A licence from Fair Trading NSW is required before any air-conditioning and/or refrigeration work can be undertaken in NSW, regardless of the cost of the work and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial. Tradespeople handling refrigerants will also need to obtain a Commonwealth Government refrigerant handling licence through the Australian Refrigeration Council.
Why do I need this licence?
It is an offence to undertake air conditioning or refrigeration work except with a licence. You can be fined $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 if you are a company for doing this type of work unlicensed.
With the air conditioning and refrigerant handling licence, you can undertake a variety of work.
Under the Regulation, air-conditioning work is:
- any work required to install, maintain and service an air-conditioning system (other than a self-contained single-phase plug-in domestic air-conditioning system) in a structure, building, vessel, container or railway vehicle
- work required to comply with the requirements of Australian Standard AS 1668.2 – 2002, The use of ventilation and air-conditioning in buildings, Part 2: Ventilation design for indoor air contaminant control
- work required to comply with the requirements of Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3666:2002, Air-handling and water systems of buildings – Microbial control, relating to the maintenance of cooling towers,
- associated electrical wiring work of the kind described in the section below.
Refrigeration work would include:
- any work required to install, maintain and service a refrigeration system (other than a self-contained single-phase plug-in domestic refrigeration system) in a structure, building, vessel, container or vehicle
- work required to comply with the requirements of Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1677:1998, Refrigerating Systems
- associated electrical wiring work of the kind described in the section below.
This licence will also include associated electrical wiring work. This consists of electrical wiring work relating to the general servicing and maintenance of an air-conditioning system or a refrigeration system, involving any of the following:
- testing of, and diagnosis of problems in, control and power circuits and electrical equipment and electric motors
- disconnection and reconnection of electrical components designed to be permanently connected
- the replacement of electrical components on the load side of the mains supply
- the repair and adjustment (in accordance with normal trade practice) of electrical components,
- the repair, replacement or making good of cable terminations or defective electrical wiring,
- minor alterations to electrical wiring.
Requirements for your Licence
To achieve an air conditioning and refrigeration licence, you need to complete one of the following qualifications:
- UEE32211 Certificate III in Air conditioning and Refrigeration
- UEE31307 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
- UEE31306 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
- UTE30999 Certificate III in Electrotechnology (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning)
If you have ever held a NSW licence in air conditioning and/or refrigeration and you apply for an equivalent licence, your former licence will be accepted in lieu of the current qualification requirements.
For more information for the current licensing requirements in New South Wales, click here.
How to Apply
The Fair Trading NSW website contains the application form as well as checklists and information about the applicable fees.You can check the updated eligibility requirements as well.
Applications, along with the fees and supporting documents such as proof of identity, police check, copies of qualifications etc may be lodged online or at the Fair Trading NSW office.
For more information for the current licensing requirements in New South Wales, click here.
Next Steps for your license
Recognizing skills is essential for getting a licence. However, when you pick Skills Certififed Australia, getting your licence is simple. Skills Certified Australia is not a licensing organisation or an RTO.
Discuss your objectives with Skills Certified Australia, and we'll help you find the tools you need to achieve your goals and earn your certification. We will put you in touch with our affiliated Registered Training Organizations (RTOs), who have experts who can assist you in attaining your objectives.
You can obtain qualifications that are nationally recognised and equal to those obtained through full-time education with the aid of Australia's partner RTOs. Completing these qualifications will bring you one step closer to a licence. Call 13 17 75 if you need any help or have any inquiries.
