A NSW Government website

NSW Resources Regulator

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:

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

Past exam papers

Past examiner reports

Mechanical engineer

Past exam papers

Past examiner reports

Mining engineering manager of coal mines other than underground

Past exam papers

Past examiner reports

Coal mines - underground 

Electrical engineering manager

Past exam papers

Past examiner reports

Other mines (non-coal) - open cut

Other mines (non-coal) - underground

Licensed activities at coal mines

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.