emmakc1977

Hi, my hubbie is an electrician and he qualified in 2004. However he started working as an electrician/electrician's mate in 2002 whilst he attended night school. He didn't do a formal apprenticeship though.

We've already got our VISA (he was an engineer before becoming a sparks) so this question isn't about getting us into Australia, it's about how he can work as an electrician when we get there! We are due to come on hols in March to activate the VISA but we're undecided when we are actually emigrating.

Will he need to apply for a TRA in order to get a licence? Does anyone know how many years post qualification experience he needs to have in order to do this?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Wendy

Without formal qualifications I believe he will need 7 years experience to be able to apply for an ARTC certificate. He will need this for a licence, without it he is looking at 4 years training here on a training wage. Some TAFE's may grant Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Full details on ARTC certs and how to apply are here: http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplac...nresidents.htm

What sort of engineering does he do?

emmakc1977

Sorry Wendy, I'm hoping I've not been very clear (hate the thought that we have to wait in this country until he's been qualified 7 years)!! He's fully qualified 16th edition and testing and inspection and is now a self employed electrician.

He used to be a turner/toolmaker but stopped doing this in 2002 when he got a job with an electrical firm. He didn't actually qualify until 2004 though.

Hope that makes sense!

Wendy

The TRA site says this:

You need to have:

• training and/or experience in a metal or electrical trade assessed by TRA
• skills learned on the job OR through a mixture of formal training and on the job experience
• an appropriate overseas apprenticeship OR at least 6 years on the job experience in engineering or metal trades OR 7 years in an electrical trade.

So it depends on whether he's done a formal apprentiship or not, if he hasn't then it's 7 years

Maybe get the advice of a migration agent on this, they will know more than I do (I think ) Or apply for an ARTC cert now before you come over and see what happens.

emmakc1977

Hi Wendy,

Thanks for all your help. I've spoken to the agent brifely about this whilst I was chatting to him about my parents visa and he mentioned an assessment that hubbie can do in this country before we come over. I got the idea that it was different to a TRA. I'll email him today and check it out. Anyway, he said that the next one wouldn't be until March and that it was (I think) a couple thousand dollars but worth doing!

Thanks again.

Emma

Wendy

That will be the Vetassess assessment. http://vetassess.com.au/index.cfm?menu=1.3a

Make sure you get a full explanation of how it will work for you, as I think it's intended for pre-migration. You do get a certificate to enable you to get a provisional licence, however he'll still need the relevant stuff to get a full one, I'm not 100% sure if that still means an ARTC certificate or not as no-one has actually done it yet.

Where abouts are you going and I'll try to find the links so you know what you may need.

emmakc1977

Now that's a question! We were thinking of QLD but as we are trying to get my parents out on an ENS with age waiver for dad (he's 53) it looks as if we will be going to NSW - possibly somewhere near Newcastle as that's where he knows people that might be able to help.

Thanks for the link, I'll have a look.

Emma

youngy73

just come to cairns. work and jobs available here.

emmakc1977

We aren't bothered where we go, it's just getting dad a visa that's the hard bit. He's a cabinet maker and has passed his TRA but needs to find a job that couldn't be given to a younger person to comply with the age waiver! It's all so stressful this emigrating lark!!

Wendy

I'll have a look for them all for you in the morning, can't hurt to have as much info as you can.

Hope your Dad finds a job soon - is there any chance he could come out for a few weeks to look for one? It seems easier to do from here than from back there.

emmakc1977

I think that's what he's going to do. We're off to Brisbane for an activation holiday in March (yay) and they are off to Bali, he's going to go after that but not until probably May/June time so if nothing comes up before then he'll have to come out then.

Thanks again for all your help.

Ems

Wendy

No problem Emma. Good luck to your Dad, and have a lovely holiday in Bali

I will post them links for you in the morning.

Wendy

NSW - http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/bu...msandfees.html

Victoria - http://www.esv.vic.gov.au/ForElectri...1/Default.aspx

QLD - http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/electrica...ning/licences/

South Australia - http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/licensing/plumbers/index.html

WA - http://www.energysafety.wa.gov.au/en...lectrical.html

Tasmania - http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/industries...onal_licensing

NT - http://www.electricallicensing.nt.go...ms/index.shtml

ACT - http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/topics/...n/electricians