Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR)

Real Estate and Business Agent / Real Estate Sales Representative

Real estate and business agents and sales representatives licensed in another Australian State or Territory can access AMR to work in Western Australia. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities in WA that you do under your substantive home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, agents and sales representatives are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to commence trading in WA and to ensure all public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

There are two licence types available under the WA Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 that allow individuals to buy, sell and manage residential and commercial property on behalf of a client:

• a real estate and business agent
• a real estate and business sales representative.

In some cases, your home State licence may include activities not covered by the Western Australian licence for real estate and business agents. For instance some States include auction sales as an endorsement to their licence. If your home State licence authorises you to undertake auction sales you can undertake auction sales in WA without obtaining a separate licence. In contrast in WA an auctioneer’s licence is issued by the WA Magistrates Court. The WA Magistrates Court does not require interstate licensees to notify an intention to undertake auction sales under their home State licence in WA so notification is not required before commencing activities. Alternately, if you are licenced agent in WA without an auctioneers licence, you cannot act as an auctioneer in another State.

In WA, a real estate and business agent is authorised to trade in their own right, be the person in control of a licensed agency, and supervise sales representatives. A real estate and business sales representative must be employed by a Real Estate and Business Agent or Real Estate Developer and can conduct transactions on their behalf.

View a detailed list of activities authorised under the WA licence:

• Real Estate and Business Agent
• Real Estate and Business Sales Representative

Notification

Real estate and business agents and sales representatives who want to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of the intention to operate and show public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notice of Intent to Operate in Western Australia form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

An individual operating in WA under AMR will be deemed to hold either a Certificate of Registration as a Real Estate Sales Representative or both a Real Estate and Business Agents licence and a Triennial Certificate, and must confirm public protection requirements are met.

The public protection requirement for real estate and business agents, and real estate sales representatives must be met by:

• Making a payment to the Fidelity Fund ($150 for Agents and $45 for Sales Representatives)

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) required of Western Australian licensees does not apply to Real Estate and Business Agents operating with ADR. Agents required to undertake CPD under their home State licence must continue to meet those obligations.

Compliance

A Real Estate and Business Agent who is the licensee in bona fide control of the business must meet compliance obligations as specified in the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978, and the Real Estate and Business Agents (General) Regulations 1979.

This means such real estate and business agents must:

• Advise DEMIRS on commencement of trading
• Maintain a local Trust Account if receiving or holding trust monies.

A Real Estate and Business Sales Representative must:

• Remain employed by a WA licensed Real Estate and Business Agent.

All Real Estate and Business Agents and Sales Representatives operating in Western Australia are required to comply with the Australian Consumer Law (WA), Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978, the Real Estate and Business Agents (General) Regulations 1979 and the Real Estate and Business Agents and Sales Representatives Code of Conduct 2016.

More information to assist real estate agents comply with WA laws is available here

Real Estate and Business Settlement Agents

Settlement agents are known as conveyancers in other Australian jurisdictions.

Real Estate and Business Settlement Agents licenced in another Australian State or Territory can access AMR to work in Western Australia. Under AMR you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, Real Estate and Business Settlement Agents are required to notify DEMIRS of the intention to commence trading in Western Australia and to ensure all public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

In Western Australia, an individual licensed to manage the purchase or disposal of goods, chattels, or other property is a settlement agent. Settlement agents in Western Australia can either be licensed through Consumer Protection, or they can be a certified practitioner under the Legal Profession Act 2008.

It is important to understand the differences and what activities are authorised by your home State licence.

For example, in NSW and Victoria, a settlement agent is known as a conveyancer, and while conveyancers also manage the sale and transfer of property they may also be authorised to undertake some activities not covered by a WA settlement agent licence.

Consumer Protection issues two different types of settlement agent licence: a Business Settlement Agent is focussed on commercial transactions; a Real Estate Settlement Agent manages the disposal or requisition of land and residential property.

