Practising Certificate Scheme (PCS)

The Practising Certificate Scheme (PCS) is being established in Queensland to help manage risks by maintaining contemporary skillsets and knowledge in the mining industry.

The scheme will ensure Certificate of Competency holders and Notice holders maintain contemporary knowledge and skills to support the effective exercising of their statutory functions. Development of the scheme was recommended in the Moura 2 Wardens inquiry recommendation that stated: “certificates not be granted for life and that a system needs to be developed and put into effect as soon as practicable that requires holders to demonstrate their fitness to retain the Certificate of Competency on a regular basis, at intervals of not less than three and not more than five years.”

The scheme will become effective 10th June 2022, with the introduction of the Mining Legislation (Continuing Professional Development) Amendment Regulation 2022 Mandatory participation in the scheme will be subject to any required Parliamentary approval processes. It is anticipated that full implementation of the scheme will be completed by the end of 2023.

Once the scheme is implemented, Certificate of Competency and Notice holders will be required to participate in the Practising Certificate Scheme and will be required to fulfill certain responsibilities to maintain their currency, including to undertake specified hours of Continuous Practising Development (CPD) activities in competency areas according to the Practising Certificate issued. CPD hours will be accumulated over a five (5) year period.