In Australia, each State has different requirements for builders looking to get licenced. These can range from education and experience to a number of references and financial resources.
It’s important that you understand what requirements you need to meet before you commit to the process of getting a builders licence. Knowing what’s required of you will save you time and frustration in the long run.
Builders coordinate the construction of dwellings and other structures while also physically completing projects and adhering to safety standards.
We’ve compiled a rough guide to each State’s requirements for getting a builders licence and links to further information to help you with this.
Primary Qualifications of Builders
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Management and leadership skills
- Good planning and organisational skills
- Aptitude for technical activities
- Strong physical ability to handle the workload
- Decision making and problem-solving abilities
Education & Training for a Builder
To become a builder, you usually have to complete a VET qualification in building and construction. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You can also become a builder by studying construction management or building at university. To get into these courses, you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics, are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites, and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.
Duties & Tasks of a Builder
This trade job is exactly what it says on the tin building. From repairing small maintenance jobs to sorting out the roads, building an extension from scratch, right up to an entire house, you’ll build whatever the client wants. When a project is complete, you move onto the next one, so it’s certainly a job of variety, where you’ll meet new clients, new employers and new teammates.
Builders
- Examine and interpret clients’ plans or arrange the drawing of plans to meet building regulations
- Submit tenders (offers to do jobs at a stated price), quotes or prices for a project to clients
- Arrange the submission of plans to local authorities for approval and arrange inspections of building work
- Organise employees and/or subcontractors to carry out all stages of building and negotiate rates of pay
- Calculate quantities of materials required for building projects and order these from building suppliers or advertise for tenders
- Arrange delivery times of materials to coincide with various stages of the building process
- Supervise the work of employees and/or subcontractors to ensure buildings are of an acceptable standard and are proceeding according to the contract requirements and program schedule
- Coordinate the activities of office staff involved in the preparation and payment of accounts
- Comply with state and federal legal, statutory contract law.
Tasks
- Consults with architects, engineering professionals and other professionals, and technical and trades workers.
- Interprets architectural drawings and specifications.
- Coordinates labour resources and the procurement and delivery of materials, plant and equipment.
- Arranges submission of plans to local authorities.
- Implements coordinated work programs for sites.
- Builds under contract or subcontracting specialised building services.
- Oversees the standard and progress of subcontractors’ work.
- Prepares tenders and contract bids.
- Arranging building inspections by local authorities.
- Negotiates with building owners, property developers and subcontractors involved in the construction process to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
- Ensures adherence to building legislation and standards of performance, quality, cost and safety.
Your State-by-State Guide to Getting a Builders’ Licence in Australia
NSW builders licence
- Experience
- You must have at least two years of relevant industry experience working in a wide range of building construction work. Also, your experience must run across all stages of construction.
You can gain these 2 years’ experience:
- As an employee under the supervision of a licensed builder
- As a subcontractor who is appointed the supervisor of a (company or partnership class) Contractor Licence, here, your experience will be officially acknowledged only if you are contracted to work for a licenced builder.
- A sub-contractor who holds an Endorsed (individual class) Contractor Licence. Here, your experience will be officially acknowledged only if you are contracted to work for a licenced builder.
Your experience, whether as an employee or as a subcontractor, must be paid. Unpaid work will not be counted as “experience” and cannot be used to support your application.
- You don’t need to have completed your two years of experience all in one chunk. If you had a few months in between jobs, that’s fine. However, you need to prove you have two years of full-time equivalent experience over a maximum of 10 years (from the date of application).
- The licenced builder/s who provide references for your experience must have held a Qualified Supervisor Certificate or Individual Contractor Licence (Q) in the class of General Building Work issued by NSW Fair Trading during the period of time of your stated experience.
Qualifications
In addition to your two years of experience, you will also need to gain a CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building).
You will also need at least one of the following:
- A current carpentry or bricklaying contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate.
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) BCG50206 or CPC50208.
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210, which includes the following units:
- CPCCBC5004A Supervise and apply quality standards to the selection of building and construction materials
- CPCCBC5005A Select and manage building and construction contractors
- CPCCBC5007A or CPCCBC5007B Administer the legal obligations of a building and construction contract
- CPCCBC5009A Identifies 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.
- Degree in Building, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Economics, Applied Science (Building), or Quantity Surveying.
VIC Builders Licence
In Victoria, the process of getting a builders licence is managed and regulated by the Victorian Building Authority. Here, a builders licence is called builders registration.
There are a number of different types of builders registration, with the most common types including:
- Domestic Builder (Limited)
- Domestic Builder (Unlimited)
- Domestic Builder (Manager)
- Commercial Builder (Limited)
- Commercial Builder (Unlimited)
It’s important that applicants know exactly which registration type they want to secure, as they will only be able to work on sites and projects they are registered for.
For example, if you secure a Domestic Builder (Limited) registration, you cannot work on commercial construction sites as a builder.
Requirements to get your builders registration
For each type of registration, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- Have at least three years of full-time experience in the building registration category you are applying for (commercial, domestic, etc.).
- Complete an application form with proof of experience, etc.
- Undergo a written test and, in some cases, an interview.
- Have a thorough knowledge of the national building codes.
WA Builders Licence
The process of getting a builders licence in Western Australia is managed and regulated by the Western Australian Building Commission.
WA has many licence types. The main two are:
Licensed Building Practitioner
Practitioner registration is for individuals. It allows a person to be the nominated supervisor of a registered building contractor and use the title ‘registered building practitioner’. A practitioner may not provide building services directly to another person.
Licensed 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 want to use your licence for before you apply.
To apply for either licence type, generally, you will need:
- Experience (between 5 – 7 years, depending on licence sub-type).
