Apprenticeship or trade vocations that are available for trade skills recognition are:
- 699 - Automotive - Electrical Technology
- 699 - Automotive - Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- 699 - Automotive - Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- 699 - Automotive - Mobile Plant Technology
- 709 - Carpentry
- 709 – Plumbing
- 742 - Electricity Supply Industry - Distribution Overhead
- 742 - Electricity Supply Industry - Distribution Underground
- 742 - Electricity Supply Industry - Transmissions Overhead
- 742 - Electricity Supply Industry - Rail Traction
- 755 - Electrotechnology - Electrician
- 755 - Electrotechnology - Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- 756 - Engineering - Fabrication
- 756 - Engineering - Mechanical
To be eligible, you must:
- Be living in NSW or living in Australia and intending to work in NSW
- Have completed a current Australian trade qualification relevant to this application
- Not have a currently registered, approved or pending apprenticeship training contract in NSW
- Not have a current TSR Certificate of Proficiency application in progress
- Not be aged under 18.
To apply for a TSR Certificate of Proficiency you must provide:
- Completed Australian trade qualifications in the relevant vocation (certificate & transcript).
- Evidence of overseas qualifications and transcripts or certification if relevant. These must be transcribed in the English language
- Applicable evidence of how you developed trade skills if the Australian qualification was mostly gained through credit transfer (CT) and/or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
- RPL example: Details of trade work undertaken e.g. e-profiling, skills tracker and/or work evidence submitted to the training provider where you completed your current trade qualification.
- Please note that photo evidence is only acceptable if it is verified by your qualified supervisor and shows your face
- Credit Transfer example: all previous transcripts.
- Detailed work references by certified tradespersons.
- Two passport-size photographs of yourself. The photos must have been taken within the previous six months
- If you are not living or working in NSW, evidence of intending to work in NSW evidence such as an employer statement of upcoming work in NSW or a signed contract with an employer to commence work in NSW at a specified date
Certified Trade Vocations (for electrical licenses only)
A Certified Trade vocation is a recognised trade where a person is required to have a Certificate of Proficiency in order to apply for a licence, permit or other authority under an Act to work in the trade vocation.
All employer references
References provide evidence of past employment and experience in the trade with an equivalent term to the apprenticeship, and for a period working to Australian standards of operation.
Applicants need to demonstrate both underpinning knowledge and trade skills associated with a particular trade vocation.
Underpinning knowledge is a correct understanding of relevant information to ensure a task is performed to acceptable trade practice.
Trade skills are the ability to perform trade tasks to acceptable trade practice whilst being adequately supervised by qualified trade workers in legitimate employment.
Suitable references are extremely important in assessing your application and must:
- Not be the NSW Fair Trading Referee Statements
- Be on employer letterhead.
- Include the date, name, title, license number (if applicable to the trade), and signature of your qualified supervisor
- If your training has been completed in Australia
- Show the duration of employment that indicates a minimum of three years of relevant trade work
- If your training has been completed predominantly overseas
- A minimum 12 months in equivalent full-time paid employment in the relevant trade in Australia
- Show applicable locations and duration of work performed in the trade within Australia
- Describe trade work, projects and practical experience demonstrated in employment
- Include a statement indicating that throughout the duration of your employment, you were adequately supervised by qualified trade workers in legitimate trade employment.
- Be relevant to the qualification you are applying for.
If your application relies on a period of self-employment to demonstrate past employment and experience, your application for a TSR Certificate of Proficiency should also provide the following:
- Adequate explanation and evidence of how your trade work was supervised
- Evidence demonstrating the scope of “hands on” trade work you have performed through the stated duration of self-employment, verified by a qualified supervisor.
Example guides to employer reference content
Electrical trade
Evidence of the nature of electrical installation performed with your employer detailing the full scope of electrical trade work. This should be provided in the form of a detailed reference, including examples of work with addresses and locations verified by a licensed electrical supervisor, supporting your work in the Electrotechnology Electrician trade in each of the following areas of Single Dwellings; Multiple Dwellings; Commercial premises, or Industrial Settings:
- Installation of cable support and cable (examples of the enclosed and un-enclosed electrical wiring systems you have installed)
- Design, installation and termination of low voltage power, light and control circuit wiring (examples of projects where you installed and terminated consumer mains; sub-mains; final sub-circuits) and (protective earth systems and MEN systems)
- Installation of electrical apparatus and equipment (examples of projects where you were involved in the installation of switchboards; circuit protection devices; heating, cooling, lighting and power apparatus, electric motors; and or transformers and controls)
- Testing and verification of LV electrical wiring systems and electrical installations. Must include testing of insulation, earth continuity/resistance, polarity and fault loop impedance. Examples of your involvement in the provision of mandatory electrical testing and commissioning procedures in general electrical installations.
Plumbing trade
The demonstration of trade through at least three years of appropriate employment in the trade. This vocation requires employment with a plumbing contractor under the supervision of a qualified supervisor.
Evidence of the nature of plumbing trade work performed with your employer detailing the work you have performed in each of the following aspects of the plumbing trade under supervision and signed by a licenced plumber.
- Water Plumbing, i.e. trade work relating to the supply or conveyance of (hot and cold water), in particular:
- Construction of new water supply services
- Alteration, extension, disconnection, removal, maintenance, repair, renewal or clearing of any pipes or fittings of any water service
- Sanitary Plumbing, i.e. work carried out in connection with the collection conveyance or disposal of sewage and or liquid trade wastes and other permitted discharges
- Construction of new sanitary services
- Work involving installation, alteration, or maintenance of sanitary services.
