Electrical contractor licence

An electrical contractor licence is required by a business if they:

• perform electrical work for a fee
• employ a licensed electrical worker, who performs work for a fee.

Electrical work is defined under Section 9 of the Electrical Safety Act 2022 as:

• Connecting or disconnecting electricity supply to or from electrical equipment.
• Manufacturing, constructing, installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation.

If your business performs electrical work as part of its services, you must obtain an electrical contractor licence. An electrical contractor licence may be issued to an individual (e.g. a sole trader), a partnership or a body corporate.

Electrical Contractor Licence can be issued for a maximum period of 3 years.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for an electrical contractor licence, the applicant must meet the following criteria.

• Held an unrestricted electrical work licence for a minimum of two years:
  • in the case of a partnership or body corporate, at least one employee of the applicant (whose name will be endorsed on the licence) must have held an unrestricted electrical work licence for a minimum of two years.
• Demonstrate that the electrical work to be performed under the licence will be performed by the holder of an electrical work licence or, in the case of an apprentice, a person supervised by the holder of an electrical work licence.
• Successfully completed, or at least one employee of the applicant has completed, the units of competency (contractor course) approved by the Electrical Safety Regulator.
• Hold at least $5,000,000 of public and products liability insurance for liability arising from personal injury or property damage from the electrical work performed under the licence.

To apply for an electrical contractor licence, use the application form relevant to your company structure below:

• Application for electrical contactors licence - sole trader
• Application for electrical contactors licence - company or partnership

Nominated person on electrical contractor licence

An electrical contractor licence must be endorsed with the name of at least one owner, partner or employee, as a nominated person (also known as nominee) who:

• has successfully completed the units of competency (contractor course) approved by the Electrical Safety Regulator (the Regulator). This includes:
  • UEEEL0040 (Develop Compliance Policies and Plans to conduct an Electrical Contracting Business)
  • UEEEL0002 (Apply Currency of Safe Working Practices and Compliance Verification of Electrical Installations)
  • holds a current unrestricted electrical work licence and has held the unrestricted electrical work licence for a minimum of two years.

Importance of Nominated Person on an Electrical Contractor Licence

All electrical work completed by an electrical contractor must be performed or supervised by a nominated person. The nominated person is responsibility to ensure all electrical work is carried out in accordance with current electrical safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards.

An electrical contractor must have at least one nominated person on their licence and may have more than one nominated person at a time. However, a person may only be a nominated person for one electrical contractor licence at a time.

An electrical contractor must not change the nominated person on their licence without the approval of the Regulator.

In the event that the electrical contractor loses its nominated person (for example they cease employment with the electrical contractor or no longer holds the required electrical work licence), then the electrical contractor must notify the Regulator.

In addition, the electrical contractor’s licence will be suspended, until a new nominated person is approved by the Regulator.

Please note that while the suspension of the electrical contractor licence is not automatic, an electrical contractor would be committing an offence under the electrical safety legislation if they continue to provide and perform electrical work where:

• they have lost their Nominated Person and fails to notify the Regulator; and/or
• they perform electrical work without having a Nominated Person endorsed on the licence.

Notice of licence change

An electrical contractor is required to notify the Regulator of the following changes.

Change in nominated person details

Electrical contractor must notify the Regulator if the nominated person out on their licence ceases to:

• hold an unrestricted electrical work licence, or
• be an owner (director), partner or employee of the electrical contractor.

The electrical contractor has 30 days to make the notification.

Change in body corporate or partnership details

An electrical contractor operating as a body corporate or partnership is required to notify the Regulator of the following changes.

• A change in name of the body corporate or partnership.
• A change in the electrical contractors trading name.
• A change in the members of a partnership.

Use the form, Application to vary an electrical contractor’s licence to notify either a change in nominated person details or change in body corporate or partnership.

Recognition of interstate licences

The automatic mutual recognition (AMR) scheme has commenced in the Northern Territory from 1 July 2022.

This scheme allows you to use your current licence or registration to the same activities in another part of Australia. If you hold a current licence or registration in another state or territory, you may be able to work in the NT under the AMR scheme.

If you are eligible for the scheme, you will be required to lodge an AMR notification about your intention to work in the NT.  There is no fee associated with this notification, and you will not be required to apply for a NT licence or registration.

For more information on AMR in the Northern Territory, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

To notify NT WorkSafe of your intention to work under AMR, use the form Automatic mutual recognition notification - electrical.

Please note if your primary place of residence is in the NT, you cannot apply for AMR and will be required to apply for a NT licence or registration under the mutual recognition process. Reciprocal applicants still need to demonstrate that they remain competent in electrical work.

This scheme does not apply to companies or partnerships. Only individuals (sole traders) may apply for AMR as an electrical contractor.