How to get a Builders Licence in each Australian state & territory

Your guide to getting a builder’s licence in Australia

You need a proper licence to run a legitimate building business in Australia, but the process changes tremendously depending on where you’re based. Each state manages its own licensing system with different qualification requirements, experience standards and application process. You can’t just grab a Certificate IV and start contracting everywhere.

This guide will show you how to get a builder’s licence in each Australian state, why you need one and how Builders Academy can help you get there.

What is a builder’s licence?

A builder’s licence proves you’ve got the qualifications, experience and insurance to legally run building projects in Australia. Without one, you can’t advertise building services, enter contracts above certain values or supervise construction work that requires compliance certificates. The licence protects consumers from dodgy builders whilst giving tradies legal authority to run their own businesses.

What a builder’s licence allows you to do

Your builder’s licence lets you run your own construction business instead of just working for someone else forever. The specific permissions depend on your licence class, but here’s generally what you’ll be able to do once you get a builder’s licence in Australia:

• Enter building contracts above your state’s threshold: Most states restrict unlicensed builders to small jobs under $5,000–$20,000, whilst licensed builders can contract for projects worth hundreds of thousands or even millions.

• Advertise your building services publicly: You can legally market your business, create websites and promote your services to attract clients.

• Apply for building permits and approvals: licensed builders lodge development applications and building permits with councils, which unlicensed workers cannot do.

• Supervise projects requiring certification: You oversee builds needing compliance certificates and sign off on completed work meeting building standards.

Why you need a licence to work as a builder in Australia

Australian states regulate building work to protect consumers from independent operators who cut corners or deliver substandard work. The licensing system verifies that all builders have proper training and sufficient insurance to carry out construction projects before they can take people’s money.

Working without a licence when legally required can land you with fines up to $200,000 in some states and a criminal record that will destroy your reputation. Insurance won’t cover you either, so a single workplace accident or structural failure could bankrupt you personally when clients sue. Beyond legal requirements, licensing helps build client trust since homeowners check licensing status before hiring builders and many won’t even consider unlicensed operators regardless of price.

Types of builder licences

Australian states issue different licence classes restricting what building work you can legally do. The most common builder licence types are:

• Domestic builder licence: Authorises residential construction including homes, extensions and renovations up to three storeys.

• Commercial builder licence: Covers non-residential buildings like offices, shops and warehouses.

• Low-rise builder licence: Specifically for buildings up to three storeys. Common in Victoria.

• Specialist builder licence: Focuses on specific trades like plumbing or carpentry rather than building full building projects.

How to get a builder’s licence: General steps

Getting your builder’s licence follows similar processes across Australian states, though specific requirements vary by location. You’ll need the right qualifications, proven industry experience, proper documentation and approval from your state’s building authority. The whole process usually takes a few years but each step builds toward running your own building business.

1. Complete an approved qualification

You can’t get a builder’s licence without formal building qualifications that prove you understand how construction projects work. Most states require Certificate IV or Diploma level qualifications as a minimum.

These are some of the most common approved qualifications for builder licensing:

• CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building): Entry-level qualification covering building regulations, contract administration and site management for domestic builder licences.

• CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building): Higher qualification that covers deeper construction management knowledge required for commercial licences in some states.

• Trade qualifications plus management studies: Some states let qualified tradespeople combine their trade certificates with specific building management units instead of completing full Certificate IV programmes.

Explore nationally recognised building courses.

2. Gain the required industry experience

Qualifications alone don’t cut it. You need practical building experience proving you can actually manage construction projects rather than just passing exams. Most states require two to four years working in building and construction, with specific requirements about supervisory roles. 

You need to document your experience with employment references, pay slips and statutory declarations from licensed builders who’ve supervised your work. Some states want evidence that you’ve managed projects from start to finish, handled contracts and dealt with subcontractors. Keep detailed records throughout your career like project descriptions and the contact details of your supervisors.

3. Prepare your documentation

Building authorities want extensive paperwork proving you meet every licensing requirement before considering your application. Missing documents can delay the process by weeks or months. 

The documents you’ll need to get a builder’s licence in Australia are:

• Proof of identity: Certified copies of passport, driver’s licence or birth certificate.

• Qualification certificates: Official transcripts from your building qualifications.

• Experience verification: Statutory declarations from licensed builders and employment references covering your required experience period.

• Insurance certificates: Public liability and contract works insurance that meets your state’s minimum coverage.

4. Submit your application

Submit applications online through your state building authority’s portal or via paper forms depending on location. Double-check everything before submitting because mistakes can take months to correct. Processing times range from weeks to months depending on your state’s workload.

