Exam preparation
Use the following best practice guides and resources to better understand and prepare for the certificate of competence examination process.
Certificate of competence exams for 2021/22
The exams calendar for 2021-2022 financial year is now available on the exam calendar page.
Refer to the Mine Safety eNewsletter as a subscriber for further updates on exams.
To apply to sit an exam, you must apply online through the Resources Regulator portal, when it becomes available by mid-June 2021.
For those re-applying to sit an exam prior to mid-June 2021, a resit application form will be emailed to you prior for return to mca@planning.nsw.gov.au.
General guidance and study resources
For information on eligibility and the processes involved in assessing whether a person is competent, read our Certificate of competence guide (PDF, 1.59 MB)
For a general overview on what statutory functions are and how they apply to the mining and petroleum industry, read the Statutory functions web page.
Download and print the log book template (DOCX, 63.23 KB) to record information on visits to coal operations.
Best practice guides
There is a range of best practice guides to help candidates, employers and registered training organisations understand and prepare for the examination process. They were developed by the NSW Resources Regulator and the NSW Minerals Council in conjunction with other government agencies. Download the guides:
- Candidates - Learning best practice guide (PDF, 248.15 KB)
- Employers - Learning best practice guide (PDF, 257.86 KB)
- Registered training organisations - Learning best practice guide (PDF, 277.01 KB)
Please note that the guides relate to certificates of competence under the former Coal Mine Health and Safety Act 2002 and Mine Health and Safety Act 2004. The guides are provided for information only.
Associated non-technical skills
The Resources Regulator has prepared a guide to help industry better understand the role of associated non-technical skills in the certificate of competence scheme. Download the guide:
Previous exams and examiner reports
View exam papers and examiner reports by selecting the applicable statutory function position links below.
Coal mines - open cut
Electrical engineer
Mechanical engineer
Past exam papers
- November 2021 (PDF, 255.55 KB)
- September 2020 (PDF, 334.4 KB)
- August 2019 (PDF, 643.32 KB)
- August 2018 (PDF, 142.02 KB)
- July 2017 (PDF, 688.79 KB)
- August 2016 (PDF, 693.64 KB)
- September 2015 (PDF, 100.28 KB)
- March 2014 (PDF, 80.59 KB)
- March 2013 (PDF, 510.77 KB)
- August 2013 (PDF, 255.79 KB)
Past examiner reports
Mining engineering manager of coal mines other than underground
Past exam papers
- April 2021 (PDF, 177.44 KB)
- June 2019 (PDF, 185.96 KB)
- July 2018 (PDF, 60.19 KB)
- June 2018 (PDF, 69.15 KB)
- June 2017 (PDF, 225.28 KB)
- June 2016 (PDF, 86.3 KB)
- July 2015 (PDF, 66.96 KB)
- August 2014 (PDF, 54.2 KB)
- August 2013 (PDF, 126.15 KB)
- March 2013 (PDF, 255.79 KB)
Past examiner reports
Open cut examiner
Past exam papers
- April 2021 (PDF, 239.96 KB)
- June 2019 (PDF, 279.22 KB)
- June 2018 (PDF, 63.13 KB)
- June 2017 (PDF, 296.47 KB)
- June 2016 (PDF, 75.7 KB)
- July 2015 (PDF, 150.26 KB)
- August 2014 (PDF, 89.06 KB)
- August 2013 (PDF, 90.59 KB)
- March 2013 (PDF, 255.79 KB)
- Legislation only - August 2016 (PDF, 68.33 KB)
Past examiner reports
Coal mines - underground
Deputy
Previously recorded briefing sessions
Past exam papers
- May 2021 (PDF, 185.06 KB)
- June 2019 (PDF, 164.32 KB)
- September 2018 (PDF, 114.35 KB)
- September 2017 (PDF, 89.13 KB)
Past examiner reports
Electrical engineering manager
Past exam papers
- November 2021 (PDF, 801.58 KB)
- September 2020 (PDF, 714.06 KB)
- July 2019 (PDF, 211.61 KB)
- August 2018 (PDF, 444.67 KB)
- July 2017 (PDF, 231.69 KB)
- August 2016 (PDF, 129.11 KB)
Past examiner reports
Mechanical engineering manager
Past exam papers
- November 2021 (PDF, 718.78 KB)
- September 2020 (PDF, 481.34 KB)
- August 2019 (PDF, 855.71 KB)
- July 2017
- August 2016 (PDF, 1.12 MB)
- September 2015 (PDF, 171.5 KB)
- August 2014 (PDF, 80.59 KB)
- March 2014 (PDF, 690.73 KB)
- August 2013 (PDF, 324.37 KB)
- March 2013 (PDF, 510.77 KB)
- August 2018 (PDF, 133.55 KB)
Past examiner reports
Mining engineering manager - underground
Past exam papers
- Oct 2020 (PDF, 353.12 KB)
- Oct 2020 ventilation plan (PDF, 295.59 KB)
- June 2019 (PDF, 293.39 KB)
- June 2019 ventilation plan (PDF, 748.12 KB)
- May 2018 (PDF, 96.74 KB)
- May 2018 ventilation plan (PDF, 364.16 KB)
- May 2017 (PDF, 340.88 KB)
- May 2017 ventilation plan (PDF, 1.58 MB)
note: ignore bolehole and go off written info for gas levels at commencement of haz zone
Past examiner reports
Undermanager
Past exam papers
- February 2021 (PDF, 353.08 KB)
- February 2021 ventilation plan (PDF, 367.83 KB)
- October 2019 (PDF, 550.53 KB)
- October 2019 ventilation plan (PDF, 228.29 KB)
- September 2018 (PDF, 114.35 KB)
- September 2018 ventilation plan (PDF, 433.85 KB)
- September 2017 (PDF, 70.75 KB)
- September 2017 ventilation plan (PDF, 848.15 KB)
Past examiner reports
Other mines (non-coal) - open cut
Quarry manager
Past exam papers
Past examiner reports
Other mines (non-coal) - underground
Mining engineering manager
Past exam papers
Past examiner reports
Underground mine supervisor
Licensed activities at coal mines
Cable repair signatory
Application form and guide
Past examiner reports
Sample question and marking criteria
Underground mine supervisor oral examination and quarry manager written examination
As an aid to supporting candidates to better prepare and perform in examinations, the NSW Resources Regulator and the examination panel have provided a sample question and marking criteria for the underground mine supervisor oral examination and the quarry manager written examination certificates of competence.
Practical experience for certificates of competence applications
A sample ‘practical experience page’ for a certificate of competence application is available to assist applicants to record the necessary experience details and complete the application.
Exam rules
All candidates need to read the Certificate of competence: examination rules and requirements guide (PDF, 365.92 KB).
The Breach of exam rules policy (PDF, 120.39 KB) describes the framework for dealing with allegations of a candidate breaching the rules of a certificate of competence examination.