Certificate of Proficiency Guidelines

Introduction
A person may make an Application for a Certificate of Proficiency where they have completed the
relevant apprenticeship qualification. Additionally, the individual must be able to demonstrate that
they are adequately trained in the trade through evidence of their employment in a particular trade
vocation. This evidence enables a person to:

• Become trade qualified outside of a formal apprenticeship in New South Wales.

• Have trade training undertaken outside of a formal apprenticeship in New South Wales to be
recognised and certified through the granting of Certificate of Proficiency in a nominated
NSW trade vocation.

Who can apply for a Certificate of Proficiency?

Anyone who is

• Living in NSW or living in Australia and intending to work in NSW.

And, can demonstrate that they adequately trained to work in a trade, through:

• The completion of training and/or assessment in the relevant Australian qualification, issued
by an identified Registered Training Organisation, and
• Evidence of past employment and experience in the trade concerned with an equivalent term
to the apprenticeship, and for a period working to Australian standards of operation.

Why are applicants for Certificate of Proficiency now required to have the
relevant Australian trade qualification before applying for a Certificate of
Proficiency?
The amended Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act, has provision for Certificate of Proficiency to be
issued by the Commissioner for Vocational Training to persons who have either:

• Demonstrated (through an application for trade skills recognition) they are adequately trained
to work in a trade vocation, through evidence of past employment and practical experience
and successful completion of a relevant Australian qualification.
• Successfully completed the term of an apprenticeship in a trade vocation and have been
awarded the appropriate qualification by a registered training organisation.

*The relevant Australian trade qualification is now an eligibility requirement for all applications for a
Certificate of Proficiency through skills recognition in New South Wales.
Information on apprenticeship trade vocations eligible for a Certificate of
Proficiency
The Commissioner for Vocational Training publishes a Commissioner’s Information Bulletin (CIB)
containing information to support the administration of apprenticeships (trade vocations) as well as
traineeship vocations. The following website contains CIBs for all vocations:

https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/cib_vto/index.html

When looking at CIBs it is important to note:

• Only apprenticeship or trade vocations are available for trade skills recognition.
• Only CIBs providing for Apprenticeships (or Apprenticeships and Traineeships), identify
available trade vocations, therefore disregard any CIBs which refer only to Traineeships when
looking at a CIB to find the relevant Australian trade qualification for a particular trade vocation.
• Where the CIB includes information on both Apprenticeships and Traineeships, refer only to
the list of apprenticeship/trade vocations, to identify the relevant qualification for a particular
trade. The qualification code and name can be used to search for further information on
training providers who provide training and assessment from one of the following government
websites:
https://smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au/sands/find-a-course
Or
https://www.myskills.gov.au/courses/search/

• Selecting the qualification code and name link will take you to a PDF document providing you
more information on the trade qualification, and the qualification structure or packaging rules
concerning the individual units in the qualification.

• Further information can be found concerning the performance criteria and required skills and
knowledge of each individual unit of competency within an apprenticeship qualification, if you
are seeking to match your previous training or experience against a particular Unit of
Competency within a trade qualification. This can be done by doing an internet search of each
NTIS code, for respective Units of Competency.

Benefits of a Certificate of Proficiency

A Certificate of Proficiency is beneficial in the following circumstances.

• If you are working in a Certified Trade vocation a Certificate of Proficiency is necessary

to work in the trade; or work without supervision; or work without limitation. Licensed
or Certified Trade vocations are any recognised trade vocations where a person is required to
have a Certificate of Proficiency in order to obtain a licence, permit or authority under an Act
to work in a trade vocation (see NSW Fair Trading). Your chances of finding a job in a
Certified Trade will improve, because you will be able to gain the necessary a licence, permit
or authority to work in a regulated trade, enabling you to work without the requisite supervision
or restriction of an un-certified worker.