5. Pay fees and complete any assessments

Licence application fees vary dramatically by state and some of them even charge additional assessment fees if your application triggers interviews or examinations to test your knowledge. Certain states require face-to-face interviews where building authority representatives grill you about construction regulations and your experience. Others conduct written exams testing building code knowledge and risk management principles. 

Once approved, you’ll pay licence issue fees and potentially ongoing annual renew fees to maintain your licence. Budget for these costs as business expenses rather than one-off payments since keeping your licence current requires continuous investments. 

In short, here’s how to get a builder’s licence in Australia:

State and territory builder’s licence requirements

Each Australian state and territory runs its own licensing system with different requirements and application processes. So, when you look up how to get a builder’s licence in NSW you’ll get vastly different results from when you search how to get a builder’s licence in QLD. 

How to get a builder’s licence in New South Wales (NSW)

Licensing authority: NSW Fair Trading

Eligibility and requirements

NSW requires contractor licences for any residential building work valued over $5,000 in labour and materials including GST. Working without proper licensing can land you with fines up to $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 as a company.

You’ll need approved qualifications and at least two years of practical experience before NSW Fair Trading will even consider your application. The experience must be recent too, with most of it gained within 10 years of applying.

These are the requirements for getting a builder’s licence in NSW:

• Approved qualifications: Complete a CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) or equivalent qualification with all required units covering building codes, work health and safety, contract administration and structural principles.

• Minimum two years practical experience: Work under supervision of a licensed builder across all stages of residential construction, not just one trade. Experience as an owner-builder doesn’t count towards licensing requirements.

• Pass technical assessments: Demonstrate knowledge of the National Construction Code, contract law and site supervision through NSW Fair Trading’s assessment process.

• Financial viability: Prove you’re not currently bankrupt, as NSW cannot issue contractor licences for building work to bankrupt applicants.

• Appropriate insurance: Hold public liability and contract works insurance meeting NSW minimum coverage requirements before your licence gets issued.

Application process

Follow these steps to get your builder’s licence in NSW:

1. Gather your qualification certificates: Collect official transcripts and completion certificates from your Certificate IV or Diploma in Building and Construction showing you’ve finished all required units.

2. Document your practical experience: Get statutory declarations from licensed builders who supervised your work, including detailed descriptions or projects and dates worked across at least two years.

3. Submit application online via NSW Fair Trading: Create an account on the Service NSW portal and complete your licence application including all supporting documents.

4. Pay application fees: Submit payment for your chosen licence term (1, 3 or 5 years) through the online system when submitting your application.

5. Complete required assessments: Attend interviews or examinations if NSW Fair Trading requests additional verification of your knowledge and experience.

6. Receive licence approval: Once approved, you’ll get your contractor licence number and can legally contract for building work above $5,000 in NSW.

For more details on the application process, take a look at the NSW Fair Trading guide. 

How to get a builder’s licence in Queensland (QLD)

Licensing authority: Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)

Eligibility and requirements

Queensland runs one of Australia’s most comprehensive licensing systems with strict criteria that covers technical qualifications, experience, financial viability and character assessment. You’ll need to prove you’re technically competent, financially stable and a “fit and proper” person before QBCC issues your licence.

These are the requirements for obtaining a builder’s licence in Australia:

• Approved technical qualifications: Complete a CPC40120 Certificate IV or CPC50220 Diploma in Building and Construction with all required units covering building codes, construction management and structural principles.

• Four years of relevant building experience: Demonstrate hands-on experience supervising and managing building projects across different construction stages, coordinating subcontractors and managing finances, not just doing trade work.

• Financial assessment: Meet minimum financial requirements based on your intended annual turnover. You must show adequate working capital through accountant-prepared reports that show net tangible assets and current ratio calculations.

• Fit and proper person criteria: You have to demonstrate honesty and integrity in business dealings without recent criminal convictions (traffic offences don’t count) or unpaid QBCC fines. If you’ve got convictions within 10 years, you’ll need a National Police Certificate.

Application process

Queensland thoroughly vets anyone applying for a builder’s licence. Here’s how to successfully get one:

1. Work out your licence class and financial category: Figure out which builder licence covers your intended work and calculate your maximum revenue to determine financial category (SC1, SC2 or Category 1–7).

2. Collect qualification evidence: Grab your apprenticeship papers, formal certificates from registered raining organisations or recognition of prior learning documentation.

3. Document your building experience: Write detailed descriptions of projects you’ve supervised, including construction stages, building types, timeframes and contact details for three licensed referees.

