Building licences (general building work)

When Fair Trading assesses your experience, we will look to see if you have the ability or capacity to competently supervise the construction of residential building work on site in line with the Building Code of Australia. This includes dealing effectively with sub-contractors, consumers and others.

When calculating if you have the equivalent of two years’ site based full-time work experience, we will be checking that:

• you have done work on sites under the supervision of a fully licensed builder,
• you have worked on the majority of the sites within 10 years of lodging your application,
• if you worked on two or more sites at the same time, we will count them as one period of time only when we are calculating your equivalent full-time work experience.

We will assess individual sites and see if the work you performed is relevant and meets our requirements.

What to include in your application

You should include complete information about your relevant industry experience in a wide range of building construction work. This includes referring to as many job sites and using as many referee’s statements and residential building experience forms as you need to give us full information.

You should show you have experience across all stages of construction, and in a wide range of work, to satisfy us that you have the capacity to do, coordinate and supervise general building work in the construction of a residential dwelling. Trade work often done during building construction includes but is not limited to things such as carpentry, brick laying and plastering. If you only have experience in one kind of work, your experience is not enough to apply for a full building licence.

Note: If you fail to show you have relevant site-based experience in a wide range of building construction work, we cannot approve your application.

Experience as an Owner Builder, or as the holder of an Owner Builder Permit, is not acceptable to meet the practical experience requirements to get a licence or certificate as a builder.

Your referee/s must have held a qualified supervisor certificate or individual contractor licence (Q) in the category of general building work issued by Fair Trading during the time you gained your experience.

‘Experience’ means you have done the work that matches any of the four options below.

For all options 1-4:

• the building contractor must have a contractor licence in full general building work, and
• when getting your experience, you must be supervised and directed in your work by someone who holds an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in the residential building work in which you gained your experience. They must confirm your experience on the referee's statement form, and
• you must be paid with money in line with the law for the work you did.

To find organisations that deliver nationally recognised training, go to training.gov.au and search for the course code or name.

You must satisfy one of the two qualification criteria below.

1. VET qualifications and units of competencies

• CPC40120 (current) Certificate IV in Building and Construction, or
• CPC40320 (current) Certificate IV in Building Project Support, or
• CPC40110 / CPC40108 / BCG40106 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building), or
• CPC40208 / BCG40206 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Contract Administration), or
• CPC40308 / BCG40306 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Estimating), or
• CPC40508 / BCG40506 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Site Management),

and including all of the following units:

• CPCCBC4001 (current) Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 1 and 10 buildings, plus CPCCBC4053 (current) Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for Class 2 to 9 Type C buildings; or CPCCBC4001A / BCGBC4001A Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for low rise building projects, and
• CPCCBC4002 (current) Manage work health and safety in the building and construction workplace, or CPCCBC4002A / BCGBC4002A Manage occupational health and safety in the building and construction workplace, and
• CPCCBC4003 (current) Select, prepare and administer a construction contract, or CPCCBC4003A / BCGBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract, and
• CPCCBC4004 (current) / CPCCBC4004A / BCGBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects, and
• CPCCBC4005(current) / CPCCBC4005A / BCGBC4005A Produce labour and material schedules for ordering, and
• CPCCBC4006 (current) /  CPCCBC4006A / CPCCBC4006B or BCGBC4006A Select, procure and store construction materials for low rise projects, and
• CPCCBC4007 (current) / CGBC4007A / CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work, and
• CPCCBC4008 (current) Supervise site communication and administration processes for building and construction projects, or CPCCBC4008A / CPCCBC4008B / BCGBC4008A Conduct on-site supervision of building and construction projects, and
• CPCCBC4009 (current) / CPCCBC4009A / CPCCBC4009B / BCGBC4009A Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects, and
• CPCCBC4010 (current) Apply structural principles to residential and commercial constructions, or CPCCBC4010A / CPCCBC4010B / BCGBC4010A Apply structural principles to residential low-rise constructions, and CPCCBC4011A / CPCCBC4011B / BCGBC4011A Apply structural principles to commercial low-rise constructions, and
• BSBESB407 (current) Manage finances for new business ventures, or BSBSMB421/ BSBSBM406/ BSBSMB406A Manage small business finances, and
• CPCCBC4012 (current) / CPCCBC4012B / BCGBC4012A / CPCCBC4012A Read and interpret plans and specifications, and
• CPCCBC4018 (current) / BCGBC4018A / CPCCBC4018A Apply site surveys and set out procedures to building and construction projects, and
• CPCCBC4024 (current) / BCGBC4024A / CPCCBC4024A Resolve business disputes

Plus any of the following:

• a current carpentry or bricklaying contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate, or an approved qualification that would allow the issue of such a licence (for details of approved qualifications, see Carpentry or Bricklaying), or
• Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) - CPC50220 (current) / BCG50206 / CPC50208, or
• Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210, and including the following units:
  • CPCCBC5004 (current) / CPCCBC5004A Supervise and apply quality standards to the selection of building and construction materials, and
  • CPCCBC5005 (current) / CPCCBC5005A Select and manage building and construction contractors, and
  • CPCCBC5007 (current) / CPCCBC5007A or CPCCBC5007B Administer the legal obligations of a building and construction contractor, and
  • CPCCBC5009 (current) / CPCCBC5009A Identify services layout and connection methods in medium rise construction projects.
• Bachelor of Housing from an Australian university or a degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, architecture, housing, construction, construction management, construction project management, construction economics, applied science (building) or quantity surveying from an Australian university

OR

2. University degrees

A degree in building, construction, construction management, construction project management, construction economics, applied science (building), or quantity surveying from an Australian university which requires the applicant to undertake the equivalent of four years’ full time study and a mandatory work placement.

