Take the next step in your career to become a ‘Builder low-rise’ and be in control as the builder. Units from this qualification will meet licencing requirements for QLD, NSW, SA and TAS, though each state will mention which qualifications you need to hold and experience requirements. This course can be done online. The trainer and assessor is a click away. Your work will be marked as you go, or you can also enrol into this course and complete it via recognition of prior learning which has practical and conversation tasks.
This qualification is designed to meet the needs of builders and managers of small to medium-sized building businesses.
The builder may also be the appropriately licensed person with responsibility under the relevant building licensing authority in the State or Territory. Builder licensing varies across States and Territories and additional requirements to attainment of this qualification may be required.
Occupational titles may include:
- Builder
- Construction manager.
The qualification has 13 core and 3 elective units of competency.
CPC40110
Certificate IV in Building and construction (Building)
A combination of recognition and prior learning and face to face training
13 core and 3 elective units
Qualified in bricklaying/block laying or carpentry
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.
Contractor and nominee supervisor licences Any one of the following—
(a) successful completion of Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40110;
(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;
(d) a qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
(a) the technical qualifications stated for Builder—low rise;
(b) successful completion of the following units of competency—
(i) Apply building codes and standards to the construction process for low rise building projects CPCCBC4001A; (ii) Manage occupational health and safety in the building and construction workplace CPCCBC4002A;
(iii) Plan building or construction work CPCCBC4007A;
(iv) Conduct on-site supervision of building and construction projects CPCCBC4008B;
(v) Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects CPCCBC4009B;
(vi) Apply structural principles to residential low rise constructions CPCCBC4010B;
(vii)Apply structural principles to commercial low rise constructions CPCCBC4011B;
(viii) Read and interpret plans and specifications CPCCBC4012B;
(ix) Apply site surveys and set-out procedures to building and construction projects CPCCBC4018A;
(x) Lead team effectiveness BSBLDR403;
(c) successful completion of a course or units of competency of a course the commission considers is at least equivalent to the units of competency mentioned in paragraph (b).
Builders and tradespeople in NSW are required to be licensed to conduct building work. These range from residential constructions, alterations, repairs and renovations to more specialist work such as plumbing, gas-fitting, electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning work.
You must have a contractor licence to contract, subcontract or advertise to do:
1) residential building work where the total cost of labour and materials is more than $5,000
2) electrical wiring work
3) plumbing, draining and gas fitting work
4) air conditioning and refrigeration work (except plug-in appliances).
Caution.
By law, your licence number must be shown on all advertising, stationery and signage.
You must have at least 2 years’ 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 sub-contractor 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 sub-contractor, 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 2 years’ experience all in one chunk. If you had a few months in between jobs, that’s fine. However, you need to prove you have 2 years’ 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.
In addition to your 2 years’ 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. (Staysafe does not offer this qualification)
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50210 which includes the following units: (Staysafe does not offer this qualification)
For more information on applying for a NSW builders’ licence, or to learn more about the process, visit NSW Fair Trading.
From 1 October 2020 applicants for building work contractor licences that include one or more of the following standard conditions (or similar non-standard conditions) will be required to undertake additional study:
Any building work
Additions
Additions ltd to residential National Construction Code Class 1 & 10
Alterations
Alterations & renovations
Residential building work ltd to National Construction Code Class 1 & 10
Transportable building construction and installation
If you are applying for a contractor licence which DOES NOT include any of the conditions above (e.g. trade/specified or commercial building work), please refer to Part 2 – Specified and other General Building Work.
Successful completion of the following units of competency issued by a Registered Training Organisation:
1. BSBSMB421 Manage small business finances; or BSBSMB402 Plan small business finances; or BSBSMB404 Undertake small business planning; and
2. CPCCBC4009B Apply legal requirements to building and construction projects; or BSBSMB401 Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business; and
3. CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work;
4. CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects;
5. CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract;
6. CPCCBC4024A Resolve Business Disputes.
Currently holds a building work contractor licence or plumbing, gas fitting or electrical contractor licence and has successfully completed the following units of competency (See Option 7 if the current licence already includes equivalent work)
1. CPCCBC4007A Plan building or construction work;
2. CPCCBC4004A Identify and produce estimated costs for building and construction projects;
3. CPCCBC4003A Select and prepare a construction contract;
4. CPCCBC4024A Resolve Business Disputes.
Successful completion of a business, economics or accounting related degree or diploma from Australia or New Zealand, which includes completed competencies demonstrating sufficient financial and legal knowledge and has successfully completed the following units of competency:
- 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.
Currently hold a contractor licence under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 that already includes one or more of the standard residential conditions.
Held a contractor licence, within the past 12 months, under the Building Work Contractors Act 1995 that included one or more of the standard residential conditions.