4. Get your financial information ready: Have your accountant prepare an MFR report showing adequate working capital unless you’re exempt through professional indemnity insurance.

5. File your application through QBCC’s online portal: Submit via the myQBCC portal with all documents and fees. Keep in mind that your total fees will range from $890 to $1,641 depending on your financial category.

Keep in mind that this is just a brief summary of how to get a builder’s licence in Queensland. For the full instructions, review the QBCC website.

How to get a builder’s licence in Victoria

Licensing authority: Victorian Building Authority (VBA)

Eligibility and requirements

Victoria requires builder registration through the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) for any domestic building work costing over $10,000, plus reblocking, restumping, demolition or home removal regardless of cost. You’ll need the right qualifications, proven experience and clean record before they’ll register you.

These are the requirements for getting a builder’s licence in Victoria:

• Approved qualifications: Complete a CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) or CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), though a Certificate IV alone isn’t considered a prescribed course and you’ll need to sit for additional BPC exams.

• Three years of full-time experience: Demonstrate hands-on experience supervised by registered building practitioners, gained through paid employment or contracting across technical, supervisory and contractual aspects of building work, not as an owner-builder.

• Fit and proper person assessment: Prove your character through statutory declaration, criminal history checks and external administration declarations if you’ve been a director of a company in financial trouble within the past two years.

• Appropriate insurance: You’ll need to have the required insurance coverage level for your registration class before BPC issues your registration.

Application process

Victoria thoroughly vets your knowledge, experience and character before licensing you. Here’s how to get a builder’s licence in Victoria:

1. Pick your registration class: Work out whether you’re going for Domestic Builder (Limited), Domestic Builder (Unlimited), Commercial Builder or other registration types based on the work you want to do.

2. Collect qualification evidence: Grab your Certificate IV, Diploma or equivalent qualification certificates that show you’ve finished approved building courses.

3. Document your building experience: Pull together detailed records of at least three years full-time experience supervised by registered practitioners, including employment records and contractor agreements proving paid work. 

4. Lodge online application: Submit through BPC’s online portal including all documents, statutory declarations and criminal history check arranged through their approved provider.

5. Complete the assessment process: Attend an interview and potentially sit an open-book, multiple-choice exam in BPC assessors reckon they need to verify that your knowledge meets registration requirements.

For more information, refer to the official Victoria BPC website.

How to get a builder’s licence in Western Australia (WA)

Licensing authority: Building and Energy Division, Industry Regulation and Safety

Eligibility and requirements

Western Australia has five different registration pathways (called “sets”) for becoming a building practitioner, each with different qualification and experience requirements. You’ll pick whichever set matches your background and qualifications.

These are the requirements for getting a builder’s licence in WA:

• Set 1 pathway: Hold Diploma of Building and Construction plus seven years full-time experience carrying out or supervising building work. 

• Set 2 pathway: Have current registration under the Architects Act 2004 or membership with the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Engineers Australia or Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, plus five years supervising building construction.

• Set 3 pathway: Current membership with the Australian Institute of Building (Member or Fellow level) plus five years carrying out, supervising or managing building construction.

• Set 4 pathway: Complete Board examinations or obtain a Diploma through recognition of prior learning plus five years supervising or managing building construction under the Board’s jurisdiction.

• Set 5 pathway: Complete Board examinations or get a Diploma through recognition of prior learning plus seven years carrying out building work specifically in Western Australia but outside the Board’s jurisdiction.

• Australian Police Check: Provide a police check from an approved vendor with your application, as police checks from unapproved providers won’t be accepted. 

For more details, review the official guide from the WA Government.

How to get a builder’s licence in South Australia (SA)

Licensing authority: Consumer and Business Services (CBS)

Eligibility and requirements

South Australia requires building contractors to hold licences if they run businesses carrying out or organising building work for others or to sell and let land and buildings. You’ll need proper knowledge, experience, financial resources and a clean police record.

Here’s how to get a builder’s licence in SA:

• Appropriate knowledge and experience: Prove that you have the right knowledge and experience for the type of building work you intend to contract, with different criteria applying to specific types of work.

• Financial requirements: Hold at least $10,000 in net assets if doing specified building work like bricklaying or carpentry. Major residential construction builders must attach a certificate of eligibility for building indemnity insurance.

• National Police Certificate: Provide a copy of your National Police Certificate no more than 12 months old, unless exempt through previous CBS submission.

• Nominated building work supervisor: Companies must nominate a registered building work supervisor, whilst individual contractors can register as supervisors on the same application.

Learn more about how to get a builder's licence in SA on the official CBS website.