A “degree” excludes an associate degree or an honorary degree.

We will accept the following courses or qualifications in applications for an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate for general building work if you either started or completed the course prior to 18 August 2008.

• Certificate IV in Building (3477) conducted by a registered training organisation or TAFE and:
  • a carpentry, carpentry & joinery or bricklaying trade course from TAFE or a registered training organisation or
  • a current carpentry or bricklaying endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate, or an approved qualification that would allow the issue of such a licence (for details of approved qualifications, see carpentry or bricklaying).
• Diploma in Building (3475) conducted by a registered training organisation including TAFE.
• Advanced Diploma in Building (3471) conducted by registered training organisation including TAFE.
• Certificate IV in Building Studies (1261) from TAFE and:
  • a carpentry, carpentry & joinery or bricklaying trade course from TAFE or a registered training organisation or
  • a current carpentry or bricklaying endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate, or an approved qualification that would allow the issue of such a licence (for details of approved qualifications, see carpentry or bricklaying).
• Diploma in Building Studies 90945NSW (1262) from TAFE.
• Advanced Diploma in Building Studies 90946NSW (1263) from TAFE.
• Advanced Diploma in Structural Engineering 91155NSW (6443) from TAFE.
• A diploma from an Australian university or a body controlled by an Australia university which is a bridging or pathway course that allows the holder to enrol in a degree in: building; construction management; construction economics; applied science (building); structural engineering; or quantity surveying at an Australian university, but only if the person applying for a licence gained the diploma before 26 March 2012, or started the diploma course before, but did not complete it until after, 26 March 2012.
• Certificate of Registration as an Architect under the Architects Act 2003.
• Degree in civil engineering or architecture from an Australian university regardless of when it was gained, and a
  • Certificate IV in Building (3477 or TAFE Course 1261).
• Diploma of Structural Engineering (2992) from TAFE.
• Associate Diploma in Applied Science 15114NSW (Building) (5185) TAFE.
• Certificate in Building (5102) TAFE.
• Certificate in Building Foreman & Clerk of Works (135) from TAFE.
• Certificate in Building Supervision (5108) from TAFE.
• Advanced Certificate in Building Supervision (5189) from TAFE.
• Advanced Building Studies Course – Diploma in Building Studies Level V (2183) from TAFE.
• Advanced Building Studies Course – Certificate IV in Building Studies – Residential Level IV (2182) from TAFE PLUS either a carpentry, carpentry & joinery or bricklaying trade course from TAFE or a registered training organisation.
• Certificate IV in Contractors Management Program conducted by Back to Basics Business Training Pty Ltd ACN 077 042 490, and
  • a carpentry, carpentry & joinery, or bricklaying trade course from TAFE or a registered training organisation.

You might be able to have your previous contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in general building work reissued to you if you meet one of the following 3 situations:

If your application is approved, you will be issued the same licence or qualified supervisor number you had before.

If none of these three situations apply to you, you must meet the qualification and experience requirements in full.

Before you begin your application make sure you have:

• an application form - individual
• an application checklist - individual
• a referee’s statement and on site building experience form (if applicable)
• an additional details form/s as indicated on your application form (if applicable)

You can also ask for these forms at your nearest Service NSW centre.

You will also need:

• proof of identity (such as driver’s licence or passport)
• an original copy of your qualifications
• details of any licence or certificate you currently hold (or previously held)
• details of your employment and experience
• details of any past compliance issues, insolvency matters, or criminal offences (if applicable)
• certificate of eligibility to obtain insurance (if applicable)
• one passport sized photo
• payment for the fee.

Your application will be reviewed and assessed to check it meets eligibility requirements.

We might contact you (by email or SMS) if we need more information.

Note: If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase, so it’s important that you submit all the required information and documents with your original application.

If your application is successful, we will contact you via SMS and send you a licence card in the post. Your approved licence details will be added to the public register.

If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll be advised of the reasons in writing and be provided with your options. For more information about the internal review process see Reviews of Fair Trading decisions.

Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) allows individuals who hold some specified licences issued in other Australian States and Territories to work in NSW under that licence without the need for a local licence or paying additional fees (please note: Queensland is not a participating state).

The AMR scheme does not apply to New Zealand occupational registrations and licences. However, existing processes under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Arrangements continue to apply.

Recognised interstate licensees will not need a NSW licence unless they relocate their primary place of residence to NSW. This is similar to someone with a driver’s licence issued by another state being able to legally drive on NSW roads; only if they move to NSW do they need a NSW driver’s licence.

While working in NSW, a recognised interstate licensee must follow the same laws as NSW licence holders. Fair Trading can take disciplinary and enforcement action if these obligations are not met.

AMR only applies to specific occupations. If your occupation is included in the AMR scheme, you may need to notify NSW Fair Trading of your intention to work in NSW.

You can check if your occupation is included in the AMR scheme , and if necessary, how to meet notification requirements.

If not eligible, other licence holders may still be able to apply under mutual recognition to have their licence recognised in NSW.

Mutual Recognition (MR) arrangements enable a licensed tradesperson or registered professional to work in another state or territory by having their qualifications recognised in NSW, and vice versa.

Under MR you can practise an equivalent occupation in NSW if the activities you're authorised to carry out under your original licence are substantially the same as those under the occupational licence in NSW.

To apply for recognition of your existing licence, you need to:

• complete a Registration of equivalent occupation form , and
• pay any applicable fee.

Applications, payment and supporting documents must be lodged at a Service NSW Centre.