STATE-BY-STATE GUIDE TO APPLYING FOR YOUR BUILDER’S LICENCE IN AUSTRALIA
EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEING YOUR OWN BOSS? HOW ABOUT GETTING OFF THE TOOLS? OR WOULD YOU JUST LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR BANK BALANCE? READ ON FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET YOUR BUILDERS LICENCE BELOW.
How to get your builders licence
As Australia’s third largest industry and one which accounts for around 10% of the population’s employment, there has never been a better time for becoming a registered builder.
Depending on your state or territory, you will need to be either a Licensed or Registered Builder in order to work as a builder or tradesman around Australia.
To apply for a licence or registration, a tradesperson has to demonstrate a level of expertise, including practical skills and a Nationally Recognised Training (NRT) Qualification in Construction. Follow the table below to see what requirements you will need to meet for your state licence or registration.
All the information gathered below was researched by going through each states builders licence information and breaking it down for an easy reading. Please be aware that all the information below may be out of date and or misinterpreted by the content creator so please feel free to navigate to the original source. Last Updated: 27.03.2020
How to get your builders licence in New South Wales
Wondering how to get your builders license in New South Wales? The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in New South Wales is handled and regulated by the NSW Department of Fair Trading who can be contacted on 13 32 20 between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Experience Requirements:
When it comes to the experience requirements needed to apply for your NSW Builder’s Licence, you will be required to have at least 2 years of relevant industry experience. This can involve working in a wide range of building and construction work.
You can gain this experience:
- As an employee working under the supervision of a licenced builder
- As a sub-contractor who is appointed the supervisor of a Contractor License. Experience will only be acknowledged if you are contracted to work for a licensed builder.
- A sub-contractor who holds an Endorsed Contractor Licenced. Experience will only be acknowledged if you are contracted to work for a licenced builder.
To be counted, all experience must be paid. All unpaid work will not be counted as “experience” and cannot be used to support your application.
Formal Qualifications:
In addition to the 2 years of industry experience required, you will also need to gain a CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction PLUS, one of the following:
- A current Carpentry or Bricklaying Contractor Licence or Supervisor Certificate (or an approved qualification that would allow the issue of such a licence).
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210
- 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) or Quantity Surveying.
How to get your builders licence in Queensland
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in Queensland is handled and regulated by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) who can be contacted on 139 333.
Experience Requirements:
There are a number of Builder’s Licences in Queensland to select from, for specific licences you will need to have a careful look at the application conditions on the QBCC website. For the three main Builder Licences, low-rise, medium-rise and open use the below requirements as a guideline when applying.
If the applicant is a qualified brick/block layer or carpenter, they will require TWO years’ experience in:
- The licence class scope of work, or
- Other work the Commissioner is satisfied with is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.
All OTHER applicants will require FOUR years’ experience in:
- The licence class scope of work, or
- Other work the Commissioner is satisfied with is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.
Formal Qualifications:
The formal qualifications vary depending on what licence you intend on applying for, the requirements have been detailed below for each Licence level.
Low-Rise Builder Licence:
Any one of the following –
- Successful completion of the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40110;
- Successful completion of a course the Commissioner considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned above;
- A recognition certificate as a builder qualified to carry out the scope of work for the licence class;
- A qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
- Required units of competency include: CPCCBC4001A, CPCCBC4002A, CPCCBC4007A, CPCCBC4008B, CPCCBC4009B, CPCCBC4010B, CPCCBC4010B, CPCCBC4011B, CPCCBC4012B, CPCCBC4018A and BSBLDR403.
Medium-Rise Builder Licence:
Any one of the following –
- Successful completion of Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210;
- Successful completion of a course the Commissioner considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned above;
- A recognition certificate as a builder qualified to carry out the scope of work for the licence class;
- A qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
Required units of competency include: CPCCBC5001B, CPCCBC5004A, CPCCBC5005A, CPCCBC5006B, CPCCBC5018A, CPCCBC5009A and CPCCBC5010B.
