If you are need of a test and tag service and want to out- source someone to do this ,  the company , business or organisation  must be the
holder's of a electrical licence.

There are courses you can take to do in house testing of electrical equipment,  but those courses only allow you to test your own equipment
not other people's electrical equpiment.

To test, tag and fault check all electrical equipment belonging to other people you must have an electrical contractors licence..

The Electrical Safety Act 2002 (PDF File, 1.02MB) (PDF, 788 KB) states that an employer must ensure specified electrical equipment is regularly and properly inspected, tested and tagged as safe. Section 83 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 (PDF File, 1.02 MB) (PDF, 1 MB) provides a definition of specified electrical equipment.

Only a person deemed competent can do this. The Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 defines a competent person as someone who has acquired through training, qualifications, experience or a combination of these, the knowledge and skill enabling the person to inspect and test electrical equipment.

The employer or self-employed person is responsible for determining that the person carrying out inspection, testing and tagging of electrical equipment has the required competencies.

According to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment (non-Queensland Government link) the following competencies are required to inspect, test and tag electrical equipment:

• Knowledge of, and the ability to carry out, a visual examination of electrical equipment in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.
• The ability to distinguish between electrical equipment that is double insulated and equipment that is protectively earthed and identify the appropriate test for each type.
• The ability to carry out the earthing continuity tests on electrical equipment in accordance with Appendix A of AS/NZS 3760, while flexing the flexible cable.
• The ability to carry out the insulation resistance tests on electrical equipment in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.
• The ability to carry out tests on residual current devices (safety switches) in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.
• Knowledge of the proper use of the relevant testing instruments and to interpret results for compliance with AS/NZS 3760.
• An understanding of how the Electrical Safety Regulation 2002 applies to electrical equipment and installations at the workplace