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In Australia, if you want to work as a builder or tradesperson you must have a licence or be registered (depending on your state or territory). Before you apply for your licence or registration you will need to gain a combination of experience, technical qualifications, skills and knowledge.
The first step in this process is to complete training for the relevant qualifications in your state or territory. In some states you may also need to participate in ongoing training workshops to maintain your licence or registration.
In the ACT, the builder licence is classified into A, B, C and D. You must hold a relevant qualification, pass the written examination, and documented 2 years' full time building work experience before receiving a builder’s licence (A, B or C). Class D requires 3 years' of work experience without holding a qualification and undertaking the examination.
Class A, B and C requires 2 years' of documented full time building work experience where 1 year full time experience was undertaken after the date the qualification was issued.
Class D requires 3 years' of documented full time building work experience.
Class A, B and C requires you to pass a written examination set by the Construction Occupations Registrar before your builder licence is issued. You may make two attempts before your licence is refused.
Class D is exempted from examination.
ACT Planning and Land Authority
Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
GPO Box 158
Canberra City ACT, 2601
T: 02 6207 1923
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, for more information contact us on:
T: 1300 650 620
In NSW the licence category you need is a Builder’s Licence. You can get a Builder’s Licence with 2 years’ on the job experience plus the relevant technical qualifications.
To apply for your NSW Builder’s Licence you must show at least 2 years’ relevant industry experience (obtained within the last 10 years) across a wide range of building construction work.
“Experience” means that you gained the relevant experience as:
In addition to 2 years’ relevant industry experience in the construction industry you must have at least one of the following qualifications:
1. Certificate IV in Building and Construction
a) (BCG40106 or CPC40108 Building or CPC40110 Building); or
b) (BCG40206 or CPC40208 Contract Administration); or
c) (BCG40306 or CPC40308 Estimating); or
d) (BCG40506 or CPC40508 Site Management),
AND, including all the 'listed units of competency’:
a) BCGBC4001A or CPCCBC4001A;
b) BCGBC4002A or CPCCBC4002A;
c) BCGBC4003A or CPCCBC4003A;
d) BCGBC4004A or CPCCBC4004A;
e) BCGBC4005A or CPCCBC4005A;
f) BCGBC4006A or CPCCBC4006A or CPCCBC4006B;
g) BCGBC4007A or CPCCBC4007A;
h) BCGBC4008A or CPCCBC4008A or CPCCBC4008B;
i) BCGBC4009A or CPCCBC4009A or CPCCBC4009B;
j) BCGBC4010A or CPCCBC4010A or CPCCBC4010B;
k) BCGBC4011A or CPCCBC4011A or CPCCBC4011B;
l) BSBSBM406A or BSBSMB406A or BSBSMB406;
m) BCGBC4012A or CPCCBC4012A or CPCCBC4012B;
n) BCGBC4018A or CPCCBC4018A; and
o) BCGBC4024A or CPCCBC4024A,
AND, one of the following:
2. Degree in Building, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Economics, Applied Science (Building), or Quantity Surveying - from an Australian University. You are required to undertake the equivalent of 4 years’ full time study and a mandatory work placement.
3. Bachelor of Housing from an Australian University or a Degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Architecture, Housing, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Economics, Applied Science (Building), Quantity Surveying from an Australian University.
AND
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
a) (BCG40106 or CPC4010 or CPC40110 Building); or
b) (BCG40206 or CPC40208 Contract Administration); or
c) (BCG40306 or CPC40308 Estimating); or
d) (BCG40506 or CPC40508 Site Management) –
AND, including all the ‘listed units of competency’ above.
4. If you have previously held a licence in the prescribed class of ‘building’ (Clause 46 of Home Building Regulation 2004) and you apply for a new licence within 5 years of the former licence’s expiry, your previous licence will be considered in lieu of the current qualification requirements. Read for more information.
Office of Fair Trading
PH: 13 32 20 (8:30am-5pm, Mon-Fri)
Head Office: 4 Paramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Paramatta NSW, 2150
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
In the Northern Territory, the licence category you need is a Building Contractor Residential Licence.