Open Builder Licence:
Any one of the following –
- Successful completion of Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) CPC60212;
- Successful completion of a course the commissioner considers is at least equivalent to the course mentioned above;
- A recognition certificate as a qualified builder to carry out the scope of work for the licence class;
- A qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
Required units of competency include: CPCCBC6001B, CPCCBC6018A, CPCCBC6014A and CPCCBC6016A.
How to get your builders licence in the Australian Capital Territory
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in the Australian Capital Territory is handled and regulated by the Environment and Planning Directorate who can be contacted on 02 6207 1923 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Experience Requirements:
There are a number of Builder’s Licences in the ACT to select from. The four most common are the Class A Builder Licence (unlimited), Class B Builder Licence (medium-rise), Class C Builder Licence (low-rise) and the Class D Builder Licence. Each licence allows the Builder to complete different types of building work. You must meet a range of requirements before you can apply for any licence type.
- Class A Builder Licence (Unlimited) – At least 2 years full time building work experience. 1 year of that experience must have been completed after your formal qualification was issued.
- Class B Builder Licence (Medium-Rise) – At least 2 years full time building work experience. 1 year of that experience must have been completed after your formal qualification was issued.
- Class C Builder Licence (Low-Rise) – At least 2 years full time building work experience. 1 year of that experience must have been completed after your formal qualification was issued.
- Class D Builder Licence – 3 years of full time building industry work experience.
Formal Qualifications:
- Class A Builder Licence (Unlimited) – Holds a tertiary qualification in building that the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory Board has determined is a bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate, gradate diploma, master’s degree or doctoral degree in Building.
- Class B Builder Licence (Medium-Rise) – Holds a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) with a course code CPC50210
- Class C Builder Licence (Low-Rise) – Holds a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) with a course code of CPC40110; or holds a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) with a course code of CPC50210.
- Class D Builder Licence – This licence level requires no form of formal qualification. For licence requirements check out the experience section.
How to get your builders license in the Northern Territory
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in the Northern Territory is handled and regulated by the Building Practitioners Board who can be contacted on 1300 654 499 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Again, there are multiple licence types available in the Northern Territory, the most common individual types are the Building Contractor Residential Licence (Restricted) and the Building Contractor Residential Licence (Unrestricted).
Experience Requirements:
Building Contractor Residential Licence (Restricted):
- To apply for your restricted licence, the applicant must provide evidence of at least 3 years of practical experience in carrying out building work associated with the construction of new or extensions to the habitable floor area of houses and townhouses and/or units up to and including a height of 2 storeys.
Building Contractor Residential Licence (Unrestricted):
- To apply for your unrestricted licence, the applicant must provide evidence of at least 3 years practical experience in carrying out building work associated with the construction of new extensions to the habitable floor area of units including and/or more than 2 storeys in height.
Formal Qualifications:
- Both the restricted, and unrestricted licences require you to possess the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40110.
How to get your builders license Western Australia
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in Western Australia is handled and regulated by the Department of Commerce who can be contacted on 1300 489 099 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
There are two main types of Builder’s Licences in Western Australia. They are as follows:
Licenced Building Practitioner
Practitioner registration is for individuals. It allows a person to be the nominated supervisor of a registered building contractor and to use the title of, ‘registered building practitioner’. A practitioner may not provide building services directly to another person.
Experience Requirements:
- You will be required to have five to seven years full time experience in carrying out or supervising building work
Formal Qualifications:
- Holds a Diploma in Building and Construction (Building) with the course code of CPC50210.
Licenced Building Contractor
Contractor registration is for individuals, partnerships and companies that intend to trade as builders.
Within these categories, there are a number of sub-categories of licence type. Be sure to investigate the best category to match what you are wanting to use your licence for, before you apply.
While there are no specific application requirements when applying for this, we recommend looking at the application form provided by WA’s Department of Commerce.
How to become a registered builder in South Australia
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in South Australia is handled and regulated by SA’s Consumer and Business Services who can be contacted on 131 882 between 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Again, there are two main types of Builder’s Licences in South Australia. Within these licences, you will need to select which building and construction specialty you will operate under. Each specialty will require different levels of experience as well as other requirements. The licences are as follows:
Building Work Contractors Licence
Individuals and businesses must be licenced as building contractors, including subcontractors, if they run a business that carries out or organises building work; for others, to sell or to build.
