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Office of Fair and Safe Work Queensland
Department of Justice and Attorney-General
Home > Electrical Safety > Electrical licensing eligibility policy > 6. Electrical work training permit

6. Electrical work training permit

Electrical work training permits allow persons not listed in s.55(3), ESA 2002 (i.e. persons who are not apprentices, trainees or students working under the supervision of teaching staff1) to undertake a structured on-the-job training program, coordinated by a supervising registered training organisation, to gain the experience necessary to meet the eligibility requirements for a work licence.

Example of person who may require a training permit

A licensed electrical fitter wants to gain an electrical mechanic licence. The person has not completed an apprenticeship relevant to the trade work of an electrical mechanic, so they enter into a training plan with a supervising registered training organisation. An electrical work training permit must be issued to allow the person to perform the 'on-the-job' electrical work outlined in their training plan to gain the competence necessary to meet the licence eligibility requirements.

Persons issued with an electrical work training permit do not initially need to meet all the same eligibility requirements as those for an electrical work licence. However, some eligibility requirements apply for the issue of an electrical work training permit (s.38A, ESR 2002 – Eligibility requirements for electrical work training permit)

s.38A(1), ESR 2002 – Relevant qualification

For a person to be issued an electrical work training permit that allows the person to perform the electrical work stated in the permit, the person must demonstrate they have a relevant qualification under sections 34(6), 35(6), 36(6), 37(6) or 38(7) for the stated electrical work.

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

The person's relevant qualification must relate directly to the type of electrical work for which the electrical work training permit is to be issued.

The following are the accepted relevant qualifications for the issue of an electrical work training permit to allow the person to perform the 'on-the-job' electrical work outlined in their training plan to gain the competence necessary to meet the licence eligibility requirements.

  • Electrical mechanic licence - relevant qualification outlined in ESR s.34(6)
  • Electrical linesperson licence - relevant qualification outlined in ESR s.35(6)
  • Electrical fitter licence - relevant qualification outlined in ESR s.36(6)
  • Electrical jointer licence - relevant qualification outlined in ESR s.37(6)
  • Restricted electrical work licence - relevant qualification outlined in ESR s.38(7)

Example of a relevant qualification

An acceptable relevant qualification for a person who is to be issued an electrical work training permit for an electrical mechanic licence is that the person is the holder of a Queensland electrical fitter licence (s.34(6)(a), ESR).

s.38A(2), ESR 2002 - Previous electrical work performance

The chief executive may also consider the following in relation to the applicant's activities; any history of disciplinary action taken against the applicant under a law regulating the activities of licensed electrical workers; or any non-performance of an obligation under a law about electrical work and the reasons for the non-performance.

Standard to satisfy the chief executive

The following factors should be taken into account when considering the applicant's previous activities:

  • the extent of any disciplinary action i.e. reprimand, suspension or cancellation of licence
  • seriousness of any breaches of legislation and the actual or potential consequence
  • timing of any previous disciplinary action or non-compliance
  • remedial action taken by the applicant to address any non-compliances

Applications with a prior history of disciplinary action should be referred to the Principal Licensing Officer for consideration.

When a training permit holder completes their training, and applies for an electrical licence, they must meet eligibility requirements for that class of licence. Therefore, an electrical work training permit MUST not be issued unless a licensing outcome is possible.

Example of determining whether a licensing outcome is possible

A person is intending to apply for a restricted electrical work licence.The person has not completed an apprenticeship or training recognised as meeting the eligibility requirements for a restricted licence. To show a relevant qualification, this person must be able to demonstrate that they have a trade or calling recognised by the chief executive as part of the eligibility requirements for the restricted licence before a training permit can be issued (refer to Attachment D). If they cannot demonstrate this, they will not be able to meet eligibility requirements and therefore must not be issued with a training permit.

Conditions or restrictions will be included on the electrical work training permit to ensure the proper performance of electrical work. The following two conditions will be included on all issued permits:

  1. The holder must complete a structured training program coordinated by a registered training organisation relevant to the class of electrical work in which the person intends to apply for an electrical work licence; and
  2. The holder may only perform electrical work under the supervision of an appropriately licensed electrical worker.

An electrical work training permit may be issued, renewed or reinstated for a maximum of one year (s.39(2), ESR 2002). If the Department receives a completion statement and an application for electrical work licence (permit holders) within six months of the permits issue date and the Department holds evidence of (or is included with the application) the applicant's current competence in resuscitation (and rescue if required), the applicant will not be required to pay a second application fee.

Before completion of the term of an electrical work training permit the holder may apply for renewal. Similarly within one year of the permit expiring the holder may apply for reinstatement. Fees will apply in each case. Applications for renewal or reinstatement of an electrical work training permit should be forwarded to the Principal Licensing Officer for consideration.

Considerations by the Principal Licensing Officer

In deciding whether to renew or reinstate an electrical work training permit the Principal Licensing Officer must give consideration to:

  • compliance with the previous permit conditions
  • time needed to complete the training authorised by the permit genuinely exceeds 12 months
  • other factors which indicate the applicant's commitment to completing their training
  • extenuating circumstances, such as illness, which prevented the person completing their training

The Principal Licensing Officer may forward details of renewed or reinstated permits to Electrical Safety Compliance to monitor compliance with any conditions placed on the permit, such as the work is being performed by the holder of the training permit under the supervision of a licensed electrical worker.

1. Refer to section 55(3), ESA 2002 for full description of circumstances when apprentices, trainees and students are not required to hold an electrical work licence.

Last updated 22 July 2009