- Drainage, i.e. work of sanitary drainage being:
- Construction, alteration, extension, disconnection, removal, maintenance, repair, renewal, ventilation, of services with a sewer
- Flushing or cleansing of any sanitary drain connected with a sewer.
- Gasfitting work, in particular:
- The installation, alteration, extension or repair of a gas installation: the pipes or system of pipes, and associated fittings and equipment, that is designed to convey or control gas that is downstream from the gas supply point
- The installation of gas appliances.
Automotive trade
Sufficient demonstrated trade skills with a minimum of three years in employment in the trade concerned.
The nature and scope of trade work performed on Mobile Plant equipment performed with your employers in the following areas:
- Engines
- Transmissions and drives
- Steering systems
- Braking systems Hydraulic systems
The nature and scope of trade work performed on Electrical Technology equipment with your employers in the following areas and systems and components:
- The vehicles, mobile plant and equipment you routinely maintain, service, or repair.
- On board Diagnostic and Fault Finding
- Electrical Ignition and Starting Systems
- Charging Circuits
- Repair and installation of lighting and wiring systems.
The nature and scope of trade work performed on Heavy Commercial Vehicle Mechanical Technology equipment with your employers in the following areas:
- The types of Heavy Vehicles you routinely maintain, service or repair
- Diesel engine and fuel systems
- Driveline, gearbox and automatic transmission. Start and charge systems
- On-Board Diagnostic
- Safety-Critical elements such as Steering and Braking. Hydraulic Systems
- Drive assemblies
The nature and scope of trade work performed on Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology equipment with your employers in the following areas:
- The types of Light Vehicles you routinely maintain, service or repair
- Engine and fuel systems
- Driveline, gearbox and automatic transmission
- Start and charge systems
- On-Board Diagnostic
- Safety-Critical elements such as Steering and Braking
Engineering trade
Sufficient demonstrated trade skills with a minimum of three years in employment in the trade concerned.
The nature and scope of trade work performed in the Engineering – Mechanical trade with your employers and associated with the manufacture, maintenance, repair; or installation setting up/commissioning:
- Machinery
- Mechanical equipment; or
- Engineering components
The nature and scope of trade work performed in the Engineering Fabrication trade with your employers. This information should describe the following identifying examples of the products or services produced
- The scope of welding equipment used and welding processes routinely undertaken, and the types of materials welding processes were undertaken on
- The scope of any fabrication work being performed, and material types fabricated.
- The scope of any gas cutting/gouging/heating operations undertaken
- The nature of welding/fabrication services/products produced in the workplace, i.e. light or heavy gauge work pieces
Carpentry
Sufficient demonstrated trade skills with a minimum of three years of employment in the trade concerned.
Evidence must demonstrate the:
- Cutting and placing timber (or timber composites) in on site construction work to put up framing or fix components or assemblies used in construction work, such as stairs, windows, doors, wallboards (excluding plaster boards which is dry plastering) and floors
- Putting up metal framing and constructing formwork to prepare for concreting if relevant
- Other work relating to residential building work and specialist work as described under S14 of the Home Building Regulation 2014 - NSW Legislation where relevant
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that deliver trade qualifications
Details of training providers who deliver training and assessment services in trade qualifications can be found on Skills NSW.
Where do I find information about trades?
Commissioner’s Information Bulletins
Commissioner’s Information Bulletins (CIBs) contain information to support the administration of apprenticeships trades.
www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/resources/cibs-bulletins
Please note: traineeships are not trade vocations. When looking at CIBs it is important to note:
- Only limited apprenticeship trade vocations are eligible for a TSR Certificate of Proficiency by application.
- Where the CIB includes information on both apprenticeships and traineeships, refer only to the list of apprenticeship trade vocations.
Qualification names and codes can be used to search for further information:
Outcomes of your application review
An independent expert panel will review your application in accordance with the S37 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.
The panel will make a recommendation to the Commissioner as follows:
- Stood over: meaning that more information is requested.
- An interview is required – this will take place virtually and will be a discussion regarding your skills and knowledge of your relevant vocation.
- An Independent Competency Assessment is required, and this will involve induction and testing of theory and practical knowledge at Mt Druitt TAFE at a date and time allocated to you,
- The associated fee for this is $350 and is in line with s12 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Regulation 2017 Apprenticeship and Traineeship Regulation 2017 - NSW Legislation
- The Certificate of Proficiency to be approved.
- The Certificate of Proficiency to be refused.
Interpreter Services
Should you require interpreter services for an interview or Independent Competency Assessment, a certified interpreter may be arranged for you. You must indicate this request prior to the submission of your application form.
Application fee
An application fee of $200 is payable once your application has been accepted. You will be contacted directly for payment.
Lodgement of your application
Applications for a Trade Skills Recognition (TSR) Certificate of Proficiency are via the online form.
If the Commissioner for Vocational Training is satisfied that you are adequately trained and possess the skills and knowledge needed for the trade you are applying for, you may be deemed a tradesperson and be eligible to be issued a TSR Certificate of Proficiency.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties submitting your application, please contact trade.skills@det.nsw.edu.au.
Before you start your application
- You must read through the above instructions.
- Files to be uploaded must be less than 5MB each and are restricted to the following fomats:
gif jpg jpeg png txt pdf doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx zip - All documents and images uploaded should be optimised to reduce file size.
- Video files are not allowed, however, you may provide a listing of all your videos in an attachment. We can request these if required to assist with the evidence to support your application.
- Allow approximately 30 minutes to fully complete the application as you will not be able to save it as a draft.