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Automatic mutual recognition for occupational licences

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) makes it easier for licensed or registered workers to take up new work opportunities across most of Australia. Workers can use their current licence without having to apply or pay for a new licence when working in another state or territory. AMR applies to individuals but not companies.

A user guide has been developed to provide more information on the national scheme

AMR commenced for the majority of occupational licences administered by CBOS on 1 July 2022.

NOTE: If you change your home state, you will need to apply through existing mutual recognition arrangements to obtain a new substantive licence or registration in your new home state. Whilst working in Tasmania under Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR), you are subject to consumer protection requirements. A list of occupations and factsheets are available Tasmanian consumer protection requirements (cbos.tas.gov.au)

Occupations within the scope of the AMR scheme in Tasmania

Click below to see the status of AMR for different licence types across jurisdictions as at 1 July 2022:

TasmaniaStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersNot yet commenced
Building designersCommenced
Building surveyorsCommenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Commenced
Electrical workersCommenced
EngineersCommenced
Gas-fittersCommenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agents (Real Estate Agents)Commenced
Security and investigation agentsCommenced
Motor vehicle tradersCommenced

For occupations not yet commenced under AMR in Tasmania, such as General Construction Builders, Property Agents and Conveyancers, you may still apply under the mutual recognition process, which remains unchanged.

Some of the occupations that are not regulated in Tasmania and do not require an occupational licence (and therefore AMR is not relevant) include:

  • Carpenters
  • Painters and decorators
  • Bricklayers
  • Plasterers (wet or dry)
  • Fencing
  • Joinery
  • Glazing
  • Installing security grills
  • General concreting
  • Motor vehicle repairers
  • Second-hand dealers’ pawnbrokers
  • Rooming house operators
  • Roof tiling
  • Stonemasonry
  • Swimming pool repairs and servicing
  • Wall and floor tiling.

Notification to work in Tasmania

If you are currently licensed for one of the regulated occupations in another state or territory and want to work in Tasmania, you need to notify CBOS via the online notification form.

You must submit a notification and meet all consumer protection requirements for your licence type before commencing any work in Tasmania.

Other requirements when working in Tasmania

AMR licensees must comply with the same conduct and technical requirements as Tasmanian licensees.

Factsheets are available for the following occupations:

For other licences, see the Tasmanian consumer protection requirements webpage.

Eligibility and safeguards to maintain standards

Workers are not eligible for AMR if they:

  • are disqualified or suspended from carrying on the occupation or have been refused a licence for that occupation;
  • are subject to disciplinary, civil or criminal action or have matters pending;
  • have current conditions on their substantive licence due to disciplinary or court action; or
  • have permanently relocated to Tasmania from another state/territory.

AMR workers must:

  • hold a licence or registration in their home state or territory covering the work they undertake;
  • only work within the scope and conditions of their existing licence or registration;
  • obey Tasmanian laws; otherwise, they may face disciplinary action, licence suspension or cancellation, and be excluded from AMR; and
  • meet and maintain consumer protection requirements related to their occupation.

Engaging an interstate licensee in Tasmania under AMR

Tasmanian employers can engage interstate licensees to do work in Tasmania through the AMR scheme, provided that:

  • The licence type has commenced under the AMR scheme in Tasmania;
  • The interstate licensee has notified CBOS that they are participating in the AMR scheme and have supplied CBOS with evidence that they meet the consumer protection requirements; and
  • The work they perform is an activity that their home state or territory registration or licence permits.

Before you engage a worker through AMR to work in Tasmania, you should:

Workers who operate in Tasmania under AMR are subject to the relevant Tasmanian laws. They are also subject to regulatory oversight by CBOS and may be audited and/or investigated by CBOS.

Information privacy

CBOS will gather information to identify licensees seeking to work under AMR and details of their home state registrations. This includes:

  • personal identification details, such as name and date of birth;
  • contact details, such as an address, telephone number and email address;
  • details of interstate registrations held; and
  • details of any disciplinary investigations or actions against the licensee.

CBOS will share this information with other regulators to help determine whether a person is eligible to work in a regulated occupation and assist with compliance activities. This includes interstate regulators and regulators within Tasmania.

Details of each individual working in Tasmania under AMR will be published on the CBOS public register once they have notified CBOS.

CBOS manages all personal information in line with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004.

Working in another state or territory

The commencement date and scope of AMR is different in each state and territory.

If you are licensed/registered in Tasmania and wish to work in another state or territory, you must check if AMR has commenced for your occupation in that particular state or territory. You will also need to check that you are eligible for AMR.

AMR has commenced for certain occupations in:

Remember to check the jurisdiction's website for notification, consumer protection and insurance requirements before commencing work in that state or territory.

Click below to see the status of AMR for certain occupations in these states and territories.

Australian Capital Territory
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersNot yet commenced
Building designersNot licensed
Building surveyorsNot yet commenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Not yet commenced
Electrical workersNot yet commenced
EngineersNot licensed
Gas-fittersNot yet commenced
PlumbersNot yet commenced
Property agentsCommenced
Security and investigation agentsCommenced
Motor vehicle tradersCommenced
New South Wales
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersCommenced
Building designersNot yet commenced
Building surveyorsCommenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Not yet commenced
Electrical workersNot yet commenced
EngineersCommenced
Gas-fittersCommenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agentsNot yet commenced
Security and investigation agentsNot yet commenced
Motor vehicle tradersNot yet commenced
Northern Territory
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersCommenced
Building designersNot licensed
Building surveyorsCommenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Commenced
Electrical workersCommenced
EngineersCommenced
Gas-fittersCommenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agentsCommenced
Security and investigation agentsCommenced
Motor vehicle tradersNot yet commenced
South Australia
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsNot yet commenced
BuildersCommenced
Building designersNot licensed
Building surveyorsCommenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Commenced
Electrical workersCommenced
EngineersNot licensed
Gas-fittersCommenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agentsCommenced
Security and investigation agentsCommenced
Motor vehicle tradersCommenced
Victoria
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersCommenced
Building designersCommenced
Building surveyorsNot yet commenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Commenced
Electrical workersCommenced
EngineersCommenced
Gas-fittersNot yet commenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agentsCommenced
Security and investigation agentsNot yet commenced
Motor vehicle tradersCommenced
Western Australia
Licence/registration typeStatus
ArchitectsCommenced
BuildersCommenced
Building designersNot licensed
Building surveyorsCommenced
Conveyancers (Settlement Agents)Commenced
Electrical workersNot yet commenced
EngineersNot licensed
Gas-fittersCommenced
PlumbersCommenced
Property agentsCommenced
Security and investigation agentsNot yet commenced
Motor vehicle tradersCommenced
Last updated: 10 Oct 2023

This page has been produced and published by the Consumer Building and Occupational Services Division of the Department of Justice. Although every care has been taken in production, no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user's purpose of the information. Those using it for whatever purpose are advised to verify it with the relevant government department, local government body or other source and to obtain any appropriate professional advice. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information and/or reliance on its availability at any time.