Do welders and boilermakers need a licence in Australia?

No. Welding and boilermaking is not a licensed occupation in any state or territory, and no regulator issues a welder's licence. What you will need for pressure and structural work is welder qualification testing to the relevant AS/NZS standard, which is a certification of your welding ability, not a government licence.

What is the difference between a welder and a boilermaker?

A welder joins metal using welding processes. A boilermaker is a fabricator who sets out, cuts, forms, fits and welds structures, boilers, pressure vessels and tanks - welding is one part of a broader fabrication skill set. ANZSCO groups both under unit group 3223, and MEM31922 offers Boilermaking and Welding specialisations.

What are welder qualifications and why do they matter?

Welder qualification testing certifies that you can produce sound welds in a specific process, position, material and thickness range under the applicable AS/NZS standard. Pressure equipment and structural steelwork require it, it is held per process and position rather than as a single credential, and it must be maintained through continuity of work or retesting.

How long is the boilermaking apprenticeship?

Four years is standard, combining paid on-the-job work with off-the-job training toward MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication 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 welders and boilermakers?

The Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 (MA000010) covers most workshop fabrication. On-site construction welding may fall under the Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020 (MA000020), and mine site work under the Mining Industry Award 2020 (MA000011) or an enterprise agreement. Check coverage rather than assuming.

What are the main health risks in welding?

Welding fume is the significant one, and it has been the subject of tightened exposure standards nationally - fume extraction, respiratory protection and ventilation are not optional. Beyond fume, arc eye, burns, noise, manual handling and confined space and hot work risks all require controls under WHS legislation.

Which industries hire welders and boilermakers?

Manufacturing employs the largest share, but the trade spreads across mining and resources maintenance, construction and structural steel, shipbuilding and defence, rail, oil and gas, water infrastructure and agricultural machinery repair. Pressure vessel and pipe welders with current qualifications are consistently the most sought after.

Welders and Boilermakers jobs in Australia

Welders and boilermakers cut, shape, join and repair components of iron, steel and other metal structures, boilers, pressure vessels, pipes and vessels. It is a four-year apprenticed trade and is not a licensed occupation in any state or territory, though welding to pressure equipment and structural standards requires separate welder qualification testing to AS/NZS standards.

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Vacancies

Current vacancies

No welders and boilermakers 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 welders and boilermakers

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

Welding and boilermaking is not a licensed occupation in any Australian state or territory - no jurisdiction issues a welder's or boilermaker's licence and there is no registration board. What functions like a licence in practice is welder qualification testing: welding on pressure equipment and on structural steelwork must be performed by welders qualified to the relevant AS/NZS standard for the specific process, position, material and thickness, certified by a recognised body rather than by a state regulator. That regime is national and standards-based, not jurisdictional. The genuine state variation lies in the high risk work licences that frequently accompany the trade - dogging, rigging, scaffolding, EWP and forklift - which are nationally harmonised classes administered separately by each jurisdiction's WHS regulator, and in construction induction card requirements for site work.

the Australian Capital Territory: Not a licensed trade. Access Canberra does not license welding or fabrication. WorkSafe ACT issues associated high risk work licences and construction induction cards.
New South Wales: Not a licensed trade. NSW Fair Trading does not license welding or boilermaking. SafeWork NSW issues associated high risk work licences and the NSW construction induction card.
the Northern Territory: Not a licensed trade. No Territory licence applies to welding or boilermaking. NT WorkSafe issues associated high risk work licences and construction induction cards.
Queensland: Not a licensed trade. No QBCC or other Queensland licence is required to weld or fabricate. Workplace Health and Safety Queensland issues associated high risk work licences and the Queensland construction induction card required for site work.
South Australia: Not a licensed trade. Consumer and Business Services does not license welding or boilermaking. SafeWork SA issues associated high risk work licences and construction induction cards.
Tasmania: Not a licensed trade. Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) does not license welders or boilermakers. WorkSafe Tasmania issues associated high risk work licences and construction induction cards.
Victoria: Not a licensed trade. Neither the Building and Plumbing Commission nor any other Victorian regulator licenses welding or fabrication. WorkSafe Victoria issues associated high risk work licences and administers construction induction requirements.
Western Australia: Not a licensed trade. Building and Energy within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) does not license welders or boilermakers. WorkSafe WA issues associated high risk work licences, and mine sites impose additional site competencies.

Role

What the job involves

Interpret engineering drawings, welding symbols and weld procedure specifications
Mark out, measure and set out material for cutting and fabrication
Cut and prepare material using oxy-fuel, plasma, laser and mechanical methods
Weld using MMAW, GMAW/MIG, GTAW/TIG, FCAW and submerged arc processes
Fabricate and assemble structural steel, boilers, pressure vessels, tanks and pipework
Fit, tack, align and check assemblies for dimension, square and distortion
Inspect welds visually and support NDT, and rectify defects
Apply hot work permits, fume control, isolation and confined space procedures

Training

Qualifications and training

MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade - the trade qualification, with Boilermaking, Welding and Surface finishing specialisations, completed as a four-year Australian Apprenticeship
Australian Apprenticeship combining paid employment with off-the-job training at a registered training organisation or TAFE
Welder qualification testing to the relevant AS/NZS standard for pressure equipment and structural welding, which is a separate certification held per process, position and material
High risk work licences where required - typically dogging, rigging, EWP or forklift - issued by the state or territory WHS regulator

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Multi-process welding competence across MIG, TIG, stick and flux-cored · Welding to AS/NZS standards and holding current welder qualifications · Engineering drawing and welding symbol interpretation · Material knowledge across carbon steel, stainless and aluminium · Distortion control, pre-heat and post-weld heat treatment awareness · Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting and profile preparation · Weld defect recognition and rectification · Hot work, fume, confined space and isolation safety practice

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about welders and boilermakers work in Australia.

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Sources

Welders and Boilermakers — occupation data · verified 2026-08-04. ABS ANZSCO 2022, Unit Group 3223 Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers - https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/classifications/anzsco-australian-and-new-zealand-standard-classification-occupations/2022/browse-classification/3/32/322/3223; training.gov.au MEM31922 Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade - https://training.gov.au/training/details/MEM31922; Fair Work Ombudsman list of awards - https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/awards/list-of-awards; Jobs and Skills Australia, Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers - https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/data/occupation-and-industry-profiles/occupations/3223-structural-steel-and-welding-trades-workers; Safe Work Australia welding fume guidance - https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/; Workplace Health and Safety Queensland - https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/; SafeWork NSW - https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/; WorkSafe Victoria - https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/

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