You will need a minimum 3 years’ practical experience in carrying out relevant building work.
To be eligible for this registration as an individual you must:
Building Practitioners Board
PH: (08) 8936 4082 (8:00am- 4:21pm, Mon-Fri)
Email: bpb@nt.gov.au
Level 3, NAB House, 71 Smith Street Darwin, NT 0800
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
In Queensland, to obtain a builder’s licence, the licence category you need is a Builder – Low Rise. This licence category consists of a contractor’s licence and a site supervisor licence.
If you are qualified in bricklaying/block laying or carpentry, you need a minimum two years’ experience in the licence class scope of work (or other work the Commission is satisfied is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class).
For all other applicants, you need a minimum four years’ experience in the licence class scope of work (or other work the Commission is satisfied is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class).
Technical qualification requirements:
a) Successful completion of Certificate IV in Building and Construction (CPC40120);
b) Successful completion of a course the Commission considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned in paragraph (a);
c) A recognition certificate as a builder qualified to carry out the scope of work for the licence class; or
d) A qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
a) The technical qualification stated above;
b) Successful completion of the following units of competency:
c) Successful completion of a course or units of competency for a course the Commission considers is at least equivalent to the units of competency mentioned in paragraph b).
You will need to provide written references from three builders who can confirm your supervisory experience.
You may be required to provide information or make a declaration that shows you meet the minimum financial requirements (minimum net tangible assets) to ensure your business is financially sound and stable.
Queensland Building and Construction Commission
PH: 139 333 (8:30am-5pm, Mon-Fri)
299 Montague Road, West End QLD, 4101
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
In South Australia the licence category you need is a Building Works Supervisor Registration.
You will need to provide a detailed work history of practical experience at the level of registration the applicant is applying for.
Applicants for building work contractor licences that include one or more of the following standard conditions will be required to undertake additional study:
An applicant must show their successful completion of six of the following units of competency issued by a Registered Training Organisation:
1. BSBESB407 Manage finances for new business ventures; or
BSBSMB421 Manage small business finances; or
BSBESB403 Plan finances for new business ventures; or
BSBSMB402 Plan small business finances; or
BSBESB401 Research and develop business plans; or
BSBSMB404 Undertake small business planning.
and
2. CPCCBC4009 Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects; or
CPCCBC4009B Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects; or
BSBESB402 Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures; or
BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business.
and
3. CPCCBC4007 Plan building and construction work; or
CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work.
4. CPCCBC4004 Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects; or
CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects.
5. CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract.
6. CPCCBC4024 Resolve business disputes; or
CPCCBC4024A Resolve Business Disputes.
If the builder currently holds a building work contractor licence or plumbing, gas fitting or electrical contractor licence and has successfully completed the following units of competency, they only need to show they have completed four of the following units of competency:
1. CPCCBC4007 Plan building and construction work; or
CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work.
2. CPCCBC4004 Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects; or
CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects.
3. CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract.
4. CPCCBC4024 Resolve business disputes; or
CPCCBC4024A Resolve Business Disputes.
South Australia Consumer and Business Services
PH: 131 882 (8am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri)
Consumer and Business Services, GPO Box 1719, Adelaide SA, 5001
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
In Tasmania the licence category you need is Builder - Domestic, Builder - Low Rise, Builder - Medium Rise and Builder Open.
Builder - Domestic, Builder - Low Rise and Builder - Medium Rise
With a building trade qualification, for example in carpentry, bricklaying, etc - You will need a minimum 2 years’ practical experience in the scope of work you are applying for.
Without a trade qualification - You will need a minimum 4 years’ practical experience in the scope of work you are applying for.
However, a Builder Open with a building trade qualification for example in carpentry, bricklaying etc – You will need 3 years’ practical experience in the scope of work you are applying for.
Without a trade qualification - You will need a minimum 6 years’ practical experience in the scope of work you are applying for.
