New eligibility requirements for electrical contractor licences

From 1 July 2018, new requirements commence for Queensland electrical contractor licences, according to Queensland Electrical Safety Office. These include additional training for qualified technical persons (QTP) and qualified business persons (QBP).

The new requirements apply to all new licence applications or when a licence holder wishes to add another QTP or QBP to an existing licence. QTPs and QBPs on existing licences will not be affected, unless there has been disciplinary action taken against them by the Electrical Licensing Committee or they wish to be added to another licence.

QTP

From 1 July 2018, QTP nominees for new licences must hold a current Queensland electrical mechanic work licence for at least 12 months. Interstate licence holders will need to apply for a Queensland licence but will have time recognised from when they obtained their original licence.

QTP nominees must also have completed, within the last three years, the following units of competency:

• UEENEEG197A - Apply currency of safe working practices and compliance verification of electrical installations.
• UEENEEG122A - Conduct compliance inspection of single phase LV electrical installations.
• UEENEEG123A - Conduct compliance inspection of LV electrical installations with demand exceeding 100 A per phase.

By 1 January 2019, QTP nominees will need to have held their licence for at least two years.

QBP

From 1 July 2018 QBP nominees for new licences must either provide evidence of having operated a business for a period of, or periods totalling, five years, or have completed, within the last three years:

• UEENEEE101A - Apply Occupational Health and Safety regulations, codes and practices in the workplace
• UEENEEG175A - Develop compliance policies and plans to conduct an electrical contracting business, and either
• BSBSMB401A - Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business or approved equivalent (within the last three years), or
• an Australian business qualification at Diploma level or higher (eg, Bachelor of Business) regardless of when the qualification was obtained.

By 1 January 2019, QBP nominees will no longer be eligible solely on the basis of five years’ business experience.

The new requirements may also be imposed as a result of disciplinary action taken by the Electrical Licensing Committee.

Transitional provisions

Transitional provisions for exceptional circumstances will be in place until 31 December 2018. The transitional provisions will only apply in exceptional circumstances, such as: a QTP/QBP nominee experiences difficulty accessing training, or the business or its workers will be adversely affected by the new requirements.

Transitional provisions for QTP

Under transitional provisions, QTP nominees must hold a Queensland electrical mechanic work licence (for at least 12 months), and must

• have been a QTP on a Queensland electrical contractor licence within the last three years, or
• have completed, within the last three years:
  • UEENEEG105A - Verify compliance and functionality of low voltage general electrical installations, or
  • UEENEEG197A - Apply currency of safe working practices and compliance verification of electrical installations.

Transitional provisions for QBP

Under transitional provisions, QBP nominees must

• have been a QBP on a Queensland electrical contractor licence within the last three years, or
• have completed, within the last three years:
  • UEENEEG175A - Develop compliance policies and plans to conduct an electrical contracting business, or
  • BSBSMB401A - Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business or approved equivalent (within the last three years).

Nominees will have three months to meet the new requirements. If the nominee does not meet the new requirements within the required time the licence will be suspended. If the requirements are not met within 30 days after suspension, the licence will be cancelled. Any subsequent application made in the same legal name will not be eligible for transitional provisions.

Mutual recognition

Under mutual recognition current interstate electrical contractor licence holders issued to an individual (sole trader) will still be eligible for a Queensland electrical contractor licence without meeting the new requirements. However, they will need to obtain a Queensland electrical work licence as part of the application process.

Restricted electrical contractor licences

The changes do not affect eligibility requirements for restricted electrical contractor licences.

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