View a detailed list of authorised activities:

• Business Settlement Agent
• Real Estate Settlement Agent

Notification

Real Estate and Business Settlement Agents who want to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of the intention to operate and show that public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notice of Intent to Operate in Western Australia form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

An individual operating in WA under AMR will be deemed to hold both a Real Estate or Business Settlement Agent licence and a Triennial Certificate and to provide evidence public protection requirements are met.

For both a real estate and business settlement agent this means individuals:

• must make a payment to the Fidelity Account of $150; and
• must hold (or be covered by) Professional Indemnity Insurance of at least $250,000 through the approved provider

Annual Continuous Professional Development (CPD) required of locally licensed agents does not apply to Real Estate and Business Settlement Agents operating under ADR. Agents whose home State licence requires CPD to be completed must continue to meet this obligation.

Compliance

A Real Estate or Business Settlement Agent who is the licensee in bona fide control of the business must meet compliance obligations as specified in the Settlement Agents Act 1981, and the Settlement Agents Regulations 1982.

This means individuals must:

• advise DEMIRS on commencement of trading; and
• maintain a local trust account in compliance with the Settlement Agents Regulations.

All business and real estate settlement agents operating in WA are required to comply with the Settlement Agents Act 1981, Settlement Agents Regulations 1982 and the Settlement Agents Code of Conduct 1982. Proactive compliance page provides more information to assist settlement and business agents to meet WA compliance requirements.

Licensing requirements and scope of work for debt collectors, process servers, repossession agents and investigators are different in each State.

Only debt collectors who hold a licence in another Australian State or Territory can access AMR to work in WA. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria do not licence debt collectors, which means individuals from these States will not be eligible to undertake this work in WA, without applying for a WA debt collector’s licence.

Some home State licences may include activities not covered by the WA debt collector’s licence. For instance, the licence for an Investigation Agent issued in South Australia includes activities of two separate WA licences - Debt Collector, issued in WA by DEMIRS, and Investigator, issued in WA through the WA Police. You will only be able to work in WA under AMR , using your home State licence to undertake debt collection activities. To undertake investigator activities you will need to apply for a WA licence under mutual recognition with WA Police as it is an excluded occupation in WA for AMR.

Authorised activities

In WA, anyone involved in the collection of money for unpaid loans, overdue accounts, or other debts is required to be licensed, as specified under the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964.

Debt collectors in WA are able to contact the debtor by phone, mail or in person to advise them of the debt and arrange for payments to be made. They can negotiate the repossession of goods as payment or make other flexible arrangements for payment over time. They may also prepare summonses and statements of claim for filing at court on behalf of their client. In some cases they may be required to locate debtors who have changed address.

The WA Act defines debt collector as:

“a person (whether or not he carries on any other business) who on behalf of any other person and for or in expectation of any gain, fee or reward whatever, by whomsoever paid or payable and either on his own account or in conjunction with another, carries on the business of collecting requesting or demanding payment of debts or who advertises or notifies that he carries on that business”

View a detailed list of authorised activities:

• Debt collector

Notification

Debt collectors who want to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notice of Intent to Operate in Western Australia form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR , you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection and compliance obligations.

For a debt collector this means:

• Lodging a bank guarantee or fidelity bond of at least $6,000 with the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, as prescribed by the Debt Collectors Licensing Regulations 1964. The bond or bank guarantee must be the original. Fidelity bonds are accepted from:
  • Institute of Mercantile Agents Limited
  • White Group (VIC) Pty Ltd t/as White Insurance Brokers
  • any entity that is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence which confers the authorisation to provide general insurance products
  • Bonds underwritten by Lloyds of London are also accepted.

Compliance

Monies received in relation to the collection of a debt must be deposited into a statutory trust account that must comply with the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964. More information to assist debt collectors to meet WA compliance requirements is available at debt collector laws and compensation.

