local Committee that the applicant has not met their OTSR training and supervised employment requirements.

The Central Committee has advised the Local Committees must refuse to grant an ARTC if OTSR requirements have not been met as this is evidence that the applicant has insufficient trade training and experience to perform their nominated trade/s in Australia.

Where a Local Committee refuses to grant an ARTC on these grounds or any other grounds, no fees will be refunded.

ARTC applicants with an OTSR will need to provide Local Committees with evidence that they have completed their OTSR requirements by providing a copy of their Certificate III with their ARTC application.

Information on completing your OTSR requirements is available on the Licensing page.

Just feel like asking the same questions as before to see if any of the information has changed since the last time.

I know this:

To get an independant permanent residency visa, I required a VETASSESS assessment, granting me an OTSR (Offshore Technical Skills Record).

Arriving in NSW, this OTSR allowed me to get a provisional tradespersons certificate.

To upgrade this to a full license, I need to complete Gap Training and a log book of work experience.

The Gap Training can be carried out in Ultimo TAFE, Mondays and Tuesdays, 1700-2100 for 18 weeks at a cost of roughly $2200

The Gap training can also be carried out at PEER in SA in 10 days, for a cost of $1800.

I learned all of this during my time in Australia between November 2011 and May 2012, during which time I worked for a contracting company in Sydney.

I didn't complete any of the licensing requirements though because I was happily employed (and only being paid $1p/h less) as an unlicensed electrician on an EBA contract.

Left Australia for a while to tie some things up back home and returning in July. I still want a license as I cannot get on the Australian Oil Rigs as an electrician without one - hopefully they will take me as a process technician, but that is another story.

I am still aware that I need gap training and a log book to upgrade my OTSR to an Australian Certificate III - then I can get a license...........however, I won't be working in Australia, I'll be in Angola!!!

This leads me to the ARTC question - can I get one? Is so, how?

Will an ARTC plus a wiring regs course get me an SA license?

Again - the internet is awash with outdated and conflicting information! Does anybody have any RECENT experiences?

I'll keep you all updated with anything I else I find out.

If I already have an OTSR from VETASSESS is there any benefit or any real reason to get an ARTC when I am in Australia?

Heard back from North Sydney TAFE. They are still the only institute I know of in NSW to offer the gap training - running it on Monday and Tuesday nights 1800-2100.

Approx. $2200 for the course and it takes 18 weeks.

Then there is the log book. Roughly 12 months of paid employment. It just has to cover the elements required so could probably be done faster. I am going to ask my previous company for for information about the 6 months work I have already done and see if I can credit that to the logbook when I get back. I can't do the work on my drillship as it is not run by an Australian company.

I went to Sydney with the intention of staying on the drillship I was employed on in Malaysia, working 4 weeks on, 4 weeks off. I was offered a job before I got there as an Electrician with my provisional NSW license. My contract basically paid $33 per hour but there was overtime/travel/nighshift on top of that. It stated I was an unlicensed electrician but could work under the GENERAL SUPERVISION of a contacting company. I was contracting all over Sydney for a company called Stowe, big contracts, industrial/military/commercial. It wasn't great but it was worth it.

I did eventually miss the offshore life but found I couldn't get back into that without a license. I am back offshore again now, back in the UK but moving back to Sydney this year. Will be keeping my drilling job this time and trying to get the license during my time off. Hopefully things will work out from there. If they don't, I'm not too bothered, I'll still be getting my 4 weeks off in Australia and earning enough for my family and I.

I do have a question though - does my logbook need to be completed in Australia? Can I complete it on the ship I am on and have a college verify it? I am going to check this out with a couple of lecturers I knew when I was over there.

Might sound like a silly question, would the logbook need to be signed off by an Australian employer? I will be working on a ship.

I would like to do the logbook and eventually work in the Oil & Gas industry of Australia instead of abroad but I'm not going to quit my international maritime job to take up domestic sparky work.

Hi Neil

http://www.nsi.tafensw.edu.au/Courses/CourseDetail.aspx?num=16103&sem=S2/2012&op=TP

This is the link that was sent to me by the instructor at my local TAFE. As for the provisional license, take your OTSR to the local NSW fair trading office. Every large suburb should have one. Pay the fee and wait 6 weeks. As long as the companies know what you have they should take you on as an unlicensed tradespersons.

