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"Licensed electrician" doesn't tell a NSW employer enough. In New South Wales, what someone can do depends on which licence or certificate they hold, and your business needs its own on top.
Electrical licensing in NSW now sits with Building Commission NSW. Applications, renewals and interstate notifications are handled through Service NSW.
Contractor licence. Lets the holder (a person or a business) contract with customers to do electrical wiring work, and advertise it. If your business quotes and invoices electrical work, it needs this.
Qualified supervisor certificate. Lets the holder do electrical work unsupervised and supervise others. It does not let them contract for work in their own right. Most employed electricians running jobs hold one.
Disconnection and reconnection licences. A separate category for trades who disconnect and reconnect fixed electrical equipment, such as some aircon and appliance technicians. These cover like-for-like replacement and safety testing, not new wiring.
Assuming the hire covers the business. An electrician's qualified supervisor certificate doesn't let your company contract for electrical work. The business needs its own contractor licence.
Hiring someone who needs supervision into a solo role. If the role means working alone and signing off work, make sure the hire holds a certificate that allows it.
Forgetting insurance on home jobs. For home building work over $20,000, home building compensation insurance is required. Interstate licence holders can't get it in NSW, so they need to work for a business that holds it.
Under the East Coast Electricians scheme, licensed electricians from Queensland, Victoria and the ACT can be automatically recognised for electrical wiring work in NSW. Automatic mutual recognition for electrical wiring work more broadly is scheduled from 1 October 2027. For disconnection and reconnection licences, interstate licensees must notify Building Commission NSW before they start.
HJ Recruitment places permanent electricians with employers in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Talk to us about a NSW role.
Sources- NSW Government - Automatic mutual recognition: electrical- NECA - Working in another state or employing an interstate electrician
