Builders’ licensing in Queensland is managed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.

There are a number of builders’ licenses 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.

General requirements to get your licence:

Experience

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.

You can gain these 2 years’ experience:

• Building work on a class 1 or class 10 building
• Building work on classes 2 to 9 buildings with a gross floor area not exceeding 2000m², but not including Type A or Type B construction
• Building work that consists of non structural work on a building, regardless of the class of the building; or the gross floor area of the building
• Prepare plans and specifications if the plans and specifications are: for the licensee’s personal use, or for use in building work to be performed by the licensee personally.

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 in the scope of work for the class.

All other applicants will require four 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.

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 or;
• 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.

Details and paperwork to submit your application you will include:

• 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.

For more information on applying for a Queensland Builders’ Licence, or to learn more about the process,
call MIBT on 1300 642 457 or visit Queensland Building and Construction Commission.