QLD Electrical Licence exam-day guide
QLD Electrical Licence · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Current photo ID
Bring at least one current government-issued photo ID (e.g. Australian driver licence or passport). The exact forms of ID accepted, and whether a second form is required, must be confirmed with the assessment provider before the day.
Your qualification and competency records
Bring copies of your completion records, transcript or logbook/evidence portfolio if the provider has asked for them. Do not assume they will be on file - confirm the required documents when you receive your booking confirmation.
Copy of AS/NZS 3000 (Wiring Rules)
Some assessments allow a clean copy of the current Wiring Rules for reference; others supply one or prohibit personal copies. Confirm the provider's rule and whether annotations are permitted.
Test instruments in current calibration
Insulation resistance tester, low-resistance ohmmeter/continuity tester, multimeter, and a voltage indicator with proving unit. Confirm whether the provider supplies instruments or expects you to bring your own, and whether current calibration certificates/tags are required.
Hand tools
Screwdrivers (including insulated), pliers, side cutters, cable strippers, crimpers, knife, hacksaw, spanners, torque screwdriver, tape measure, spirit level. Check edges, insulation and handles are in good condition before packing.
PPE
Safety glasses, safety footwear, gloves, hearing protection, and any site-specific PPE (hard hat, high-visibility vest, long sleeves/natural-fibre clothing). Confirm the site's minimum PPE requirements in advance.
Consumables and stationery
Pens, pencils, eraser, a non-programmable calculator if permitted, and a notebook for recording test results. Confirm whether any are restricted or supplied.
Cable, accessories and materials
Assessment materials are usually supplied by the provider. Do not buy or bring your own unless the provider has explicitly told you to; confirm this when you get your joining instructions.
Access and medical notification
Tell the provider in advance about any injury, medical condition, accessibility need or medication that may affect your ability to perform practical tasks safely.
Written confirmation of booking details
Bring the confirmation email or letter showing time, address, parking, entry point and contact number, so you can resolve any check-in confusion quickly.
Plan the day
Phone or email the provider to confirm start time, arrival time, address, parking, what is supplied versus what you must bring, instrument calibration requirements and the ID policy. Get the answer in writing if you can.
Inspect every tool and instrument: test leads for damage, insulation tester and multimeter on a known source, voltage indicator against a proving unit, calibration tags current. Replace or repair anything suspect now, not on the day.
Rehearse the core practical routines on your own gear: safe isolation and lockout, proving dead, insulation resistance and continuity testing, polarity and phase rotation checks, and a switchboard/ circuit wiring task end to end within a realistic time.
Review the parts of AS/NZS 3000 and your testing references you are least confident on - earthing and bonding, protection and switchgear selection, and test-result interpretation. Keep sessions short and sleep well.
Pack your bag from the checklist, label your tools, lay out PPE, and place ID and booking confirmation in the bag. Re-check the weather and travel plan.
Confirm the schedule with your employer or family so nothing competes with the assessment day. Avoid late-night cramming; stop study at a reasonable hour.
Eat properly, hydrate, take any prescribed medication, and leave with enough margin to arrive early. Traffic and parking are the most common cause of a bad start.
On arrival, check in, store your gear where directed, and read any written instructions or task sheets completely before touching anything.
Read the whole task before starting, plan the sequence, then isolate, lock out, prove dead and test before you touch. Work to the Wiring Rules and keep your workbench tidy so you can find tools and record results.
Record test results as you take them rather than from memory, and watch the clock. If a task is going long, secure the work in a safe state and move on as instructed.
Ask the assessor to clarify an instruction you do not understand - clarification is normally allowed, coaching is not. Stop and report immediately if a tool, lead or piece of equipment is faulty.
Rules to check
Bring the required photo ID. If you cannot produce acceptable identification, you may not be able to sit the assessment - confirm the accepted ID forms and the consequence of not having them with the provider.
Follow all assessor directions and site safety rules. Work that is unsafe, such as testing without proving dead or defeating a safety device, can result in the task being stopped and may affect your result - confirm how unsafe acts are treated with the provider.
Mobile phones, smart watches and recording devices are normally not permitted in the assessment area. Confirm the provider's policy on phones, bags and personal items before the day.
Aid from other candidates is not allowed; the assessment is individual work. Do not discuss or share task details with anyone still to be assessed.
Ask the assessor to clarify instructions and timing, but do not expect or accept hints about the correct technical answer. If you are unsure what is permitted, ask before you start the task.
Confirm with the provider whether scheduled breaks are included, whether the clock runs during breaks, and what to do if you need an unscheduled break (for example, for medication or toilet access).
Report any faulty tool, damaged lead or defective test instrument to the assessor before use rather than improvising a workaround.
Scoring is normally criteria-based, with critical safety and testing criteria needing to be met regardless of how much of the task you complete. Ask the provider for the assessment conditions, weighting and pass requirements in advance rather than assuming.