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Electrician (Special Class)

Apprenticeship and traineeship details

Please refer to the Declaration Policy for the requirements relating to apprenticeships and traineeships.

Please refer to the Norfolk Island Policy for apprenticeships and traineeships on Norfolk Island.

Type:
Apprenticeship

Job summary:
This qualification provides competencies to select, install, commission, fault find and maintain electrical systems and equipment with options, typically in explosion protection, electrical machines, electrical inspection, safety auditing, contracting, lifts, energy supply/distribution.

It includes all ERAC requirements for issuance of an 'Electrician's licence' and is approved by the Electrical Safety Office for the issuance of an electrical licence in Queensland.

Australian Standard Classification of Occupations:
ELECTRICIANS

Sub-industry:
ELECTRICIAN (SPECIAL CLASS)

Restricted calling:
This is a Restricted calling (Restricted calling information)

Available Contract Modes:
  • Full-time
  • The lodgment of a second training contract where one of the training contracts is full-time will be reviewed by the Department to determine if each of the parties to each training contract can meet their obligations. There must be a clear separation between the training and employment requirements for each training contract and must not be replicated through the one occupation only.

  • Part-time
  • Part-time Electrotechnology apprenticeships may be considered so long as they substantially fulfil the requirements in the part-time criteria below.

  • Casual NOT PERMITTED in Queensland
  • School-based
  • Students in years 11 and 12 may be considered eligible to enter a school-based apprenticeship in Electrotechnology qualifications, so long as they substantially fulfil the requirements in the school-based criteria below.

Criteria for Part-time apprenticeships in Electrotechnology qualifications
- Training arrangements must be a minimum of 2 weeks, with a maximum of 4 weeks "off the job" release or the equivalent in an alternative format (for example, day release);
- The apprentice has completed the industry recognised minimum educational requirement, which constitutes the equivalent of year 10 with passes in a recognised course in English, Maths and Science; and
- The minimum direct supervision requirements are met, in accordance with the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, section 279, (QLD); and
- The appropriate facilities and range of work can be provided by the employer, in accordance with the Further Education and Training Act 2014, section 56, (QLD); and
- Review relevant information relating to electrical apprentices on the Work Safe website.
- The signed commitment that upon completion of the part-time component the employer will articulate the apprentice into a full time apprenticeship; and
- It is preferred that the apprenticeship be logged on the Exemplar or Ready Skills system for the recording of on the job experiences after the training contract has been registered by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).

Criteria for School-based apprenticeships in Electrotechnology qualifications
- The school based apprentice must complete the industry recognised minimum educational requirement, which constitutes the equivalent of year 10 with passes in a recognised course in English, Maths and Science.
- The minimum direct supervision requirements are met, in accordance with the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, section 279, (QLD); and
- Maximum off-the-job (at college) training is 8 weeks (40 days) starting in year 11 over the next two years as a school-based electrical apprentice. This is reduced proportionally to 4 weeks (20 days) if commencing the start of year 12, (pro-rata for periods if less than this value), and
- No more than 20 days maximum off-the-job training (at college) is to be completed for each 12 month period of the school based apprenticeship, and
- No less than 10 days minimum off-the-job training (at college) is to be completed for each 12 month period of the school based apprenticeship, and
- The school-based apprentice will be in the workplace (on-the-job) a total of 600 hours (80 days) undertaking paid employment, for each year of the school-based apprenticeship, (while not exceeding a combined yearly total of 100 days ON and OFF the job), and
- The appropriate facilities and range of work can be provided by the employer, in accordance with the Further Education and Training Act 2014, section 56, (QLD); and
- The signed commitment that upon completion of the school based component the employer will articulate the apprentice into a full time apprenticeship; and
- It is preferred that the apprenticeship be logged on the Exemplar or Ready Skills system for the recording of on the job experiences after the training contract has been registered by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).
- Review relevant information relating to electrical apprentices on the Work Safe website.

Other requirements for school-based:
Conversion upon leaving school
Upon signing a training contract for school-based apprentices and trainees, employers are committing to convert their school-based apprentices or trainees to full-time at the point where the student completes schooling in year 12 or earlier. The Department undertakes annual conversion of school-based training contracts when students complete year 12 at the end of each year, unless informed otherwise. Please contact Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210 for further information.

Delivery of training to school-based apprentices
Limits have been imposed on the amount of institutional training which may be delivered to school-based apprentices, based on the nominal term of a full time training contract. The limit for this apprenticeship in a school-based mode is a maximum of 33.3% of the competencies.

Apprenticeship Probation/Duration Details:
All apprenticeships have a nominal term - this is the timeframe that is on the Apprenticeship training contract. Some apprenticeships also have an Expected Duration. The Expected Duration is the amount of time that it's reasonably expected someone could become competent and complete their Apprenticeship. Apprentice's Training Plans are developed using the Expected Duration timeframe rather than the contract's nominal term.

Mode Start Date End Date Probation Period (days) Nominal Term (months) Expected Duration (months)
Full-time 06/09/2021 90 48 48

Minimum education standard:
See Notes
Completion of Year 10 is recommended for entry under full-time arrangements.
For entry under part-time or school-based arrangements note specific criteria outlined above under Available Contract Modes.

Minimum entry age:
This industry has a minimum entry age of 15 years.

