Electrical Mechanic (General) TRA - Question to all in electrical field

[SLouw]

Good day all,

I would really like some information and feedback from any one in Aus with an Electrical Mechanic (General) TRA Certificate. My husband applied and got his Australian TRA Certificate in 2005/2006 - which is still valid (we confirmed with them). We are starting the immigration process now with skilled PR application.

We just recently realised that the Electrical Mechanic (General) TRA Certificate is apparently not enough for him to start working in his field? Is this really the case? He has to basically do quite a few theory & practical exams once we get to Aus if visa is granted.

The thing is - he has been employed at Eskom Koeberg for the last 20 years. And for the last 10 or so he has been in a Supervisory position and Project Manager positon - so he has never been a domestic electrician - always industrial. And has not been a sparky on the tools for many years. He has since we did the Aus TRA assessment completed his diploma in Electrical Engineering and will by end this year have completed his degree in Quality assurance.

So..... if we get granted skilled PR and he starts looking for work more in the supervisory / project management side , but still in electrical environment..... I assume it will not be necessary for him to do any tests for licences there.. or maybe one or 2 and he will still be able to start working straight away if the position he applies for does not require any of the licences?

It just seems incorrect that he must do all there extra tests once there even thou he is not planning on applying outside the current field he is in.

If tests in absolutely necessary, do anyone know which can be applied for from SA, before we come over?

Any and all information, advice and feedback will be greatly appreciated.

[ericks]

Hi, I am not sure if it's still the case now but I can tell you what I had to do. Initially (2008) I had to get my trade recognized by TRA. Applied for PR, received PR. Then I had to apply for an Australian Trade Certificate (Electrical Mechanic), not the same as the original Trade Recognition. I had to have PR before I could apply for this certificate.... When I arrived (South Australia) I had to do wiring regulations before my license was issued.

Hope this helps. Like I said I am not sure if anything has changed since...

Edited March 2, 2015 by ericks

[SLouw]

Thanks for your response, my husband does currently have and Australian Trade Certificate - the one you mentioned that you had to be in Aus to get. The actual certificate was issued and we have it - I e-mailed this to TRA again just a couple of months ago & they acknowledged that is is indeed the Certificate, not just trade recognition.... so it seems like he has to do the wiring regulations when we get there. Is this just a theory and practical test or more than one test? How long does it take to get?

[ericks]

Hi, the fact that he has his certificate is great. Now the licensing will depend on which state he wants to go to...they all seem to have different requirements. When I did it SA was the easiest/quickest.

Which state do you plan to go to??

* I didn't have to be in Australia to get the certificate, I just had to have PR to apply for it...they issued it while I was still in ZA...

Edited March 2, 2015 by ericks

[SLouw]

Perth - my sister in law lives there and some other friends.

We went over in 2005 on 457 work sponsored visa to Brisbane, but returned 2 mths later because a lot of the employer conditions and "promises" changed and we decided to return and rather wait and apply fro PR for we could not work for anyone else on the 457 visa. We then flew to Perth and spend a couple of days there.... we preferred it over Brisbane.

So he would need to do his wiring regulations and exams needed in Perth. We have to find out which ones, how long it takes and cost of these.

[ericks]

Great. I am not sure what they require for WA. Someone on here will be able to advise you.

Good luck...

Edited March 3, 2015 by ericks