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NSW Resources

Practising certificates overview

An overview of the new system of practising certificates and eligibility requirements.

Purpose and importance

The Resources Regulator administers practising certificates to ensure NSW mining workers in statutory functions have the necessary competencies. An individual must hold a current practising certificate to practise in the statutory function.

Practising certificates are a crucial component of the NSW mining industry's safety framework by: 

  • specifying the function to be carried out by the individual under the Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulations 2022 Schedule 10
  • being issued for up to 5 years
  • by randomly auditing individuals to ensure they are complying with their maintenance of competence condition
  • having a condition to maintain:

    • contact and work details with the Regulator

    • competence according to the gazetted scheme.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a practising certificate, you must: 

  • hold a valid certificate of competence and or qualifications, or mutual recognition

  • For quarry manager tier 2 practising certificate:

    • demonstrate relevant practical experience

    • complete required units in emergency preparedness and response

  • From October 1, 2020, holding a practising certificate became mandatory for those exercising statutory functions that require one. Applications submitted after September 30, 2020, may be subject to a condition requiring 20% more learning in the first year of the certificate's validity

Mutual recognition

Individuals who hold a current valid certificate to exercise a statutory function required in another state or New Zealand, may apply:

  • for mutual recognition to obtain a NSW practising certificate for an equivalent occupation(s) or,
  • automatic mutual recognition to have temporary registration for interstate certificates (except Qld)
    Note: South Australian and Victorian certificates of competence are no longer required so cannot be recognised, but holders may be eligible through gazetted notices accepting them in NSW.

Implementation timeline

The timeline for all people practising with a certificate of competence or production manager permit in a statutory function to apply to have a practising certificate finished on 30 September 2020.

Individuals issued with a practising certificate during the invitation 'bonus' period are able to claim activities for maintenance of competence in the year before the issuing date on their certificate.

Statutory function Invitation 'bonus' period Applications 'grace' period
  • Mining engineering manager
  • Mechanical engineering manager
  • Electrical engineering manager
 1 September 2017 to
31 August 2018		 1 September 2018 to
31 August 2019
  • Undermanager
  • Quarry manager
 1 December 2017 to
30 November 2018 		 1 December 2018 to
30 November 2019
  • Ventilation auditor
  • Ventilation officer
  • Dust explosion control measures auditor
  • Open cut examiner
  • Electrical engineer
  • Mechanical engineer
 1 March 2018 to
28 February 2019 		 1 March 2019 to
28 February 2020
  • Deputy
  • Underground mine supervisor
 1 June 2018 to
31 May 2019 		 1 June 2019 to
31 May 2020
  • Quarry manager – conditioned to a specific mine (previously called production manager permits).
 1 September 2018
(no bonus or grace period)		 31 August 2020

Resources and guides

Regular webinars with question and answer sessions

Fact sheets

Other