 If you want to obtain a better paying job. In some industry sectors such as mining or
defence services, a Certificate of Proficiency can increase your employment prospects in
in trade occupations in NSW. Certified tradespeople are generally paid more than people
who don’t have a trade certificate, or the necessary licence in Certified Trade vocations

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  If you want to undertake further education in your trade, a Certificate of Proficiency
and the associated trade qualification can assist you to gain entry into further education and
training. It may also help you obtain advanced standing so that you can complete the course
more quickly.

Skills and knowledge you are required to outline

Applicants need to demonstrate both underpinning knowledge and trade skills associated with a
particular trade vocation.

Underpinning knowledge is a correct understanding of relevant information to ensure a task is

performed to acceptable trade practice.

Trade skills are the ability to perform trade to acceptable trade practice.

This might include the ability to:

 Read and respond to work instructions, specifications and technical drawings

 Correctly use and application of products
 Select and use appropriate materials, tools, machines and equipment to acceptable trade
practice
 Correctly use and apply trade tools and measuring instruments, using accepted trade
practice.
 Plan, set out, lay out and undertake work tasks associated with a trade occupation to
acceptable trade practice
 Diagnose and correct faults or undertake repairs or rectification work to acceptable trade
practice
 Create or produce trade products and services to in accordance with acceptable trade
practice
 Carry out trade work independently
 Supervise and impart trade skills and knowledge to other staff, including apprentices

Application process
To apply to have your trade skills recognised you need to obtain an application form published on
the Training Services NSW website.

https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/trade_recognition/vt100_application_ce
rtificate_of_proficiency.pdf

Please ensure that you read the instructions on the front page of the application form where the
following important information is explained:

 Who is eligible to apply and what must be provided with the application
 That the application is for a Certificate of Proficiency applicable to an apprenticeship trade
vocation
 Required information that must be included with the application
 How to lodge the application
 An application fee is payable when lodging the application

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Documentary evidence needed to support your application
The Commissioner for Vocational Training relies on documentary evidence to assess your
application. Therefore, it is important that you complete the application form carefully and include
all required information and documentation.

Examples of relevant documents include:

• A certified copy of the relevant Australian trade qualification relating to the trade vocation
you are seeking to obtain a Certificate of Proficiency (including a transcript outlining how
course subjects completed)

• Any qualifications you hold relevant from either overseas or Australia, relating to the trade
qualification you have completed (including a transcript outlining course subjects
completed)

• Work related references from employers detailing the nature of trade work you have
performed and the duration of employment in the trade (references must be on employers
letterhead signed and dated)

 Evidence of any periods of self-employment in the trade (see information below regarding
advice on the presentation of evidence concerning self-employment)

 Evidence supporting the duration of employment and training in the trade to date

Certification of documents
Documents attached to your application for a Certificate of Proficiency must be certified as
complete and accurate copies.

Who can certify my documents?

• An accountant (member of a recognised professional accounting body or a Registered Tax

Agent).
• A person listed on the roll of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory or the High Court of
Australia as a legal practitioner.
• A barrister, solicitor or patent attorney.
• A police officer.
• A postal manager.
• A principal of an Australian secondary college, high school or primary school.
• A medical practitioner.
• A Justice of the Peace (with a registration number in the State in which they are
registered).
• A minister of religion (registered under Subdivision (a) of Division 1 of Part IV of the
Marriage Act 1961).

The certified copy must include the statement "I certify that this is a true copy of the original
document". The certifier must also include their full name, signature, date, registration number (if
any) and qualification or occupation which makes them eligible to certify documents, on each of
the photocopied identification documents.

Evidence of self-employment in Certified Trade vocations

Self-employment on its own is not sufficient to meet requirements for the demonstration of past
employment and experience in the trade concerned. The Commissioner must be satisfied that you
are adequately trained in the relevant trade vocation and have actually undertaken hands on trade

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work, in addition where the trade concerned is a Certified Trade vocation (electrical) the
development of trade experience must conform to any industry regulatory requirements governing
this work. The Commissioner must be satisfied that you were adequately supervised by qualified
trade workers in legitimate employment.