Licensing of employment and recruitment agents is different in each State. In WA an individual who is in the business of finding workers for employers and/or work for people seeking employment, must hold a licence under the Employment Agents Act 1976. Similar arrangements are in place in South Australia (SA) and the ACT.

Individuals carrying on the same work in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania, the Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland are not required to be licensed. This means, only those employment agents who hold a substantive licence in SA or the ACT are eligible for AMR in WA. If you are an experienced employment agent from another Australian State or Territory you will need to apply for a WA licence under the Act to work in this State.

Authorised activities

You are considered to be ‘carrying on business’ as an employment agent if you receive payment for helping people find employment or for finding employees for other people or businesses, whether this is on a fulltime, part-time or occasional basis. An employment agent may receive an ‘entrance fee’, periodical contribution or other payment from an employer for providing these services.

View a detailed list of authorised activities:

• Employment agent

Labour hire

WA does not require a licence for the provision of labour-hire. This is where an individual provides short-term or temporary workers to a third-party organisation. The workers are paid by the labour-hire company but work at client organisations.

• Guidelines for Labour Hire Employers

Notification

Employment agents who want to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate. The Notice of Intent to Operate in Western Australia form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no public protection requirements imposed on employment agents in WA.

Compliance

Employment agents must comply with the Employment Agents Act 1976 and Employment Agents Regulations 1976.

Registration of land valuers is only required in WA and Queensland. This means, suitably qualified land valuers from all other Australian States and Territories will be required to apply for a full WA land valuers licence to practice in WA.

Queensland is not currently a participant in the automatic mutual recognition scheme and therefore its licensees are not eligible for AMR in WA. Queensland licensees will need to continue to apply for mutual recognition of their Queensland licence to obtain a land valuer’s licence in WA.

WA land valuers, who have the required qualifications, are able to practice in any other State and Territory without registration, except Queensland, where they will need to apply for mutual recognition of their WA licence.

Authorised activities

Land valuation involves inspecting the property, ascertaining legal ownership and the interest held, and gathering relevant information such as the prices similar properties sell for.

Other factors influencing the valuation, such as considering the saleability of the property or its value for mortgage purposes are related activities. Land valuers provide valuations of many different types of real property including residential, commercial, industrial, rural and horticultural properties.

View a detailed list of authorised activities:

• Land valuer

Notification

Land valuers who want to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate. The Notice of Intent to Operate in Western Australia form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements for land valuers in WA.

Compliance

All land valuers operating in WA must comply with the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978, Land Valuers Licensing Regulations 1979 and the Licensed Valuers Code of Conduct 2016. Land Valuation in WA compliance handbook has more information to assist land valuers meet WA compliance requirements.

AMR is available to licensed individuals from other Australian States and Territories working in the motor vehicle sales industry. This includes motor vehicle dealers, yard managers and sales representatives.

Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities in WA that are authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence activities in WA and ensure all public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

There are three types of licence for motor vehicle dealing in WA:

• Motor vehicle dealer - When you make a business out of buying and selling vehicles; act as a financier for the purpose of buying and selling cars, or operate a car rental business. In Western Australia, if you sell or exchange four or more vehicles in any 12 month period with persons who are not dealers you need a motor vehicle dealer licence. – detailed list of activities page
• Motor vehicle yard manager - When you are employed by a dealer to manage or supervise the business of buying or selling vehicles on his/ her premises. – detailed list of activities page
• Motor vehicles salesperson - when you are employed by a dealer to buy or sell vehicles on the premises, but are not the yard manager – detailed list of activities page

Notification

All interstate licensees in the motor vehicle sales industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR, you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection requirements before commencing work.

For a motor vehicle dealer operating a car sales business the public protection requirement is:

• Having sufficient financial resources.

Compliance

Sales representatives and yard operators must be employed by a licensed dealer and the dealer must operate out of a registered premises.

If a dealer wishes to undertake consignment sales they must also open a trust account.

