The process of getting a builders’ licence in New South Wales is managed and regulated by the NSW Department of Fair Trading. This information is current as at December 2017. Use this link and visit the NSW Fair Trading website to check for updated requirements.

Requirements to get your licence:

Experience

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 licensed 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 licensed 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 done the 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 licensed 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 2 years’ experience, you will also need to gain a 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) BCG50206 or CPC50208.
• 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), Quantity Surveying.
• Degree in Building, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Economics, Applied Science (Building), or Quantity Surveying.

For more information on applying for a NSW Builders’ Licence, or to learn more about the process, call MIBT on 1300 642 457 or visit NSW Fair Trading.