- Formal qualifications related to the class of licence you are going for References.
- Must not have been disqualified from practising trade, occupation or business in Australia.
- To demonstrate possession of sufficient financial resources.
- For a comprehensive list of requirements related to the licence you need, visit the Western Australia Building Commission.
SA Builders Licence
Overseeing builders licensing in South Australia is the Government of South Australia Consumer and Business Services. There are many builder’s licencing pathways, the main two of which are:
- Contractor
- Supervisor
Within those licenses, 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.
Generally, you will need:
- Experience (number of years will depend on licence type).
- A national police check.
- To demonstrate possession of sufficient financial resources (will depend on which licence, but generally ranges between $10,000 in net assets to $100,000 in net assets).
- Must not have been disqualified from practising trade, occupation or business in Australia.
Qld Builders Licence
Builders licensing in Queensland is looked after by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
There are many builders’ licences to choose from, and you will need to have a careful look at the conditions on the QBCC website to select the right one for you.
Generally, you will need:
- Between 2 – 4 years’ experience.
- Formal qualifications related to the class of licence you are going for.
- Three written references.
- Financial information proving that you meet the minimum financial requirements.
- Proof of identity.
- If contracting under a trading name, a current copy of your Record of Registration from ASIC.
- If contracting under a partnership – proof of the business partnership.
NT Builders Licence
Multi-coloured construction builder hats
Overseeing builders licencing in the Northern Territory is the Building Practitioners Board.
There are a number of different licence types, including:
- Building Contractor Residential (Restricted)
- Building Contractor Residential (Unrestricted)
Generally, you will need to meet the following criteria to apply for a licence:
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction.
- A minimum of 3 years experience.
- Financial information proving that you meet the minimum financial requirements.
- Must not have been disqualified from practising trade, occupation or business in Australia.
TAS Builders Licence
The Department of Justice (Tasmania) looks after builders licensing in the State.
There are currently many classes of builders licenses, and you should carefully look at what each licence allows you to do before settling on the right one for you.
Builder accreditation is divided into four categories
- Builder
- Construction Manager
- Fire Protection Services Builder
- Demolisher
There are three classes within each category
- Low rise
- Medium rise
- Open
When applying for your licence, you will need Qualifications
- Low rise – CPC40110 Certificate IV Building and Construction (Building).
- Medium rise – CPC50210 Diploma Building and Construction (Building).
- Open – Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction Management or a Degree in Building.
- Experience
- Low rise – 2 years with a building trade qualification; 4 years without a building trade qualification.
- Medium rise – 2 years with a building trade qualification; 4 years without a building trade qualification.
- Open – 3 years with a building trade qualification; 6 years without a building trade qualification.
- References
- Two detailed references from accredited practitioners or industry professionals (these may be past or present employers).
You will also need
- Insurance
- Financial information proving that you meet the minimum financial requirements.
- Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
- ACT Builders Licence
- The process of applying for a builders licence in the ACT is managed and regulated by the ACT Government Department of Environment and Sustainable Development.
There are four types of builders licence classes in the ACT: A, B, C and D.
- Class A Builder (unlimited)
- Class B Builder (medium rise)
- Class C Builder (low rise/residential)
- Class D Builder
Each licence class allows the holder to complete different types of building work. Find out more about the ACT builders licence classes here. You must meet a range of different requirements before you can apply for any class of licence.
Qualifications
- Class A Builder – A Bachelor degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters degree or Doctoral degree in building
- Class B Builder – CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
- Class C Builder – A CPC40110 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) or a CPC50210 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), and a written examination. Before your license is issued, you must undertake and pass, with a mark of 80% or above, a written examination set by the Construction Occupations Registrar. More information on the written exam here
- Class D Builder – No formal qualifications required.
Experience
- Class A Builder – At least 2 years full- time building work experience. One year of that experience must have been completed after your qualification was issued.
- Class B Builder – At least 2 years full- time building work experience. 1 year of that experience must have been completed after your qualification was issued.
- Class C Builder – At least 2 years full- time building work experience. 1 year of that experience must have been completed after your qualification was issued.
- Class D Builder – 3 years’ full- time building work experience
The main areas of construction you can work on include:
- Housing (both public and private)
- Repair and maintenance
- Non-residential public property (including hospitals and schools)
- Industrial and commercial (such as factories)
Your daily activity will depend on your level of experience and how specialised you are. When you first start out, don’t expect to be on massive building projects, as you’re more likely to be doing some of the following laborious tasks:
- Prepping and cleaning the construction areas
- Delivering and distributing supplies (expect some heavy lifting)
- Assisting workers with equipment
- Helping on small tasks
- Assembling and disassembling scaffolding
- Learning new skills from experienced builders
Of course, the longer you do the job, the more building work you’ll get to do and the more responsibility you’ll be given until you become a supervisor. In a supervisor role, you’ll not only delegate the work, but you’ll organise the entire project, right down to hiring the right builders and finding what work needs carrying out.
Most builders will specialise in a particular area, but you can still work throughout all stages of the construction process if that’s not what you want.
Hardest part of being a Builder
If you’re looking for an excellent, stable day job, this isn’t for you. Bad weather can delay projects, and sometimes they demand building work won’t be there at bad times.
As well as working on high scaffolding in the rain, you can also be subjected to potentially hazardous chemicals, dangerous machinery and loud noises. Hence, it’s not a job for mucking about on, and you’ll often have to wear specialised safety equipment.
So there you have it, your guide to licensing in Australia. Open Colleges offer a number of building and construction courses that introduce you to the industry and teach you the necessary skills and knowledge to work in the industry, help you get off the tools, and meet education components required for licensing in several states.