All licensed individuals in the motor vehicle sales industry must comply with the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973, Motor Vehicle Dealers (sales) Regulations 1974, Australian Consumer Law (WA), and the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987. WA compliance requirements provides more information to assist motor vehicle dealers and sales representatives to meet their obligations in WA.

In WA, an individual who supervises the repair work of others, or who carries out repair work unsupervised, must hold a Motor Vehicle Repairer’s Certificate for each class of repair work supervised or undertaken.

A separate, additional licence is required to operate a motor vehicle repair business, including as a sole trader, mobile repairer, or employer of a certified repairer who supervises repair work.

Authorised activities

In WA, there are 23 classes of repair work (previously 29) that certificate holders can undertake including:

• Air conditioning work
• Body building work
• Electrical work
• Engine reconditioning work
• Underbody work

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type and sub-class:

• Motor Vehicle Repair Business
• Certified Motor Vehicle Repairer

Notification

All interstate licensees in the motor vehicle repair industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR, you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection requirements before commencing work.

For a motor vehicle repair business this means:

• operate out of premises registered with DEMIRS; and
• demonstrate sufficient material, human and financial resources.

Compliance

Individuals working in the motor vehicle industry must comply with the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003, and Motor Vehicle Repairers Regulations 2007; Fair Trading Act 2010 (Australian Consumer Law); and Retail Trading Hours Act 1987. Motor vehicle repairers’ licensing kit page provides more information to assist motor vehicle repairers and business owners to operate in WA.

Building contractor and practitioner

AMR is available to individuals from other participating Australian States and Territories who hold a licence in the building services sector. This includes building practitioners and building contractors. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence work in WA and ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

The activities and scope of work covered by your substantive, home State licence may be different to those covered by a Western Australian building contractor or building practitioner’s licence.

In WA, registration is required for building work:

• for which a building permit is required;
• with a value of $20,000 or more; and
• which is carried out in a defined area of the state.

A building practitioner is authorised to manage and supervise building work while a building contractor may contract and carry out building work.

Demolition activities are licensed separately in WA. If you intend to under demolition you will need to notify under the Demolition Licence which is a WorkSafe licence.

Asbestos removal has automatic mutual recognition under the Work Health and Safety Act 2020.

Building work activities include construction, renovation, assembly and site works.

View a detailed list of activities:

• Building contractor
• Building practitioner

Notification

All interstate licensees in the building services industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS and where required, show public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR, you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection requirements before commencing work.

For a building contractor this means you/your business must have:

• sufficient financial resources to meet debts as and when they fall due.

Compliance

Individuals working in the building services industry in WA are required to comply with the National Construction Code as well as the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011, the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011 and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022. More information to assist building contractors and practitioners to operate in Western Australia is available from the Compliance with building standards page.

Painting contractor and practitioner

AMR is available to licensed painting contractors and practitioners from other participating Australian States and Territories. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities in WA that are authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence work in WA and to ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

AMR is available to licensed painting contractors and practitioners from other participating Australian States and Territories. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities in WA that are authorised by your substantive home State licence.

A registered painting contractor is authorised to contract for and arrange for the carrying out of painting work valued at $1,000 or more which is the application of paint (which includes varnishes and stains), wallpaper or a similar substance or material to a building or fixture within a defined area of the state.

A registered painting practitioner is authorised to act as a nominated supervisor for a registered painting contractor for the performance of painting work.

View a detailed list of activities:

• Painting contractor
• Painting practitioner

Notification

All interstate licensees in the building services industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR, you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection requirements before commencing work.

For a painting contractor this means:

• you must not have been insolvent;
• if you have previously been insolvent, you must have the capacity to meet debts as and when they fall due.

Compliance

Painters in Western Australia are governed by a number of Acts and Regulations, including the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011and the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011. Technical advice for painters and decorators provides more information to help comply with the laws.