Formal Qualifications:
- Applicant holds a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) with the course code of CPC40110.
OR
- BSBSMB406A Manage small business finance; or BSBSMB402 Plan small business finances; or BSBSMB404 Undertake small business planning.
AND
- CPCCBC4009B Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects; or BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business;
AND
- CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work;
- CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects;
- CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract;
- CPCCBC4024A Resolve Business Disputes.
Additional Requirements:
- The Applicant is required to submit a National Police Certificate which is no more than 12 months old. The can be applied for through the South Australia Police website here.
- You are required to have a minimum of $10,000 net tangible assets. If you don’t have $10,000 in net assets, then it may be possible to apply for a restricted licence as a sub-contractor.
Building Work Supervisor’s Registration
In addition to the above, applicants must be able to satisfy the Licensing Office and provide the extra following evidence:
- That you have managed building work previously.
- What you do and how you do it.
- How you plan, organise, direct and control building work.
It may also be required, that you complete an interview with Consumer Business Services.
How to get your builders license in Tasmania
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in Tasmania is handled and regulated by the Department of Justice who can be contacted on 1300 654 499 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
In Tasmania, a general builder is responsible for managing or carrying out construction, demolition, alteration, addition, relocation or repair of any building or structure. The General Construction Builder’s Licence is then divided into four sub-classes of licences.
Experience Requirements:
Each sub-class uses the same experience guidelines – this is detailed below:
If the applicant is a qualified brick/block layer or carpenter, they will require TWO years’ experience in:
- The licence class scope of work, or
- Other work the Commissioner is satisfied with is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.
All OTHER applicants will require FOUR years’ experience in:
- The licence class scope of work, or
- Other work the Commissioner is satisfied with is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.
Formal Qualifications:
Domestic Builder’s Licence:
- The applicant MUST hold their CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
Low-Rise Builder’s Licence:
- The applicant MUST hold their CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
Medium-Rise Builder’s Licence:
- The applicant MUST hold their CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
Open Builder’s Licence:
- The applicant MUST hold their CPC60212 Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) OR a Degree in Building.
How to get your builders license in Victoria
The process of getting a Builder’s Licence in Victoria is handled and regulated by the Victorian Building Authority who can be contacted on 1300 815 127. In Victoria there are two main types of Builder’s Licences, each have a limited and unlimited variant. Follow our guide below to discover the requirements.
Experience Requirements:
Domestic Builder Licence (Limited):
- You must demonstrate you have the capacity to carry out, manage or arrange the following activities in a competent manner and to a professional standard while holding at least 3 years of practical experience.
Domestic Builder Licence (Unlimited):
- You must be able to demonstrate capacity to carry out, manage or arrange the carrying out of domestic building work, in a competent manner and to a professional standard while holding at least 3 years of practical experience.
Commercial Builder Licence (Limited):
- You must demonstrate that you have adequate knowledge and experience to construct the components of building work in which you seek to be registered. You must have at least 2 years of relevant practical experience in the limited class that you seek registration.
Commercial Builder Licence (Unlimited):
- You must demonstrate that you have at least 3 years of relevant practical experience in:
- Planning, managing and coordinating building projects
- Managing, carrying out or arranging commercial building work.
Formal Qualifications:
Domestic Builder Licence (Limited):
- The applicant must hold the appropriate certificate for the class of licence intended on applying for; PLUS
- CPCCBC4026A Arrange building applications and approvals; and
- CPCCBC4005A Produce labour and material schedules for ordering; and
- CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract.
Domestic Builder Licence (Unlimited):
- Application requires successful completion of a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210.
Commercial Builder Licence (Limited):
- Application requires successful completion of the Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) CPC60212
- OR if applicant is applying for limited licence restricted to constructions under 3 storeys; the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210 will satisfy the knowledge requirements.
Commercial Builder Licence (Unlimited):
Application requires successful completion of the Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) CPC60212.