Entry Requirements:
The entry requirement for this qualification is:
- UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
or
- a current ‘Unrestricted Electricians Licence’ or its equivalent issued in an Australian state or territory.

As a general rule, only Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia.

Visa holders may engage in apprenticeships or traineeships provided their work rights allows this, based on information and advice provided by the Australian Government.As a general rule, only Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia.

Visa holders may engage in apprenticeships or traineeships provided their work rights allows this, based on information and advice provided by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

Specific Supervision requirements
Section 279 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 states the following requirements for the supervision of a 'training person'.
A 'training person' means a person who is undertaking, but has not finished an apprenticeship under the Further Education and Training Act 2014, in a calling that requires the person to perform electrical work.

279 Duties of person conducting a business or undertaking about supervising training person
(1) A person conducting a business or undertaking that employs a training person who has not finished 6 months of the person's apprenticeship or training program must ensure the training person does not work -
(a) in the immediate vicinity of a live high voltage exposed part; or
(b) where there is a risk the training person could come into contact with a live low voltage exposed part.
Maximum penalty - 40 penalty units.

(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply to a training person performing duties as a safety observer if -
(a) the training person is a safety observer and has been capable of being a safety observer for at least 1 year immediately before the start of the training person's apprenticeship or training program; and
(b) the person conducting a business or undertaking keeps a written record of the assessment mentioned in schedule 9, definition safety observer, paragraph (c) for the training person.

(3) A person conducting a business or undertaking must ensure that a training person who performs electrical work is supervised at all times by a licensed electrical worker licensed to perform the work.
Maximum penalty - 40 penalty units.

(4) The level of supervision required under subsection (3) must be appropriate, having regard to -
(a) the type of electrical work performed; and
(b) the adequacy of the training person’s training; and
(c) the competency of the training person.

The level of supervision requirements align with the Departments general requirements for supervision.

General Supervision requirements
Please refer to the Declaration policy, table 15 for the requirements on supervision.

Modified supervision arrangements available: NO

Employers are required to provide, or arrange to provide the facilities, range of work, supervision and training as detailed in the training plan.

Qualified person for apprenticeships
1. A person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act, or
2. A person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling, or
3. An Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument, or
4. A New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling whose occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003, or
5. A person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling, or
6. A person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.

And, where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.

While there is no set ratio required for the number of supervisors to apprentices or trainees it is generally accepted for apprenticeships there is one supervisor to each apprentice, this may be relaxed as an apprentice gains skills and experience or where an apprentice commences with existing skills and experience.

Adequate supervision of apprentices and trainees cannot solely be provided from an offsite location by electronic means. Electronic means include, but are not limited to, telephones, radios and webcams.

Licensing requirements - An electrical licenced outcome is a result of this program.

Status:
Current

Qld declaration date:
11/08/2021

Implementation date:
06/09/2021


Qualification details

Name:
Certificate IV in Electrotechnology - Systems Electrician

Qualification code:
UEE40620

Qualification content:
Click here for more details

Training package:
UEE - Electrotechnology Training Package - UEE

Status:
Current


Queensland User Choice program funding details

The Queensland User Choice program funds Skills Assure suppliers (RTOs) for the provision of services to eligible apprentices and trainees.
For more information, please visit User Choice in Queensland.

Funded under the User Choice Program:
Yes

Full Price - Priority Population Groups:
$17,030.00

Queensland Government Contribution - All Other Students including SATs:
$17,030.00

Number of funded units of competency:
11

Priority:
1

Funding restrictions:

  • Note that Queensland Government Contribution may be the same as Full Price, depending on qualification priority and thin market status

Funding not available for new commencements from:
N/A

User Choice Training Catalogue Item:
22602

DELTA Qualification ID:
3750

Industry training group:
Utilities - Electrotechnology


Industrial relations details

Since 1 January 2010, all private sector employers and employees in Queensland, including apprentices and trainees, have their wages and conditions of employment covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 and modern awards. This legislation is administered by the Commonwealth Government Fair Work Ombudsman's office. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/minimum-wages/apprentice-and-trainee-pay-rates.

Apprentices and trainees are considered employees and may receive entitlements the same as other employees such as: annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, superannuation, workers compensation and allowances. Apprentices and trainees must also receive a pay slip to cover full details of the pay for each pay period. Pay slips have to be given to an employee (including apprentices and trainees) within 1 working day of pay day and be either in electronic form or paper hard copy.

Parties should make enquiries with the Fair Work Ombudsman on Ph: 13 13 94 or at http://www.fairwork.gov.au to determine the correct industrial instrument and entitlements.

When employment is ceasing the employer or the employee (apprentice/trainee) must provide the appropriate notice periods as per the relevant award or registered workplace agreement. A notice period is the length of time that an employer or employee (apprentice/trainee) has to give to end employment. Additional information about notice periods can be found at: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/notice-and-final-pay.

Unfair dismissal is when an employee (apprentice/trainee) is dismissed from their job in a harsh, unjust or unreasonable manner. Additional information about unfair dismissal can be found at: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/unfair-dismissal.

Public sector and local government workers in Queensland remain under the state industrial relations system. Additional information about wages and conditions of employment for employees (apprentices/trainees employed by state or local government) can be found at: https://www.forgov.qld.gov.au/working-in-the-public-service/directives-awards-and-legislation/pay-awards-and-agreements.