Building surveying practitioner, technician and contractor

Licensed building surveyors from participating Australian states and territories are able to access AMR to work in WA. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities that are authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence work in WA and to ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

A building surveying practitioner assesses building and construction work to ensure the works comply with all legislative requirements including safety, accessibility and energy efficiency.

In WA, there are three classes of building surveying practitioner licence issued, which indicate the scope of work the individual is able to carry out.

To provide private certification services direct to the public, a practitioner must also be licensed to carry out the activities of a building surveying contractor level 1 or level 2.

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type:

• Building Surveying Contractor (Level 1 or 2)
• Building Surveying Practitioner (Level 1, 2 & Technician).

Notification

All interstate licensees in the building services industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

To operate in WA under AMR , you must comply with all local laws and meet any public protection requirements before commencing work.

For a building surveying contractor this means:

• Must be a registered building surveying practitioner (Level 1 or 2)
• Must not have been insolvent.
• Must hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to manage the risk of the work undertaken, considering the nature, risk, size, and volume of the work.

Compliance

Individuals working in the building services industry in WA are required to comply with the National Construction Code as well as the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011 and the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011.

More information and technical advice to assist building surveyors to operate successfully in WA is available on the Building surveyors page.

Building engineering contractor and practitioner

The registration scheme for building engineers commenced in Western Australia on 1 July 2024 with a transition period. The full registration scheme is being implemented in stages with structural and fire safety engineers commencing first, and civil and mechanical engineers commencing in the coming years.

The department is conducting a comprehensive review to determine whether Building Engineers are permitted to operate under the AMR scheme during the transition period.  This review should be concluded in the coming weeks and further information will be made available on this page.

To express your interest in operating as a building engineer under the AMR scheme in WA please email us at AMR@demirs.wa.gov.au. Please include in your enquiry if you are seeking information about carrying out activities at practitioner or contractor level. We will then notify you as further information is available. 

AMR is available in WA, allowing adjudicators registered by Local Registration Authorities in other States and Territories to work in WA using their interstate registration. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

Authorised activities

A registered adjudicator is appointed by the parties or an authorised nominating authority to decide whether a party who is claiming payment over construction work is entitled to payment and, if so, how much.

View a detailed list of activities:

• Adjudicator

Notification

All interstate licensees planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements imposed on Adjudicators in WA.

Compliance

Adjudicators must comply with the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Construction Contracts Act 2004, Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011 and Construction Contracts Regulations 2004.

Demolition

AMR is available to licensed demolition professionals from other participating Australian States and Territories. Under AMR , you can carry on the same activities in WA that are authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence work in WA and to ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised Activities

A demolition licence is required for the demolition or dismantling of a structure 2 metres or higher; or a fence or wall 1.8m metres or higher; or to demolish or dismantle a structure which is not a single storey dwelling. The licence can be designated Class 1 or Class 2 depending on the height, construction method and manner of demolition.

View a detailed list of activities at:

• Demolition licence.

Notification

All interstate licensees in the building services industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements imposed on demolition licensees in WA.

Compliance

Demolition work in WA is governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and requires familiarity with AS2601-2001

High Risk Work Licence Assessor

AMR is available to High Risk Work Licence Assessors from other participating Australian States and Territories. Under AMR , you can carry on the same activities in WA that are authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence work in WA and to ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

Accredited HRWL Assessors conduct Vocational Education and Training assessments that result in the issuing of a Notice of Assessment (NOA). The assessment is conducted using a nationally approved assessment instrument for the particular class of HRWL. Persons wishing to obtain a High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) must be assessed by an accredited HRWL Assessor for the class of HRWL required.

View a detailed list of activities:

• High Risk Work Licence Assessor

Notification

All interstate licensees in the building services industry planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements imposed on High Risk Work Accredited Assessors in WA.

Compliance

HRW Assessor work in WA is governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022.

