Disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment

You need a qualified supervisor certificate to disconnect or reconnect fixed electrical equipment. You cannot get a contractor licence unless you hold a plumbing, water plumbing or gasfitting licence.

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Key information

  • In NSW, you need a qualified supervisor certificate if you plan to do straightforward work to disconnect or reconnect fixed electrical equipment.
  • Your certificate will have an endorsement for either appliances, motors or hot water heaters.
  • If you are a plumber or water plumber that holds an individual contractor licence, you may apply to have disconnection and reconnections of fixed electrical equipment for hot water heaters added to your licence. 
  • You must have the approved qualifications and experience before you can apply for a certificate.
    You can apply for a 1-, 3- or 5-year qualified supervisor certificate or licence.
     

When you will need a disconnection and reconnection certificate

You must hold this certificate if you intend to disconnect and reconnect fixed electrical equipment and you do not hold an electrical licence. Fixed electrical equipment means hard-wired appliances, motors and water heaters. The disconnection and reconnection work must be secondary to your main work as a qualified tradesperson.

This certificate is designed for specific trades, such as plumbers, who may need to safely isolate a hard wired hot water systems in order to perform repairs or maintenance as part of their licensed trade work.

What is disconnection and reconnection work?

Disconnection and reconnection work relates to hard-wired appliances, motors and water heaters. 

It is limited to:

  • disconnecting and reconnecting electrical wiring at the equipment itself, and only to the extent necessary to permit the non-electrical work to be performed on the equipment
  • replacing equipment on a ’like for like‘ basis
  • doing testing to be able to safely isolate the equipment being disconnected or reconnected
  • doing testing to be able to safely use the equipment
  • replacing ‘blown’ fuses and resetting ‘tripped’ circuit breakers
  • work on equipment operating at voltages up to 1000V alternating current three phase and 1500V direct current.

Disconnection and reconnection work does not include:

  • work defined as associated electrical work under the category of air conditioning and refrigeration work,
  • electrical wiring work  related to fixed wiring (other than disconnecting and reconnecting electrical equipment). This exclusion includes:
    • finding and fixing faults of circuits at a switchboard or in general electrical accessories (including switches, socket outlets, circuit protective devices) 
    •  installing or changing any part of the electrical installation or fixed electrical wiring system
    • where high fault currents are possible
    • on complex electrical apparatus and circuits
    • on fixed wired smoke detectors
    • on luminaires including pre-assembled neon signs
    • on electrical installations or to alter fixed wiring
  • on electric hot water systems except when carried out by someone who holds a plumbing (or water plumbing) individual contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate
  • in hazardous areas or on electrical equipment that is part of an explosion-protection technique
  • installing lifts, inclinators and turntables..

It is a breach of the Home Building Act 1989 to carry out disconnection or reconnection of fixed electrical equipment work without a licence or certificate. 

You can be fined $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 as a company for doing unlicensed work. 

Licence type you need to apply for

Disconnecting and reconnecting fixed electrical equipment is specialist work.

The certificate type you need to apply for to do disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment is a:

You can apply to have a qualified supervisor certificate issued for 1, 3 or 5 years.

Qualified supervisor certificates are only issued to individuals. A qualified supervisor certificate does not allow you to contract for work.

If you hold an individual plumbing contractor licence, you can apply for a variation to your existing contractor licence instead of applying for a qualified supervisor certificate.

You can apply to have a qualified supervisor certificate issued for 1, 3 or 5 years.

You must complete the additional details form for disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment and provide it with your application.

Find out more about licence types and how to apply. 

Or you can: 

Apply for a qualified supervisor certificate at Service NSW

Time frames for licensing and registration applications

Find out about the current application processing times for different licence and registration categories. 

Qualifications and experience needed

You can apply for a qualified supervisor certificate to disconnect and reconnect fixed electrical equipment through one of the qualification pathways listed below.

If you hold an individual plumbing, water plumbing or gasfitting contractor licence, you can apply for a variation to your existing contractor licence instead of applying for a qualified supervisor certificate, based on the qualification pathways listed below.

Your qualification trade background must directly relate to servicing or repairing of the equipment for you to be eligible to apply for disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment.

The qualifications listed below must be issued to you under a training package in accordance with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

To find organisations that deliver nationally recognised training, go to training.gov.au and search for the course code or name.

If you are currently an apprentice or trainee, you cannot apply for a licence or certificate. You must apply as soon as you finish your apprenticeship or traineeship to be able to keep doing disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment work.

