Certified Locators have two options for renewing their 2-year certification: either retake the practical assessment (available in Capital Cities only) or accumulate 50 Continuing Education Units (CEU) over the 2-year period.

The Certified Locator Certificate is valid for 2 years from completion date.

A Certified Locating Organisation (CLO) is a locating company with properly certified employees who have access permissions to locate certain utility assets for Telstra and Optus for example.

To renew your Locator Certification, you must accumulate 50 Continuing Education Units (CEU) within the 2-year period from your certification date.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) can be earned as follows:

10 CEU: Attendance at a NULCA general meeting

10 CEU: Completion of CERTLOC Pre-Excavation Management Webinar  (Free for Certified Locators, email [email protected] for the discount code)

10 CEU: Completion of CERTLOC technical webinars with guest speaker

10 CEU: Completion of Locate Management Institute Hydrovacing course

15 CEU: Current membership of NULCA

20 CEU: Completion of Locate Management Institute Utility Advanced Line Locating Course

25 CEU: Attendance at a CERTLOC recognised damage prevention conference (e.g., No-Dig Downunder)

30 CEU: Provision of evidence of work in the locating industry for previous 24 months by way of submission of a logbook. 200 hours required (download template here)

40 CEU: Provision of evidence of work in the locating industry for previous 24 months by way of submission of a logbook. 500 hours required (download template here)

50 CEU: Attend a NULCA approved RIICCM202E 2-day course

50 CEU: Attend a CERTLOC Locator Development Session or 1-Day Underground Asset Location Refresher Course (Request details now)

Renewal fees for a 2-year period:

Certified Locators: $790+ GST
NULCA Member/ Associate: $590 + GST (Please contact NULCA for the current discount code)

If you don’t pay your renewal fee by the due date, your certificate will expire, preventing you from conducting locating activities under the Certified Locating Organisation (CLO) Agreement.

Restoring Your Certificate
You have six (6) months from the expiry date to restore your certificate, provided you meet the required Continuing Education Units (CEU). A restoration fee will apply, and your certificate will be reinstated from the original expiry date.

If more than 6 months have passed since your certificate expired, you will need to re-enrol in the Certified Locator Program and meet the current assessment requirements.

RENEW CERTIFICATION

To become a Certified Locator, follow these steps:

Step 1: Self-Assessment
Complete the free online self-assessment. This assessment helps determine if you are ready to undertake the Certified Locator Program.

Step 2: Enrol in the Certified Locator Program
Enrol in the Certified Locator Program by paying the assessment fee.

Step 3: Theory Assessment
Complete the online theory assessment (consisting of 70 multiple-choice questions). You need to score at least 96% within two attempts to proceed to the next stage.

Step 4: Practical Assessment
Scheduling
once you pass the theory assessment, we will schedule your practical assessment.

Step 5: Practical Assessment
During the practical assessment, an Assessor will evaluate your ability to identify underground assets/utilities and perform necessary locating procedures.

Step 6: Certification
Upon successfully passing the practical assessment, you will receive your Statement of Certification, officially recognising you as a CERTLOC Certified Locator.

Plan Enquiry

Before your assessment, you must complete a BYDA Enquiry for the assessment location in your name. Ensure all plans are legible by printing them in A3 size or displaying them on a minimum 10-inch tablet.

Preparation

The assessment begins with an equipment inspection, Telstra plan reading task, safety briefing, and an explanation of the locating scenario and required marking method.

Locating Process

You have two hours to perform the locating. The assessor needs to see enough of your work to evaluate your competency, including using Direct Connect and Induction Clamp on at least two or three asset types.

Assessor's Role

During the assessment, the assessor will observe your process, take notes, and occasionally ask questions or inspect connection points. They will generally observe you from a distance to give you space to perform your work.

After successfully completing the theory and practical assessments, you will receive your Statement of Certification, officially recognising you as a CERTLOC Certified Locator, usually within 24 hours.

Next, you will be contacted to discuss access to Telstra pits and manholes through the Certified Locating Organisation (CLO) program. The CLO program ensures compliance with utility network requirements.

Once you are registered in this program, you'll receive a photo ID card issued through your CLO employer.

Please note, only Certified Locators registered with a CLO can access Telstra infrastructure for locating purposes.

Certified Locator Certificates are valid for 2 years. To renew your certification, you must accumulate 50 Continuing Education Units (CEU) within that period.

In addition to being a CERTLOC Certified Locator, locators need to be accredited with Optus to be able to access the Optus network. This is required to meet our legal and WHS requirements.
For all Optus Locator Accreditation enquiries please contact Peter Godschalk at [email protected]

In order to become a CLO, you (the locating company) sign a formal agreement with CERTLOC Ltd – who administers the program on behalf of the Utility or Network provider:

• Demonstrating that your certified locating team is appropriately skilled to identify whatever network type may be present onsite, i.e. are CERTLOC Certified.
• That you are using up-to-date and properly calibrated asset location and gas detection equipment.
• That you have the safety equipment to detect unsafe conditions and are able to deal with them.
• That your company carries business insurance appropriate to plant location type work for the protection of your clients, the infrastructure and your business.

 
Download Application Form
 
Complete CLO Application Online
 
Download CLO Overview Document