Yes—if you are applying for a Northern Territory electrical contractor licence, NT WorkSafe’s Electrical contractor licence guidance, updated 13 May 2025, requires the applicant to hold at least $5,000,000 in public and products liability insurance for liability arising from personal injury or property damage from electrical work performed under the licence. The same guidance requires the applicant—or, for a partnership or body corporate, at least one employee whose name will be endorsed—to have held an unrestricted electrical work licence for a minimum of two years; meeting the insurance requirement alone is insufficient because the approved contractor-course and nominated-person requirements must also be met. figures checked 1 October 2026.
When does a business need an electrical contractor licence in the NT?
A business must hold an electrical contractor licence if it:
- performs electrical work for a fee; or
- employs a licensed electrical worker who performs electrical work for a fee.
Under section 9 of the Electrical Safety Act 2022, electrical work includes connecting or disconnecting electricity supply to electrical equipment, as well as manufacturing, constructing, installing, removing, adding, testing, replacing, repairing, altering or maintaining electrical equipment or an electrical installation.
An electrical contractor licence may be issued to an individual, such as a sole trader, a partnership or a body corporate.
What does the insurance requirement actually cover?
The required protection must relate to liability arising from both:
- personal injury or property damage; and
- electrical work performed under the licence.
The amount alone does not establish that a particular policy responds to every job or claim. Nothing in the cited regulator requirement labels the amount as a per-job or annual-aggregate limit. Check the policy’s Product Disclosure Statement, or PDS, and ask the insurer or broker how the limit applies.
What must the applicant or employee satisfy?
The insurance, experience, training and nominated-person requirements work together. Under the Electrical Safety Regulator’s guidance, the main checks are:
| Requirement | Who must meet it | NT WorkSafe requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Public and products liability insurance | The applicant | At least $5,000,000 for personal injury or property damage arising from electrical work performed under the licence |
| Unrestricted electrical work licence experience | The applicant; for a partnership or body corporate, at least one employee whose name will be endorsed | Held an unrestricted electrical work licence for a minimum of two years |
| Approved contractor course | The applicant or at least one employee | Successfully completed the contractor-course units approved by the Electrical Safety Regulator |
| Performance of electrical work | The applicant must demonstrate the work arrangements | Work must be performed by an electrical work licence holder or, for an apprentice, by a person supervised by the licence holder |
| Nominated person | An owner, partner or employee endorsed on the licence | Must hold a current unrestricted electrical work licence, have held it for at least two years, and have completed the approved contractor course |
The contractor-course units named by NT WorkSafe are:
- UEEEL0040 — Develop Compliance Policies and Plans to conduct an Electrical Contracting Business
- UEEEL0002 — Apply Currency of Safe Working Practices and Compliance Verification of Electrical Installations
What does the nominated person need to do?
The licence must name at least one nominated person, also called a nominee. A contractor may have more than one nominated person, but each person may be a nominated person for only one electrical contractor licence at a time.
All electrical work completed by the contractor must be performed or supervised by a nominated person. The nominee is responsible for ensuring that the work is carried out in accordance with current electrical safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards.
What happens if the nominated person leaves?
The contractor must follow the notification and approval rules:
- It cannot change its nominated person without the Regulator’s approval.
- If it loses its nominated person, it must notify the Regulator and obtain approval for a replacement.
- If the nominee stops holding an unrestricted electrical work licence, or ceases to be an owner or director, partner or employee, the contractor has 30 days to notify the Regulator.
- Continuing to provide and perform electrical work after losing the nominated person without notifying the Regulator, or performing work without an endorsed nominated person, would be an offence under electrical safety legislation.
A body corporate or partnership must also notify changes to its name, trading name or partnership members. NT WorkSafe provides an Application to vary an electrical contractor’s licence form for nominated-person and business-detail changes.
How is an application organised?
The application process starts with the structure:
- Use the electrical contractor licence application form for a company or partnership, or the separate form for a sole trader.
- Include the completed electrical workers register for contractors, using the template provided by NT WorkSafe.
- Ensure the licence holder or relevant employee meets the experience and contractor-course requirements.
- Ensure the nominated-person requirements will be met and the applicant holds the required public and products liability insurance.
NT WorkSafe states that an electrical contractor licence can be issued for a maximum period of three years.
What if I already hold a licence in another state or territory?
The automatic mutual recognition scheme commenced in the Northern Territory on 1 July 2022. A person holding a current licence or registration elsewhere may be able to use it for the same activities in the NT through automatic mutual recognition.
If eligible, the person must lodge an Automatic mutual recognition notification — electrical form. NT WorkSafe states that this notification has no fee and does not require the applicant to apply for a NT licence or registration under the scheme.
There are important limits:
- The scheme does not apply to companies or partnerships; only individuals, such as sole traders, may apply as electrical contractors.
- A person whose primary place of residence is in the NT cannot use automatic mutual recognition for this purpose.
- Reciprocal applicants must still demonstrate that they remain competent in electrical work.
This is a different pathway from applying for a NT electrical contractor licence. The cited guidance does not state that the $5,000,000 insurance requirement is waived under automatic mutual recognition, so do not assume a waiver; confirm the position with NT WorkSafe.
What should you check before applying or relying on cover?
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Before applying or relying on insurance, check the current Electrical Safety Regulator page on NT WorkSafe and the policy’s PDS. Confirm the current application forms, nominated-person requirements and how the insurance limit applies.
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FAQ
Does a sole trader need the same $5,000,000 insurance?
Yes, if the sole trader is applying for an electrical contractor licence. The applicant must hold at least $5,000,000 in public and products liability insurance for the relevant personal injury or property damage liability.
Can a company meet the experience and course requirements through an employee?
A partnership or body corporate can meet the experience requirement through at least one employee whose name will be endorsed. The contractor course may be completed by the applicant or at least one employee. The nominated person must also meet the current-licence, two-year experience and contractor-course requirements.
What is the nominated person responsible for?
The nominated person must perform or supervise all electrical work completed by the contractor and ensure it is carried out in accordance with current electrical safety legislation and relevant Australian Standards.
What should happen if the nominated person leaves?
The contractor must notify NT WorkSafe and obtain the Regulator’s approval for a replacement. If the nominee stops holding the required unrestricted licence or leaves the relevant role, notification is due within 30 days. The contractor should not continue electrical work without an endorsed nominated person.
Does the $5,000,000 limit mean every claim will be paid to that amount?
Not necessarily. The regulator’s amount is an eligibility requirement, not a promise that every claim will be paid. Claim outcomes depend on the policy terms and the facts of the loss, so check the PDS carefully.