The refrigerant handling licence: RAC01 or RSS03?
The Australian Refrigeration Council issues the refrigerant handling licence, and it's national, so it works the same in every state and territory. The ARC says only two licence types cover split systems: the full RAC01 and the restricted RSS03.
RAC01 lets the holder work on any air conditioning system of any capacity, and do all install, service, repair, maintenance and decommissioning work. RSS03 covers installing, commissioning and decommissioning a single-head split under 18 kW, including running the pipework.
An RSS03 holder can't work on multi-head splits or anything over 18 kW, or do service and repair work that involves the refrigerant.
How the licence shapes the jobs you're sent
We match on licences as well as specialties. If everyone on your team holds RSS03, you'll be sent single-head split installs under 18 kW, and the regas, refrigerant repair and multi-head jobs go to a business with RAC01 holders.
We look each technician up on the ARC's public licence check, which shows whether a licence is current and what type it is. The ARC doesn't say that page shows an expiry date, so we re-check on a schedule: recheck frequency.
The Refrigerant Trading Authorisation
Any business that buys, stores or disposes of fluorocarbon refrigerant needs an RTA. RTA numbers start with AU, and refrigerant handling licence numbers start with L.
The ARC's own RTA check is for wholesalers only, so we ask to see your RTA certificate. Since 2009, RTA holders have had to show the number on advertising, webpages and online ads included, and on quotes, invoices and receipts. That's why your RTA number sits beside your business name when a homeowner is matched with you.
What each state asks for, and where we look
| What the state requires | Where we check it | |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | Installing a split is plumbing work needing Building and Plumbing Commission registration. Electrical work needs a Registered Electrical Contractor, or a Restricted Electrical Worker's licence for like-for-like replacements | Your BPC registration, and Energy Safe Victoria's ESVConnect for electrical licences |
| NSW | A licence or certificate for air conditioning and refrigeration work, including the associated wiring. Some licences exclude the electrical side | Service NSW's licence check, by name, licence number or ABN |
| Queensland | A QBCC mechanical services licence at any job value, plus an Electrical Safety Office licence for electrical work | The QBCC licensee register, which gives the full licence history |
| WA | An electrical contractor's licence for the electrical installing work, with the EC number on business materials | The state's online search for licensed electricians, gas fitters and plumbers |
| Tasmania | Refrigerated air conditioning work is prescribed plumbing work, licensed under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 | Tasmanian licence check |
| ACT | A licence for electrical, plumbing or gasfitting work. The restricted refrigeration and air conditioning licence only covers disconnecting and reconnecting | Access Canberra's public registers, which also show suspensions and disciplinary action |
| SA and NT | Still being confirmed at the source. The ARC licence and RTA apply as everywhere else | SA and NT licence checks |
Why we won't bend on this
The rules reach past the work itself. NSW bars anyone from advertising air conditioning work of any value without a current contractor licence. In Tasmania, the Occupational Licensing Act bars representing that anyone is prepared to contract for prescribed work unless that contractor holds the right licence.
Queensland's QBCC counts online service directories as a tradie's advertising, and a licensee's ads must carry the licensed name, a statement that they're licensed under the QBCC Act, and the licence number. In WA, a business owner who facilitated two split installs and invoiced for them without an electrical contractor's licence was fined.
Sending a job to a business without the right licence would put the homeowner at risk, and it could put us on the wrong side of those rules too.
What we'd do
Our take
Before you apply, line up the licence each technician holds against the jobs you want. RSS03 is fine for single-head installs, but if you want regas and refrigerant repair work, someone on the team needs RAC01. That gap is the first thing we'd look for.