Hold a current interstate contractor licence that includes one or more of the standard residential conditions (or equivalent).
One of the following approved qualifications: · Contractors Management Program Certificate IV · Diploma in Building – with academic record · Certificate IV in Building – with academic record · Business Management for Building 1 (AQF4) & Business Management for Building 2 (AQF5) – with academic record A contractor licence is dependent upon specific modules completed of the above courses.
Staysafe does not offer options 4-6.
This category is divided into three classes of licensed builder:
- Builder (General Construction) – a general builder responsible for managing or carrying out construction, demolition, alteration, addition, relocation or repair of any building or structure
- Fire protection services builder – a specialist builder responsible for managing or carrying out fire protection services work in a building
- Demolisher– a specialist builder responsible for managing or carrying out demolition of existing buildings, structures and building work. A demolisher cannot perform any new building work.
Each class of licensed builder is further divided into sub-classes of Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open. The General Construction class also has a sub-class of Domestic. These sub-classes determine the scope of work of licensees.
The Department of Justice (Tasmania) looks after builders’ licensing in the State.
There currently are a number of 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
- Construction Manager
- Fire Protection Services Builder
- Demolisher
- Low rise
- Medium rise
- Open
- Low rise – CPC40110 Certificate IV Building and Construction (Building). (Staysafe offers this option only)
- Medium rise – CPC50210?Diploma Building and Construction (Building).
- Open – Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction Management or a Degree in Building.
- 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.
- Two detailed references from accredited practitioners or industry professionals (these may be past or present employers).
- Insurance
- Financial information proving that you meet the minimum financial requirements.
- Applicants may also be required to attend an interview.
Do you currently hold a licence in your state? You may qualify for mutual recognition of your licence in other States.
Mutual recognition
Mutual Recognition is a process whereby an individual who holds a licence in one state, territory or New Zealand is entitled to be licensed in another state, territory or New Zealand to perform the same work. Mutual Recognition does not apply to a company or partnership. If you are applying for a licence in Queensland under Mutual Recognition please be aware that special rules apply. The QBCC may only issue a licence that is equivalent to the licence you already hold. If your interstate or New Zealand licence is subject to a condition or restriction, the QBCC must impose the same condition on your Queensland licence. Where there is no QBCC licence equivalent to your interstate or New Zealand licence, the QBCC will not be able to issue you a licence.
Who can apply?
Applicants from: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand can apply.
Interstate and New Zealand licence mutual recognition (NSW)
Mutual recognition
Most licences granted in other States and Territories or New Zealand are recognised in NSW. Under this mutual recognition system, a person registered to practise an occupation (such as carpentry) in one state or territory is entitled to practise an equivalent occupation in another state or territory. First, you must notify the local registration authority.
For a form and explanatory notes for applying for a licence to do residential building work in NSW under mutual recognition, refer to the Applicant’s Checklist for Individual Applicants for Mutual Recognition.
Automatic recognition
Automatic Mutual Recognition allows individuals who hold some specified licences issued in other Australian States and Territories or New Zealand to work in NSW under that licence. The NSW Mutual Recognition (Automatic Licensed Occupations Recognition) Act and Regulation commenced on 1 December 2014.
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 is subject to the same laws as NSW licence holders. NSW Fair Trading can take disciplinary and enforcement action against them.
The provisions that do not require a NSW licence only apply to specific occupations contained in the Regulation. Licensees in other occupations must apply under mutual recognition to have their licence recognised by NSW. Go to the Automatic Mutual Recognition – East Coast Electricians page for more information.
Being a nominated supervisor under Automatic Mutual Recognition
If you have a deemed local licence under the provision of Automatic Mutual Recognition, you may be eligible to become a nominated qualified supervisor for a NSW contractor company or partnership licence. Go to our Nominated Qualified Supervisors page for more information. Subscribe to the Foundations enewsletter for the homebuilding industry to stay up-to-date on mutual recognition laws and other matters.
Recognition of interstate and overseas work licences (SA)
Workers and contractors with licences from interstate or New Zealand (NZ) can apply for the same type of South Australian licence. Only individuals (not companies) with equivalent occupations can apply for mutual recognition. Check the licence recognition website for details.
Licences from other countries are not recognised, but you may be able to have overseas qualifications and experience assessed to help you get a South Australian licence.
You can apply if:
- your interstate or NZ licence is current
- your licence isn’t suspended and has no conditions due to criminal, civil or disciplinary proceedings – including if you are being investigated.
Before you begin
You’ll need to include a copy of your current licence with your application – showing the front and back if it’s a licence card.
How to apply
Select an occupational field from the list below to find the appropriate South Australian licence.
Please note that some requirements only apply to new licence applications. Mutual recognition requirements will be outlined once you start the appropriate online application.
For most licences, you’ll need to have your photo taken and undergo an ID check before being issued with a licence card.