Consumer Affairs Tasmania’s Electrical licence - contractor guidance, updated 17 July 2026, says an electrical contractors licence is required when entering contracts to perform electrical work in Tasmania and requires applicants to hold at least $5 million in public and products liability insurance. A certificate of currency must accompany the application, and the nominated manager must be suitably competent, hold an electrical practitioners licence in Tasmania and complete the required approved course; their practitioner-licence scope limits the work the contractor may contract for.
Figures checked 1 October 2026.
When is an electrical contractor licence required?
The stated trigger is entering into contracts to perform electrical work in Tasmania. Electrical contractors are not covered by a practitioner, restricted or provisional licence.
Tasmania recognises four electrical licence types:
- electrical practitioner;
- electrical contractor;
- electrical restricted; and
- electrical provisional.
The contractor licence is the relevant category for a business or individual contracting to perform electrical work. Anyone performing electrical work in Tasmania must also comply with Tasmanian requirements.
What insurance must an electrical contractor have?
The licence application requirements set a minimum amount of public and products liability insurance and require documentary evidence.
| Application item | Consumer Affairs Tasmania requirement |
|---|---|
| Public and products liability insurance | At least $5 million |
| Insurance evidence | A certificate of currency supplied with the application |
The certificate of currency is a separate application item, rather than just a verbal confirmation that a policy exists. Applicants should therefore line up the insurance evidence before submitting their licence application.
The regulator’s licensing page sets the application requirement, while the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement sets out the insurance contract’s terms. Check both before deciding what cover meets the licensing threshold and what terms apply to the work.
Can an individual or a company apply?
Both can apply for an electrical contractor licence, but the supporting documents and interstate-recognition position differ.
| Applicant | Application position described by the regulator |
|---|---|
| Individual | May apply for an electrical contractor licence |
| Entity, such as a company | May apply but must provide evidence of the entity’s registration |
An applicant must also meet the eligibility requirements in the Occupational Licensing - Electrical Work Licence Classes Determination.
If an individual already holds an electrical contractor licence in another State or Territory, they may be eligible for automatic recognition in Tasmania. The regulator describes this as possible recognition, not an automatic entitlement, and says the provision applies only to contractor licences held by individuals, not entities.
What does the nominated manager need to have?
The nominated manager must meet all of the following requirements:
- be suitably competent;
- hold an electrical practitioners licence in Tasmania; and
- complete the required course stated in Determination 2016 - Approved courses electricity, gas, plumbing.
The scope of work that the electrical contractor can contract for is limited to the work permitted under the nominated manager’s practitioners licence.
For a new application, evidence of the nominated manager’s identity is required. The application also asks for a digital copy of the nominated manager’s electrical practitioner licence details.
How is a contractor licence application made?
The regulator’s process involves the following steps and documents:
- Read the current licence-page information so you know what to do and which documents to provide.
- Read the Personal Information Protection Statement.
- Start the application through the My Licence portal.
- Upload digital copies of the required insurance evidence.
- If applying as an entity, provide the applicable registration evidence.
- For a new application, provide the nominated manager’s identity evidence and electrical practitioner licence details.
- Answer the licence declaration questions.
- Have a credit card ready to pay the licence fee online or at a Service Tasmania shop.
Once all required information has been received, applications will be processed within 21 days.
What do the licence declarations cover?
A “yes” answer to any declaration question requires details and copies of all relevant documentation.
The company, business, owner or director declarations look back over 10 years and address matters such as:
- convictions for dishonesty or offences relating to prescribed work;
- a prescribed-work infringement notice issued to the business, an owner or a director;
- settling a civil action or having a civil judgment made against a person in their capacity as a contractor;
- a prescribed-work licence, registration or certificate being refused, disqualified, cancelled or suspended;
- conditions being placed on a prescribed-work licence, registration or certificate;
- bankruptcy, discharge from bankruptcy, arrangements with creditors or assigning property to pay debts; and
- insolvency or receivership.
A separate declaration asks whether the person has ever been disqualified from holding, or refused an application for, a trades contractor registration or licence, or has had one cancelled or suspended. That question includes interstate licences, certificates and registrations.
What should be checked before relying on this summary?
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Before applying, check the current Consumer Affairs Tasmania contractor-licence page for the latest requirements and documents. Also check the proposed insurance policy’s PDS rather than assuming that the $5 million licensing threshold alone determines the policy’s terms or response.
Sources
FAQ
How much public and products liability insurance is required in Tasmania?
An electrical contractor licence applicant must have at least $5 million in public and products liability insurance and provide a certificate of currency with the application.
Can an individual or a company apply for the licence?
Yes. Either an individual or an entity such as a company can apply. An entity applicant must provide evidence of its registration.
What is the nominated manager’s role?
The nominated manager must be suitably competent, hold an electrical practitioners licence in Tasmania and complete the required approved course. Their practitioner-licence scope limits the electrical work the contractor may contract for.
Will an interstate electrical contractor licence be recognised automatically?
An individual holding an electrical contractor licence in another State or Territory may be eligible for automatic recognition in Tasmania. The regulator says this recognition provision applies only to individual-held licences, not entities.
How long does the application take to process?
Applications will be processed within 21 days after all required information has been received.
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