If your application relies on a period of self-employment to demonstrate past employment and

experience in your application for Certificate of Proficiency your application should also provide
the following:

 Adequate explanation of how your trade work was supervised

 Evidence demonstrating the scope of “hands on” trade work you have performed through
self-employment, verified by a qualified supervisor.

Processing your application

Soon after your application for Certificate of Proficiency is accepted, you will receive a notice from
the Commissioner for Vocational Training acknowledging receipt of your application. This notice
will also confirm key particulars in relation to your application, such as:

• The spelling of your name.

 That the trade vocation you are seeking the Certificate of Proficiency.

Please check your application particulars are correct. In addition if there are any changes to your
address, phone contact or e-mail details after you have lodged your applications please phone the
number on notice to arrange for any errors to be corrected.

Timeframe to finalise your application

The time needed by the Commissioner to assess and determine the outcome of your application
will depend on:

 The quality of the documents you provide to support your application.

 Whether the Commissioner requires further information to determine your application.

 Whether an independent competency assessment is required.

Once the Commissioner has finished assessing your application, you will receive a notice advising
you of the decision.

Reviews
If the Commissioner rejects your application, you may seek an administrative review of a decision
to issue a Certificate of Proficiency. This provides for an individual to first seek an Internal Review
with the Commissioner for Vocational Training within 28 days of a decision to issue a Certificate of
Proficiency on the following form:

https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/apprenticeships_traineeships/internal_review_
application.pdf

After the Internal Review is finalised by the Commissioner for Vocational a decision to refuse to
issue a Certificate of Proficiency can be reviewed by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
(NCAT) for an administrative review under the Administrative Decisions Review Act 1997. A
request for such a Review can be made within 30 days from the date of the written notice from the

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Commissioner advising you of the decision to: refuse to issue you a recognition under Part 3 of
the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.

Further information concerning the steps you will need to follow in an administrative review matter
before NCAT can be found on the following website:

https://ncat.nsw.gov.au/ncat/how-ncat-works/ncat-divisions-and-appeal-panel/administrative-and-equal-
opportunity-division.html

For further information about making an appeal to the Administrative and Equal
Opportunity Division of NCAT and the External Appeal form go to www.ncat.nsw.gov.au
or call 1300 006 228 and press option 3.

Trade certificates issued by the Commissioner

The Commissioner issues a Certificate of Proficiency to individuals who have successfully
completed an apprenticeship or traineeship and to persons who have been successful in applying
for a Certificate of Proficiency in New South Wales.

A Certificate of Proficiency is awarded on application where an individual has demonstrated:

1. They have completed an applicable Australian qualification.

2. They are adequately trained to work in a trade, through evidence of past employment and
experience in the trade.

Licensed Trades
A number of trade vocations require licences or registration in NSW. This is administered by the
relevant licensing authority or registration body. The Certificate of Proficiency issued by the
Commissioner is not a substitute for this and is not a guarantee that you will receive the
required licence or registration.

Trade or industry sectors subject to licensing or registration include:

 Aircraft trades

 Building and construction trades

 Refrigeration/air-conditioning trade

 Electrical trades

 Telecommunications, security, and alarm cabling

 Automotive trades

 Plumbing trade

You should contact the relevant licensing authority for further information regarding licensing
matters.

Interpreting and Translation services

If any document is not in English, and it is required to support your application you need to
provide the Commissioner with a certified copy of the original and (attached to it) an English

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translation made by an official translating service. The translator must certify that the translation is
complete and accurate.

Further information on interpreting and translation services can be found at Services NSW:

Translation Services

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-document-translation-services

Interpreting Services

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/book-interpreter

Privacy notice
The information you provide in your application for Certificate of Proficiency will be treated
confidentially and will be used by the NSW Department of Education and the Commissioner for
Vocational Training for the purpose of assessing your application.

When dealing with your application, the Commissioner may seek to validate the information you
provide by contacting your current or former employers, any training organisations or colleges you
have attended, and relevant State or Commonwealth departments or agencies.

The information you provide will be stored securely by NSW Department of Education you may
correct any personal details at any time by contacting the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Unit:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1300 772 104

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