For licensing purposes, the term bricklaying means the erection of structures by assembly of a number individual masonry units referred to as either a brick or block.

A brick is a solid or perforated masonry unit used for building purposes such as walling or paving. Bricks are generally made in a rectangular prismatic shape of a size that allows them to be picked up with one hand while the other is used to apply mortar with a trowel.

A block is a component made from concrete, clay, gypsum or similar materials for use in the construction of walls or partitions and is usually of a larger size than a brick. Blocks are generally perforated, have hollow cores or are of autoclaved aerated concrete to reduce the handling weight.

Works encompassed by the term bricklaying* include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• construction of internal and/or external brick or block walls
• construction of brick or block fences
• construction of brick or block fireplaces
• construction of brick or block staircases
• brickwork pointing
• brick piering
• brickwork cleaning
• segmental paving
• minor non-structural concreting ancillary to bricklaying work
• flashing associated with brick or blockwork
• brick or block retaining walls not requiring approval under the Local Government Act 1993 (retaining walls requiring such approval are considered to be structural landscaping for the purposes of the Home Building Act 1989).

*Note: the licensing classes of bricklaying and stonemasonry do not include concreting works that are not minor and ancillary to the performance of bricklaying and stonemasonry work or concreting that is structural in nature or provides structural support (eg. concrete slabs, concrete footings, etc) except in such cases where footings are placed for the construction of free standing fences or walls that are not subject to loads other than the weight of the components of the fence or wall (eg. does not include concrete footings for dwelling walls, retaining walls, etc).

Qualifications

Completion of:

• BCG30103 Certificate III in Bricklaying/Blocklaying.

Or, completion of any of the following superseded qualifications:

• BCG30698 Certificate III in General Construction (Bricklaying/Blocklaying), TAFE course #8064
• Qualification 4640 Certificate III in Bricklaying, Trade TAFE course #2160
• Certificate III in Bricklaying, Trade TAFE course #5159.

Or, if you have ever held a licence in the prescribed classes (Home Building Regulation 2004, clause 46, excluding subsection (1)(a)) and you apply for a new licence, your previous licence will be accepted in lieu of the current qualification requirements.

To find a Registered Training Organisation that provides the qualification listed above, refer to the information on building trade licensing courses.