EnergySafe Magazine Spring 2014, issue 37 | Page 13

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For all the latest energy safety news visit www.esv.vic.gov.au

Spring 2014
energysafe issue 37

Competency-based
completion for apprentice
electricians
By Sue Sizer, ESV Compliance Officer
Electrical apprentices who commenced their
apprenticeships from 1 January 2011 are
under the competency-based completion
(CBC) model, rather than the traditional
time-served approach. This means that the
apprenticeship ends once the apprentice
is found competent by the RTO and this is
confirmed by the employer in the workplace.
Under the Electrical Safety Act 1998,
an electrical contractor must not employ a
worker to carry out electrical work unless that
worker holds the appropriate electrical licence.
Apprentice electricians are deemed to be
licensed as electrical workers while under
a contract of training.
Once the apprenticeship is completed, the
apprentice must gain an electrical licence to be
able to continue to carry out electrical work. If
they do not obtain a licence within three months
of the completion of their apprenticeship, they are
considered to be working unlicensed, and both
the contractor and apprentice may be subject to
significant fines. Electrical contractors who employ
unlicensed workers may be fined up to $7380 for
sole traders or partnerships, and up to $36,900
for companies. The individual worker may be
fined up to $7380.
The Victorian Electricity Safety (Registration
& Licensing) Regulations 2010 state, in part, that
a person applying for an electrician’s licence
must complete a four-year contract of training
(48 months) as an electrician, or equivalent. ESV
continues to apply a ruling made by the Director of
Energy Safety that applications for an electrician’s
licence will only be considered once a person has
completed a minimum of 42 months of training.
In addition, the regulations state that an
applicant for an electrician’s licence must

complete an examination suitable to ESV. In
Victoria, this examination is currently known as
the Licensed Electrician’s Assessment, or LEA.
This examination sits outside the Certificate III
Electrotechnology qualification the apprentice
completes at their RTO.

Ensure your
apprentices have
completed all the
requirements for an
electrical licence,
before signing
the apprentice
out of his or her
apprenticeship.

Registered No:

CTRICITY SAFETY ACT 1
(VICTORIA)

REGISTERED
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR

Registration/Renewal Date:
Expiry Date:

REC
is registered as an electrical contractor to
contract or undertake to carry out electrical
ELECTRICITY SAFETY ACT 1998
on work in Vic

TO

ELECTRICIAN’S LICENCE

02492g energysafe cards.indd 1

It is therefore possible for an apprentice to
complete their apprenticeship under the CBC
model, but they may not be eligible to apply for an
electrician’s licence in Victoria, due to not having
completed their LEA, or not having completed
the minimum standard required by demonstrating
at least 42 months under the contract of training.
Apprentices signed out of their contract of training,
who are not eligible to apply for an electrician’s
licence will be required to apply for and hold a
supervised worker’s licence. This will allow them
to continue to carry out electrical work, under
supervision, until they can complete the minimum

Licence No:
Issue/Renewal Date:
Expiry Date:

09/08/2007 9:33:58 AM

is licensed to carry out electrical installation
work throughout Victoria
NOT AUTHORISED TO CONTRACT FOR
OR REWARD

Doing it right: Apprentices need to ensure they
02492g energysafe cards.indd 3
09/08/2007
have completed a minimum of 42 months’ training
before applying for an electrician’s licence.

acceptable apprenticeship requirements for
an electrician’s licence.
A supervised worker’s licence is valid for three
years but would only be required to be held for the
shortfall period as determined by ESV, following
review of the contract of training information as
extracted from the VRQA database, known as the
Delta system.
Further information on competency-based
training and completion can be found on the
DEECD website.

For more information visit
www.education.vic.gov.
au/training/employers/
apprentices/Pages/
competency.aspx

Energise Oz trials competency model
Energise Oz is trialling competency-based
progression for the electrical industry.
There are more than 1500 apprentices
undergoing a system whereby they will move
through four phases of training at their own pace.
To ensure a robust model, E-Oz Energy Skills
Australia has involved industry stakeholders to
build the phases and milestone benchmarks.
The pilot program ends mid-2015 and the results
will inform the future of apprenticeship training.
You can contact your local Energise Oz
Mentor-Adviser for further information or
advice on 1300 11 EMAP. Alternatively, visit
www.energiseoz.com.au/thefuture to view
some videos on competency-based progression
and what it means for stakeholders.

Phase

1

Phase

2

Phase

3

Phase

4

Verified relevant work experience (profiling)

Successfully completed trade training

Industry Benchmark Progression Assessment (knowledge and skills test)

Achieve Phase 1
benchmark

Achieve Phase 2
benchmark

Achieve Phase 3
benchmark

Achieve Phase 4
benchmark

9:34:9 AM