If you have a licence from interstate or New Zealand, see Working interstate and mutual recognition.

Disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical appliances is included in the NSW Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme.

If you trained overseas, see Overseas trained applicants.

Appliances

Only applicants whose trade backgrounds directly relate to servicing or repairing of appliances may be issued with disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment (Appliances).

You must have one of the following:

  • a Certificate III level qualification in a trade or higher education qualification that directly relates to the work carried out
  • a certified copy of an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate identifying the trade that directly relates to the work carried out
  • a certified copy of a trade certificate issued by a state or territory registration or accreditation authority that directly relates to the work carried out. Trade certificate includes a Certificate of Proficiency or Craft Certificate, a Certificate of Completion and a Certificate of Recognition
  • A current individual contractor licence or current qualified supervisor certificate to do plumbing, water plumbing or gasfitting.

AND

You must show via our additional information form that your qualification directly relates to the main work you do and the types of equipment you plan to disconnect and reconnect.

AND

You must have a statement of attainment from a training organisation showing you have successfully completed one of the following units of competency:

  • UEERL0004 Disconnect-reconnect electrical equipment connected to low voltage (LV) installation wiring conditioned with “appliances”; or “motors”

or

  • UEENEEP012A Disconnect-reconnect composite appliances connected to low voltage installation wiring

or

  • UEENEEP010A Disconnect-reconnect appliances connected to low voltage installation wiring

or

  • UEENEEP001B Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired electrical equipment connected to a low voltage supply from the Electrotechnology Industry Training Package UEE07 endorsed for appliances "O"

or

  • UTE NES208 from the Electrotechnology Industry Training Package UTE 99208 endorsed for motors “S”.
Motors

Only applicants whose trade backgrounds directly relate to servicing or repairing of motors may be issued with disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment (Motors). 

You must have one of the following:

  • a Certificate III level qualification in a trade or higher education qualification that directly relates to the work carried out. 
  • a certified copy of an Australian Recognised Trade Certificate identifying the trade that directly relates to the work carried out.
  • a certified copy of a trade certificate issued by a state or territory registration or accreditation authority that directly relates to the work carried out. Trade certificate includes a Certificate of Proficiency or Craft Certificate, a Certificate of Completion and a Certificate of Recognition.
  • A current individual contractor licence or current qualified supervisor certificate to do plumbing, water plumbing or gasfitting.

AND

You must show via our additional information form that your qualification directly relates to the main work you do and the types of equipment you plan to disconnect and reconnect.

AND

You must have a statement of attainment from a training organisation showing you have successfully completed one of the following units of competency:

  • UEERL0004 Disconnect-reconnect electrical equipment connected to low voltage (LV) installation wiring conditioned with “motors”

or

  • UEENEEP015A Disconnect-reconnect motors connected to low voltage installation wiring

or

  • UEENEEP001B Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired electrical equipment connected to a low voltage supply endorsed for motors “S”

or

  • UTE NES208 from the Electrotechnology Industry Training Package UTE99208 endorsed for motors “S”.
Water heaters

You must hold a current individual contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate to do plumbing or water plumbing,

AND

You must have a statement of attainment from a training organisation showing you have successfully completed one of the following units of competency:

  • UEERL0004 Disconnect-reconnect electrical equipment connected to low voltage (LV) installation wiring conditioned with “water heaters”; or “hot water heaters”,

or

  • UEENEEP014A Disconnect-reconnect water heaters connected to low voltage installation wiring,

or

  • UEENEEP001B Disconnect and reconnect fixed wired electrical equipment connected to a low voltage supply from the Electrotechnology Industry Training Package UEE07 endorsed for electrical water heaters “R”,

or

  • UTE NES208 from the Electrotechnology Industry Training Package UTE99208 endorsed for electrical water heaters “R”.
Previous licence or certificate holders

If you held a certificate within 5 years of the date you lodge your application for a new one, we will accept your previous certificate in place of the current qualification requirements.

We will assess your application and reissue you a licence or certificate that reflects the scope of work that your licence or certificate covered. This may include some conditions or restrictions.

Do not make false or misleading claims

It is an offence to make a false statement or leave out information when applying for a licence. If it is found that your licence has been issued on misleading grounds, you may be prosecuted, and your licence may be cancelled.

What would you like to do now?

Get in touch with Building Commission NSW

Need help with an application or want to know more about training and accreditation? Get in touch with Building Commission NSW. 

Call:13 27 00Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm (excluding public holidays)
From overseas, call:+612 3814 0545

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