As well as 2 to 6 years’ practical experience in the construction industry you will need to have the following qualification:
Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)
PH: 1300 654 499 (9:00am-5:00pm, Mon-Fri)
Consumer, Building and Occupational Services, PO Box 56, Rosny Park Tas, 7018
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
In Victoria a building licence for residential builders is called Domestic Builder Registration. To build a complete home or carry out significant residential building work you need a Domestic Builder (Unlimited) Registration. To carry out a single trade and work for consumers you usually need a Domestic Builder (Limited) Registration. A Domestic Builder (Limited) Registration may also be used by builders who install kitchens, bathrooms and laundries or build non-habitable structures such as sheds.
To be registered as a Domestic Builder in Victoria you need to prove that you have sufficient practical experience within the seven years before applying for registration to the satisfaction of the VBA. An applicant for registration as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited) needs to prove they have at least 3 years practical experience and an applicant for registration as a Domestic Builder (Limited) needs to prove at least 2 years practical experience. This practical experience usually needs to be well-rounded and include experience with quotes and contracts, obtaining building approvals, engaging workers, resolving problems, and having work completed and handed over.
There is often confusion about the rules for getting Domestic Builder Registration in Victoria. When applying for builder registration in Victoria it is important to understand that while there are prescribed qualifications an applicant may show they have equivalent skills and qualifications without necessarily having the exact prescribed qualifications. Also, a qualification, even a degree or diploma, is not by itself sufficient to obtain registration.
In practice, many applicants for builder registration, including as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited), have a CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction and demonstrate to the VBA by exams and assessments that they have the equivalent skills and experience to the prescribed qualifications. It for this reason that many potential builders seeking registration undertake the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Constructioncourse and do not necessarily obtain a degree of diploma that at first glance seems to be required to be registered as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited).
The regulator in Victoria that registers builders is the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). Its website has more information about the requirements for registration.
PH: 1300 815 127
Goods Shed North
HIA offers our Victorian members an assistance program called the Builder Registration Mentoring Service. This provides you with the support and information you need to successfully apply for your Domestic Builder Registration. For more information about the Building Registration Mentoring Service please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email builder.registration@hia.com.au.
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on:
T: 1300 650 620
In Western Australia the licence category you need is a Building Practitioner Registration.
You are eligible to apply for registration as a builder if you have completed the Board’s prescribed course of training and accumulated at least 7 years’ practical experience in the work of a builder, or as a supervisor of building work.
The Board may want to interview you to verify your claimed experience and, under some categories of registration, want you to do written assessments showing your competency in the areas of building construction, quantities/estimating, financial, contractual and legislative aspects of building.
As well as 7 years’ practical experience in the construction industry you will need to have the following qualifications:
Western Australia Building Commission
PH: 1300 489 099
www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy
Email: be.licensing@dmirs.wa.gov.au or ownerbuilders@dmirs.wa.gov.au
Office address: Level 1, 303 Sevenoaks Street Cannington, WA 6107
Postal address: Locked Bag 100, East Perth, WA 6892
HIA offers a range of qualifications that can help you to achieve a licensing outcome, to discuss this more please contact us on 1300 650 620 or email learning@hia.com.au.
HIA offers nationally recognised training (NRT) that you can use towards the process of gaining your licence or registration, and keep you up-to-date with industry changes. You can also get (Continuous Professional Development) CPD points if your state or territory requires you to do on-going training to maintain your licence or registration.
This type of training makes up the technical qualifications component you will need to apply for an industry licence or registration – such as a builder’s licence. NRT can be a combination of short courses or a full qualification such as a Cert IV.
These courses are workshops that offer the latest information to help increase your skills and knowledge. By attending these workshops you can accumulate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points, if your state or territory requires these as part of your ongoing licence or registration maintenance.
If you're still looking for more information on training, give us a call or hit enquire now and we'll get back to you.
Whether it's a Cert IV to become a builder or just building your career, HIA have a course to suit you.