How to Become an Electrician in Australia

To become an electrician in Australia, you complete a four-year electrical apprenticeship, earn the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820), then apply for an electrical licence in your state or territory. You are paid from your first day, and most of your training happens on the job alongside qualified electricians.

This guide walks through each step, how long it takes, what electricians earn and how to get your first apprenticeship. If you already know this is the trade for you, explore our electrical apprenticeships.

What Does an Electrician Do?

Electricians install, test, maintain and repair the electrical wiring, switchboards, lighting and equipment in homes, businesses and industrial sites. The work ranges from wiring a new house to maintaining factory machinery, installing solar and battery systems or fault finding on a commercial building. It is practical, varied work, and no two days are quite the same.

How to Become an Electrician in Australia (Step by Step)

1. Build the Skills Employers Look For

Electricians calculate electrical quantities such as voltage, current and resistance, read technical drawings and work to the wiring rules (AS/NZS 3000), so maths and English at school give you a useful head start. Just as important are reliability, attention to detail and being comfortable working with your hands.

2. Consider a Pre-Apprenticeship (Optional)

A Certificate II pre-apprenticeship is an introduction to electrical work. It is not required, but it can help you confirm the trade suits you and show host employers you are serious. School students can also start through a school-based apprenticeship.

3. Secure an Electrical Apprenticeship

You need an employer to start an apprenticeship. You can approach electrical contractors directly, or apply through 1300apprentice. We employ you directly and place you with a host employer, so we do the matching and you do not have to find a business willing to take on the paperwork.

4. Complete the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician

The Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820) is the national trade qualification for electricians. You complete it during your apprenticeship through TAFE or another registered training organisation, combining off-the-job training with paid work on site.

5. Pass Your Capstone Assessment

Towards the end of your apprenticeship you complete a final practical assessment, often called the capstone, where you show you can design, install and verify a general electrical installation. How the assessment is run varies between states and training providers.

6. Apply for Your Electrical Licence

Once your apprenticeship is complete, you apply for an electrical licence through your state or territory regulator. In NSW, Building Commission NSW issues electrical licences and you cannot hold one while you are still an apprentice; in the ACT, Access Canberra issues them.

What Qualifications and Licences Do You Need?

The core qualification is the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (UEE30820), and the national qualification states that an unrestricted electrician’s licence in most states and territories requires it to be completed as an apprenticeship or through a Trades Recognition Australia pathway.

In NSW, an applicant with UEE30820 also needs a certificate of proficiency from the Vocational Training Review Panel, at least 12 months of electrical wiring experience and a National Police Check. In the ACT, Access Canberra prioritises applicants who have completed their apprenticeship, including the capstone test, and apply within two weeks of receiving their training certificate.

How Long Does It Take to Become an Electrician?

It takes around four years to become an electrician in Australia. The electrical award sets the apprenticeship period at four years, and every state and territory sets the nominal term at 48 months full time. Part-time apprenticeships run longer, for example 72 months in Victoria, Western Australia and the ACT. In the ACT, prioritised licence applications are then assessed in about three weeks.

The Electrical Apprenticeship Pathway With 1300apprentice

When you start an electrical apprenticeship through 1300apprentice, we are your employer for the whole apprenticeship. We:

• Recruit you and match you with a host employer that suits your goals
• Pay your wages, superannuation and allowances
• Cover your TAFE or training organisation fees
• Provide mentoring and field support from day one until you finish
• Look after workplace health and safety and personal protective equipment

Browse current electrical apprenticeship jobs or register your interest and our team will be in touch.

How Much Do Electricians Make in Australia?

Electricians in Australia earn median full-time earnings of $2,191 a week, or $55 an hour, according to Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025 data). The minimum award rate for a qualified electrician under the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting Award is $29.45 an hour or $1,119.10 a week from 1 July 2026, before allowances.

As an apprentice you earn a percentage of the qualified rate, and that percentage rises each year. Our electrical apprentice wages guide sets out the current rates for every year of the apprenticeship.

Types of Electricians

Once you are licensed, you can work across a wide range of settings:

• Domestic electrician: wiring, lighting and repairs in homes
• Commercial electrician: offices, shops, schools and hospitals
• Industrial electrician: factories, mines and processing plants
• Maintenance electrician: keeping equipment and building systems running
• Solar and renewable energy electrician: solar, battery and EV charging installations

Related electrical trades have their own apprenticeships, including instrumentation and control, electronics and communications and telecommunications.

Can You Become an Electrician Without an Apprenticeship?

In most states and territories you cannot become a fully licensed electrician without completing an apprenticeship. The only common alternative is the Trades Recognition Australia pathway, which is for people who already have trade experience, usually from overseas, and still involves assessment and gap training.

Becoming an Electrician as a Mature Age Apprentice

There is no upper age limit on an electrical apprenticeship. Under the electrical award an adult apprentice is anyone 21 or older when they sign their training contract, and adult apprentices are paid a higher minimum rate than junior apprentices. Read more about mature age apprenticeships.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to become an electrician in Australia?

It takes around four years to become an electrician in Australia, because that is the standard length of an electrical apprenticeship under the electrical award. Once you finish, you apply for your electrical licence, which in the ACT is prioritised for apprentices who apply within two weeks of receiving their training certificate.

How do I get an electrician apprenticeship?

You get an electrician apprenticeship by finding an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice, either by approaching electrical contractors directly or by applying through 1300apprentice. We employ you directly and place you with a host employer, which takes the hardest part of the search off your hands.

Do you need Year 12 to become an electrician?

You do not need Year 12 to become an electrician, as the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician has no formal entry requirements. Completing Year 12 does mean a higher starting wage under the electrical award, and maths and English skills help with the theory side of the course.

How hard is it to become an electrician?

Becoming an electrician is challenging but achievable for anyone who is reliable and willing to study. The theory covers electrical principles, calculations and the wiring rules, and the capstone assessment tests your practical skills at the end. With 1300apprentice you have mentoring and support from your first day through to completion.

Can you become an electrician at 30?

You can become an electrician at 30 or later, because there is no upper age limit on apprenticeships in Australia. You would be an adult apprentice under the electrical award, which means a higher minimum rate than junior apprentices. Read more about mature age apprenticeships.

Start Your Electrical Career

Ready to take the first step? Call 1300 277 736 or register your interest, and our team will talk you through current electrical apprenticeship opportunities in NSW and the ACT.