Cheers

Mark

Hey guys, use this as advice or a warning, whatever your outlook.

I have a VETASSESS certfificate and the provisional license that in entitles me to.

I have a job with an electrical contracting company as an unlicensed tradesman.

To get the full license I have to enrol at an RTO (TAFE to most of you). The ONLY TAFE that run the bridging course for VETASSESS applicants is in North Sydney. You have to do evening classes and keep a log book for 12 months covering a broad range of electrical jobs. No good for me as I only do HV maintenance.

The course costs $1800!!

If you want any information then let me know.

I'll just add that on my license it says that I can carry out Electrical Work under the general supervision of the holder of an electrical contractors license or Qualifies supervisors certificate.

My employers, who are a big company, consider being inducted by them and following their procedures, as general supervision. I work in certain places alone. Obviously, most electrical risk assessments don't allow for lone working especially for testing and fault finding purposes and work on HV substations so I am accompanied most of the time anyway.

Whoever reads this just have some peace that there are a lot of people in the a similar boat.

We have been here for 5 months. Traded in the offshore oil rig life in Aberdeen for the Aussie dream and still chasing it now.

Had an international job but was offered a local job which I took to help my family settle in.

Did my VETASSESS in UK and when I arrived I used the OTSR to get an NSW Tradesperson Certificate (Provisional).

I am working as an electrician but paid the unlicensed rate which is $2 p/h less than the licensed guys.

Still looking for the best way to upgrade my license as I can't get back offshore without the correct license.

Currently looking into the land drilling rigs for a way forward and boost in the wages.

Keep it up everyone, we are living for the potential situation, not the current one.

Went to a TAFE in Mt. Druitt, NSW today and presented my NVQ folders and VETASSESS qualifications.

They said I could do my gap training there as well as get on the job experience and be done in 6 months.

Hello all,

Just a quick update from NSW. I have registered with the VTT for recognition of skills and they will supply me with a craft certificate.

I also called a couple of RTO's and was eventually directed to the Ultimo Campus of TAFE who basically put people with VETASSESS qualifications through a course to enable them to move from the provisional certificate to the full license. It's two nights a week for 6 months and costs $1500.

That's as far as I know for now, I'll get back to you with updates. I've still only been here 3 weeks.

Mark

Arrived in NSW a week ago, done a few tourist things and today set about the dreaded license thingy.

Went to NSW office of fair trading with my VETASSESS certificate, a passport photo, and $126.......easy as that.

I will receive a provisional electrical license in around 4-6 weeks meaning I can work as an electrician as long as I am supervised which suits me as I will be employed by an electrical contracting company.

Hello again,

Seems like everyone is asking for a quick way or an easy way to get things done.

All I want to know is the right way, nothing else about the visa process has been quick......

I have a VETASSESS certificate and an OTSR. I have been reliably informed that I can go to the NSW office of fair trading and get a provisional license. This will allow me to work under supervision which is handy because I have no interest in being self employed and have secured employment with an industrial maintenance company already.

How does the provisional license get changed to a full license? What is the name of the course, where do I do it and how long does it take?

Cheers

Mark

Hey Sparkies.

I'm not sure what background and experience you all have but I am offshore oil & gas based and had an interesting conversation with an employee of Randstad who are a recruitment agency. I applied for a particular job on SEEK and he got in touch and asked me to fill in a bunch of registration forms so he could advertise me to some of his clients. Try it if you like......

http://www.randstad.com.au/

The General Skilled Migration Program

Some applicants may have come to Australia through the Commonwealth Government’s General Skilled Migration Program for selected countries and trade occupations. The five countries currently under the program are:

United Kingdom

India

South Africa

Sri Lanka

Philippines.

The current trade occupations are:

electrician

plumber

refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanic

carpenter

joiner

bricklayer.

Under the Migration Program, applicants may apply to VETASSESS for assessment of their skills and knowledge before coming to Australia. For information about how to have an assessment done contact VETASSESS.

Any applicant under the Migration Program who is issued with an Off-Shore Technical Skills Record from VETASSESS, is eligible to be granted:

a provisional tradesperson certificate for electricians and air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and roof plumbers or

a provisional tradesperson certificate for plumbers, drainers and gasfitters.

Any applicant issued with a qualification through VETASSESS is eligible to be granted a contractor licence or supervisor’s certificate for carpentry, bricklaying and/or joinery.