Do fitters and turners need a licence in Australia?

No. Fitting, turning and machining is not a licensed occupation in any state or territory. There is no registration board and no trade licence. You may need separate high risk work licences - forklift, EWP, rigging - depending on what the job involves, and these are issued by your state or territory WHS regulator.

What is the difference between a fitter, a turner and a machinist?

A fitter assembles, installs and repairs mechanical plant. A turner operates lathes to produce cylindrical components. A machinist operates the broader range of machine tools including mills, grinders and CNC equipment. ANZSCO groups them together under 3232, and MEM30219 offers Fitting, Machining and combined Fitting/Machining pathways.

How long is the apprenticeship?

Four years is standard, combining paid on-the-job work with off-the-job training toward MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade. ANZSCO rates the occupation at Skill Level 3, reflecting a Certificate III plus at least two years of on-the-job training.

Which award covers fitters and machinists?

The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010) is the principal award. Fitters working on mine sites may instead be covered by the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011), and those on construction projects by a project or enterprise agreement. Check coverage clauses rather than assuming.

Is CNC replacing manual machining?

CNC dominates production work, but manual turning and milling remain essential for one-off repairs, maintenance fitting and breakdown work where a part is needed quickly. The strongest position is holding both, since employers value tradespeople who can read a drawing, machine manually and program a CNC.

Can I get my overseas fitting trade recognised in Australia?

Yes. Because there is no licence, recognition runs through skills assessment rather than a regulator. Trades Recognition Australia assesses fitters and machinists against MEM30219 for migration and employment purposes, and registered training organisations can grant recognition of prior learning toward the qualification.

What industries hire fitters and machinists?

Manufacturing is the largest single employer, but the trade spreads across mining and resources, food and beverage processing, water utilities, rail, defence, shipbuilding and heavy maintenance contracting. That breadth is one of the trade's main advantages when one sector slows.

Fitters, Turners and Machinists jobs in Australia

Fitters, turners and machinists fit and assemble fabricated metal components into machinery and plant, and set up and operate lathes, mills, grinders and CNC machines to produce precision parts. It is a four-year apprenticed trade, and it is not a licensed occupation in any Australian state or territory.

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Vacancies

Current vacancies

No fitters, turners and machinists roles are listed on Valont right now. Licensing and local context below still apply — this page updates when a matching role is published.

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Locations

Where we cover fitters, turners and machinists

AdelaideSA AlbanyWA Albury-WodongaNSW/VIC Alice SpringsNT ArmidaleNSW BairnsdaleVIC BallaratVIC Batemans BayNSW BathurstNSW BendigoVIC Blue MountainsNSW BrisbaneQLD Broken HillNSW BroomeWA BunburyWA BundabergQLD BurnieTAS BusseltonWA CairnsQLD CanberraACT Central CoastNSW Charters TowersQLD Coffs HarbourNSW DarwinNT DevonportTAS DubboNSW EchucaVIC EmeraldQLD GeelongVIC GeraldtonWA GladstoneQLD Gold CoastQLD GoulburnNSW GriffithNSW GympieQLD Hervey BayQLD HobartTAS HorshamVIC IpswichQLD KalgoorlieWA KarrathaWA LauncestonTAS LismoreNSW LoganQLD MackayQLD MandurahWA MaryboroughQLD MelbourneVIC MeltonVIC MilduraVIC Mount GambierSA Mount IsaQLD Murray BridgeSA NewcastleNSW NowraNSW OrangeNSW PerthWA Port HedlandWA Port LincolnSA Port MacquarieNSW QueanbeyanNSW RedlandsQLD RockhamptonQLD RomaQLD SaleVIC SheppartonVIC Sunshine CoastQLD SydneyNSW TamworthNSW TareeNSW ToowoombaQLD TownsvilleQLD TraralgonVIC Wagga WaggaNSW WangarattaVIC WarrnamboolVIC WarwickQLD WhyallaSA WollongongNSW

