8 min read
ARCtick licences explained: what to check before you hire
Short answer
ARCtick is the national licence scheme run by the Australian Refrigeration Council: anyone who installs or works on a split or ducted air conditioner must hold an ARCtick refrigerant handling licence, and you can check a technician's licence for free by number or name on the ARC's licence search. The electrical side of the install is licensed separately by your state.
Prices are estimates, not quotes (how we estimate them). Rebate rules checked September 2026.
Compare 3 quotes for my houseAnyone who opens the refrigerant circuit in Australia needs an ARCtick licence. No licence, no legal install. That is the floor.
It does not mean they size rooms well. It does not mean they will come back in February. It does not mean the person who sold you the job is the person on the ladder.
Ask for the licence number. Ask who attends. Ask how warranty call-outs work if the company is a brand on a website and a subcontractor in a van.
We only match ARCtick installers. That is the start of the conversation, not the end of it.
What is ARCtick?
ARCtick is the licensing scheme for people and businesses that work with refrigerant gas. It is run by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) for the Australian Government, under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and its 1995 Regulations. The scheme has operated since 2003.
The point of it is environmental. Refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases, and older ones damage the ozone layer. The law says they have to be handled, recovered and disposed of by a trained, licensed person, not vented off the side of a ute.
The tick logo you see on vans and quotes is the ARC's mark for an authorised business or licensed technician. It tells you the person is allowed to do the refrigerant work. That is all it tells you.
Refrigerant handling licence vs refrigerant trading authorisation
There are two different ARCtick permissions, and they apply to different things.
| Refrigerant Handling Licence (RHL) | Refrigerant Trading Authorisation (RTA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who holds it | The individual technician | The business |
| What it allows | Doing work on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, including installing it | Buying, storing and disposing of refrigerant |
| Do you care as a homeowner? | Yes. The person on your roof needs one | Useful sign of a proper business; not needed just to install a pre-charged split |
| How to check | ARC licence search, by licence number or name | ARC business search |
Which ARCtick licence does an air conditioner installer need?
Licence type matters more than most people realise. The ARC issues several, and not all of them cover every air conditioner.
| Code | Licence | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| RAC01 | Full refrigeration and air conditioning licence | All refrigeration and air conditioning work outside the automotive industry: splits, multi-head and ducted |
| RSS03 | Restricted heat pump, split systems licence | Installing and decommissioning single-head split systems under 18 kW, plus some heat pump types |
| RDR04 | Restricted domestic refrigeration and air conditioning appliances | Plug-in and stand-alone appliances that need no pipework |
| TL000 | Trainee licence | Supervised work while training |
The practical upshot. A restricted split licence is fine for a single wall split. It does not cover a multi-head system or ducted. If your quote is for either of those, the technician should hold a full RAC01 licence, and the licence search will tell you which one they have.
How to check an ARCtick licence
The ARC runs a free public licence check at lookforthetick.com.au. You can search by the technician's ARC licence number, or by first name and surname. The result tells you whether the licence is current and what type it is.
There is also a business search for finding authorised businesses near you.
- Ask for the licence number of the person who will do the install, not the salesperson's.
- Check it before the install date, not after.
- Check the licence type matches the job: full licence for multi-head or ducted.
- Put the number on the quote. A good installer will not mind. See what a good quote includes.
The ARC is blunt about the limits of its tick. It says it does not warrant or guarantee the quality of any work done by a person it licenses. A current licence is the minimum, not a recommendation. If you would rather skip the checking, get up to three local quotes through us; every installer we introduce is licensed, and you can ask for the number on each quote.
The electrical licence: the other half of the install
An ARCtick licence covers the refrigerant. It does not cover the wiring. Connecting an air conditioner to your switchboard is electrical work, and every state licenses it separately. Some installers hold both licences. Many use a licensed electrician for the circuit.
How it works varies by state, and the rules are set by the state regulator, not the ARC.
| State | What the regulator requires | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | An air conditioning and refrigeration licence from NSW Fair Trading; it includes the associated electrical wiring | Verify NSW |
| VIC | A plumbing registration for refrigerated air conditioning, plus an electrical licence. A Restricted Electrical Worker's licence covers repair and replacement of units but not new wiring; a Certificate of Electrical Safety must be issued | Energy Safe Victoria and the plumbing regulator |
| QLD | A QBCC mechanical services (air conditioning and refrigeration) licence, plus an electrical licence for the wiring | The online licence search at qbcc.qld.gov.au |
| WA, SA, TAS | A restricted electrical licence for air conditioning work, or a licensed electrician; SA also requires a building work contractor's licence | The state's electrical licensing regulator |
| ACT, NT | A licensed electrician for the electrical work | The territory's licensing regulator |
Whatever the state, ask what compliance paperwork you will receive for the electrical work. In Victoria that is a Certificate of Electrical Safety. Other states have their own equivalent. Keep it with the warranty papers. Whoever quotes, ours included when you get up to three local quotes, should name the certificate on the quote.
What ARCtick does not tell you
- Whether the unit is the right size. That is judgement, not licensing. Check it against the size calculator.
- Whether the technician will turn up when the drain blocks in February.
- Whether the business that sold you the job employs the technician or subcontracts to them.
- Whether the quote is fair. Compare at least two, line by line.
- Whether the business is accredited for the Victorian or NSW rebate schemes. That is a separate accreditation; see the rebate pages.
Why we care about this
We introduce up to three licensed local installers, and only when you ask. Licensing is the first filter, not the last. We also look at who actually does the work, how warranty call-outs are handled, and whether their quotes are itemised. More on that on the installation page. When you are ready, get up to three local quotes from installers who have passed those checks.
Want a number for your house? Check the rebate on your postcode. No name required. Check the rebate on your postcode.
Or do the sums yourself first: what size you need and what it costs to run.
Sources
- Australian Refrigeration Council (ARCtick)
- ARCtick: licence check
- ARCtick: refrigerant handling licence types
- ARCtick: frequently asked questions
- ARC: state and territory regulatory requirements (PDF)
- NSW Government: air conditioning and refrigeration work licences
- Energy Safe Victoria: Restricted Electrical Worker's licence
- QBCC: mechanical services air conditioning and refrigeration licence
FAQ
Common questions
What is an ARCtick licence?
It is the refrigerant handling licence issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council under federal law. Anyone who handles refrigerant or works on refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, including installing a split system, must hold one.
How do I check if my air conditioning installer is licensed?
Use the ARC's free licence check at lookforthetick.com.au. Enter the technician's ARC licence number, or their first name and surname, and it will show whether the licence is current and what type it is. Check the electrical licence with your state regulator.
Can I install a split system myself in Australia?
No. Installing a split system means handling refrigerant, which requires an ARCtick licence, and connecting it to power requires a state electrical licence. A licensed install, with the paperwork, is also what you want on record if you ever need to claim on the warranty.
Does an ARCtick licence cover electrical work?
No. ARCtick covers refrigerant only. Electrical work is licensed by each state. In NSW the air conditioning licence includes associated wiring; in Victoria a Restricted Electrical Worker's licence covers replacing units but not new wiring.
What is the difference between a refrigerant handling licence and a refrigerant trading authorisation?
The handling licence is for the individual technician and lets them work on air conditioning equipment. The trading authorisation is for the business and lets it buy, store and dispose of refrigerant. For a home install, the technician's handling licence is the one to check.
Does ARCtick mean the installer is good?
No. It means they are legally allowed to do refrigerant work. The ARC itself says it does not guarantee the quality of work by the people it licenses. Check reviews, itemised quotes and who actually does the install.
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