Electrician, electrical contractor and restricted electrical worker

Electrical workers and Electrical contractors are not currently part of the AMR scheme in WA and therefore you are not able to work in WA using your home State registration.

You can still apply for mutual recognition and use your substantive registration to get a WA licence.

Plumbing tradesperson, contractor

AMR is available in WA, allowing licensed plumbers from other participating States and Territories to work in WA using their interstate registration. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence trading in WA and ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

Authorised activities and scope of work can vary greatly in each State and with different licence types so it is important to know what activities you are authorised to undertake. For example fire protection equipment can only be installed by a licensed plumber in Victoria, but this activity is not covered by a WA plumber’s licence. That means a plumbing tradesperson from WA working in Victoria under AMR would not be licensed to do fire protection work and would have to obtain a licence in Victoria to be authorised to do so.

In WA plumbers are licensed to work on water supply plumbing, sanitary plumbing and drainage plumbing

View a detailed list of activities authorised in WA under each licence type:

• A plumbing contractor must also be a licensed tradesperson and can direct and control plumbing tradespersons, and issue notices and certificates of compliance for plumbing work.
• A tradesperson works under the general direction of a plumbing contractor.
• A provisional tradesperson’s licence is granted to individuals whose qualifications were obtained outside Australia and must currently work under the supervision of a tradesperson or plumbing contractor.
• A restricted plumbing permit is issued to licensed electricians or gasfitters who intend to carry out water heater replacements while performing electrical or gas fitting work.

Notification

All interstate licensees planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements imposed on plumbing contractors and plumbing tradespeople in WA.

Compliance

Individuals undertaking plumbing work in WA are required to comply with the Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 and Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000.

This includes the requirements to submit a Notice of Intention and a Certificate of Compliance within prescribed timeframes for all major plumbing work undertaken.

Gasfitter

AMR is available in WA for tradespeople from other States and Territories who hold a licence for gas fitting work.

Licensing arrangements vary greatly between States with Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA offering a gas work licence that is restricted to service only, on specific appliance types. Some States also offer an interim or provisional licence, as well as the full open gas licence. In Victoria, gas fitting is listed under a plumber’s licence.

It is important to know what activities are covered by your licence type. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

While you do not need a local licence, you are required to notify DEMIRS of your intention to commence trading in WA and ensure any public protection and compliance requirements are met.

Authorised activities

In WA, activities covered by a full gas fitter’s licence include installation, removal, demolition, replacement, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a gas installation, including the installation or conversion of a gas fuelled engine.

There are also six classes of licence for gas fitting work to cover activities for domestic and commercial appliances (Type A), industrial appliances (Type B), mobile engines, caravan and marine craft, and the storage and dispensing of gas under the Road Traffic Act 1976.

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type:

• Gas Fitter Registration

Notification

All interstate licensees planning to work in WA under AMR are required to notify DEMIRS of their intention to operate and where required, show the public protection requirements are met before commencing operations.

The Notification of Intention to Work under AMR form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

Public protection requirements

There are no specific public protection requirements imposed on Gas fitters in WA.

Compliance

Individuals undertaking gas fitting work in WA are required to comply with the Gas Standards Act 1972 and the Gas Standards (Gas fitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999

The submission of Notices of Completion is a requirement of the Gas Standards (Gas fitting and Consumer Gas Installation) Regulations 1999. This can be done using DEMIRS’ eNotice facility. Download the Gas eNotice Guide.

Footnotes

1.  are not required to be licensed in WA under either the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964 or the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996, however this work is often carried out by a licensed debt collector or private inquiry agent (Investigator) in other States and Territories.

2. as a Private Inquiry Agent or is employed as an Investigator in Western Australia must be licensed under the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996. This licence is managed and issued by the WA Police Department.

   A Private Inquiry Agent licence can supply and advertise the services of Investigators. Individuals who conduct investigations into the character of a person or bodies corporate, or the behaviour or whereabouts of a person, are required to hold an Investigator’s licence.