Licensing

Licensing by state

Fitting, turning and machining is not a licensed occupation anywhere in Australia. No state or territory requires a personal trade licence to work as a fitter, turner or machinist, and unlike electrical or plumbing work there is no registration board. What varies between jurisdictions is not the trade licence but the high risk work licences that often sit alongside the role - forklift, elevating work platform, crane, rigging and dogging tickets - which are issued by each jurisdiction's work health and safety regulator under nationally harmonised classes and are mutually recognised across borders. Mining and resources sites impose additional site-specific competencies and inductions that are contractual, not statutory licences.

the Australian Capital Territory: Not a licensed trade. Access Canberra does not license the mechanical engineering trades. WorkSafe ACT issues associated high risk work licences.
New South Wales: Not a licensed trade. NSW Fair Trading does not license fitting, turning or machining. SafeWork NSW issues associated high risk work licences such as forklift and rigging.
the Northern Territory: Not a licensed trade. No Territory licence applies to fitting, turning or machining. NT WorkSafe issues associated high risk work licences.
Queensland: Not a licensed trade. No QBCC or other licence is required to work as a fitter, turner or machinist. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland issues any associated high risk work licences, and Resources Safety and Health Queensland sets additional competencies for mine sites.
South Australia: Not a licensed trade. Consumer and Business Services does not license the mechanical engineering trades. SafeWork SA issues associated high risk work licences.
Tasmania: Not a licensed trade. Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) does not license fitters, turners or machinists. WorkSafe Tasmania issues associated high risk work licences.
Victoria: Not a licensed trade. Neither the Building and Plumbing Commission nor any other Victorian regulator licenses the mechanical engineering trades. WorkSafe Victoria issues associated high risk work licences.
Western Australia: Not a licensed trade. The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) does not license fitters or machinists; it issues associated high risk work licences and regulates mine site safety, where additional competencies apply.

Role

What the job involves

Interpret engineering drawings, specifications and job instructions
Mark out, measure and check work using micrometers, verniers, gauges and CMMs
Set up and operate lathes, milling machines, grinders, drills and CNC machine tools
Program or edit CNC machine code and select tooling, speeds and feeds
Fit, assemble and align machine components, bearings, shafts and drives
Diagnose faults in mechanical plant and dismantle, repair and reassemble equipment
Perform preventive maintenance and record work on maintenance systems
Apply safe work practices including isolation, lockout and tagout procedures

Training

Qualifications and training

MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade - the trade qualification, with Fitting, Machining and Fitting/Machining pathways, completed as a four-year Australian Apprenticeship
Australian Apprenticeship combining paid employment with off-the-job training at a registered training organisation or TAFE
MEM50212 Diploma of Engineering - Technical or a Certificate IV in engineering for post-trade progression into technical, drafting or supervisory roles
High risk work licences where the role requires them - for example forklift, EWP or rigging - issued by the state or territory WHS regulator

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Engineering drawing interpretation and geometric tolerancing · Precision measurement with micrometers, verniers and gauges · Manual lathe and milling machine operation · CNC setting, programming and offset correction · Mechanical fault diagnosis and root cause reasoning · Bearing, seal, shaft and drive alignment · Hydraulics and pneumatics fundamentals · Isolation, lockout/tagout and safe plant work practices

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about fitters, turners and machinists work in Australia.

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Sources

Fitters, Turners and Machinists — occupation data · verified 2026-08-04. ABS ANZSCO 2022, Unit Group 3232 Metal Fitters and Machinists - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/anzsco-australian-and-new-zealand-standard-classification-occupations/2022/browse-classification/3/32/323/3232; training.gov.au MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade - https://training.gov.au/training/details/MEM30219; Fair Work Ombudsman list of awards - https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/awards/list-of-awards; Jobs and Skills Australia, Metal Fitters and Machinists - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/3232-metal-fitters-and-machinists; Safe Work Australia high risk work licensing - https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/

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