Interstate crews are common after storms, in rebate surges and on commercial jobs. The question is whether your home licence travels. The short answer is: usually, with paperwork.
How automatic mutual recognition works
Automatic mutual recognition (AMR) lets an individual who holds a valid licence in their home state work in another jurisdiction without a separate application, subject to conditions. Typical conditions are:
- your home licence is current and not under disciplinary action
- you notify the host regulator before starting, usually through an online portal
- you comply with the host state’s rules, including local certificates, inspection requirements and insurance
Some states have additional arrangements. For example, NSW treats electricians from Queensland, Victoria and the ACT under a regional arrangement in some contexts, while Queensland has been reported as outside parts of the national scheme. Those details change, so check the regulator in the state you plan to work in: NSW Fair Trading, Energy Safe Victoria, SafeWork SA, the NT’s electrical licensing authority and the others.
What does not travel
- The business licence. A contractor licence is a business-level credential, and you may need registration or notification in the new state before you contract for work.
- Local certification. Certificates of electrical safety or compliance, inspections and lodgement requirements are local.
- Consumer rules. Cooling-off, contract rules and advertising law vary; see consumer law for solar installers.
- State programs. Rebates and approvals, such as Solar Victoria’s installer approval, are separate.
What does travel: SAA accreditation
SAA accreditation is national. It supports STC creation wherever the system is installed. See SAA accreditation. The zone rating depends on the postcode of the installation, not where you are based, so check the STC calculator per job.
Practical steps before crossing a border
- Confirm that your home licence qualifies under AMR for that state.
- Lodge the host-state notification before you start.
- Check the local certificate and lodgement requirements.
- Tell your insurer about the new location.
- Review your subcontractors’ licences; see subcontractor rates and checks.
From the desk: interstate crews can lose days to paperwork. If the STC payment is also slow, the cash gap compounds. Plan your funding with installer cash flow in mind.
What this means for installers
Mutual recognition lowers the barrier, but it does not remove it. Start with the state pages: NSW, Queensland, Victoria and WA. The installers hub and start trading cover the rest.