How to get a builder’s licence in Tasmania

Licensing authority: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)

Eligibility and requirements

Tasmania splits builder’s licences into classes (General Construction, Fire Protection Services Builder and Demolisher) and sub-classes (Domestic, Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open) that determine what work you can actually do. Each level needs different qualifications and experience depending on whether you’ve got a trade background. 

These are the steps to getting a builder’s licence in Tasmania depending on the type:

• Builder Domestic or Low Rise: Finish a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) plus two years of experience if you’ve got a trade qualification or four years if you don’t, at the same level of responsibility for your scope of work.

• Builder Medium Rise: Complete a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) plus two years of experience with trade qualifications or four years without one.

• Builder Open: Get an Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction Management or building degree plus three years of experience with trade qualifications or six years without.

• Insurance requirements: Hold $5 million in public liability insurance plus contract works insurance for builders, with a certificate of currency attached to your application.

• Continuing professional development: Keep your skills current through ongoing CPD activities as a condition of keeping your licence active.

Read the official CBOS website for the complete details of getting a builder’s licence in Tasmania.

How to get a builder’s licence in the Northern Territory

Licensing authority: Building Practitioners Board (BPB)

Eligibility and requirements

Northern Territory divides building contractor registrations into residential and commercial categories, each with restricted or unrestricted classes determining the scope and value of work you can legally undertake. Registration requirements vary by category with specific qualifications, experience and insurance outlined in the Ministerial Determination No. S57.

Here’s how to get a builder’s licence in NT:

• Building Contractor Residential (Restricted): Complete a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40120 with required core and elective units, plus three years of post-graduate practical experience (minimum one year in NT) gained within 10 years before applying.

• Building Contractor Residential (Unrestricted): Same Certificate IV qualification plus three years post-graduate experience (minimum one year in NT) demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of regulatory and technical issues for buildings over two storeys.

• Building Contractor Commercial (Restricted): At least three years practical experience gained within 15 years (minimum one year in NT) carrying out commercial building work, plus experience in significant and complex building work.

• Building Contractor Commercial (Unrestricted): At least three years of practical experience within 15 years (minimum one year in NT) plus demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of regulatory issues for buildings over three storeys. 

How to get a builder’s licence in the Australian Capital Territory

Licensing authority: Access Canberra

Eligibility and requirements

ACT divides builder licences into five classes (A, B, C, D, and Owner-Builder) based on building height, type and scope of work. Each class has different qualification requirements and work limitations under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act of 2004.

This is how to get a builder’s licence in the ACT:

• Approved qualifications: Meet qualification requirements specified in the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act of 2004, which vary by licence class and include multiple eligibility pathways where you only need to meet one method.

• Verified building work experience: Complete applicant statement forms documenting your building work experience across all relevant classes, with verification statements from referees confirming your practical experience.

• Written examination: Class A, B and C applicants must sit a written examination with 80% pass mark once your application is processes and eligibility requirements are met.

• Owner-builder requirements: Owner-builder licence applicants need an owner-builder course certificate completed within five years or current ACT Class A, B or C builder licence.

For more details, visit the full guide on the ACT Government website.

What can I study to become a licensed builder?

There are several qualifications and courses you can study to become a licensed builder in Australia. Some of the most common qualifications include:

Certificate IV in Building and Construction

This qualification covers the skills and knowledge required to become a licenced builder in Australia. It covers a range of topics, including building codes, project management, and business management.

Diploma of Building and Construction

This qualification is ideal for builders who are looking to take on larger, more complex projects. It covers advanced skills in building and construction, including project planning, contract management, and risk management.

Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction

This qualification is designed for experienced builders who are looking to take on leadership roles in the construction industry. It covers advanced skills in business management, project management, and building codes and regulations.

FAQs

What qualification do I need to get a builder’s licence in Australia?

Most states require a Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) or Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) as minimum qualifications. Some states accept equivalent qualifications or alternative pathways through professional memberships like Engineers Australia or the Australian Institute of Building.

Can I use the same qualification across different states?

Your qualification is nationally recognised, but you’ll still need to apply for registration in each state you want to work. Each state has different experience requirements, application processes and fees. Some states have mutual recognition agreements for easier interstate licensing.

Can I work as a builder without a licence?

No you can’t work as a builder without a licence. Every Australian state prohibits unlicensed building work above value thresholds of $5,000–$20,000, depending on location.

Is the licence process different in each state?

Yes the builders licence process is different in each state. Each state runs its own licensing system with different requirements and processing times. NSW requires knowledge tests, Queensland asks for financial reporting, Victoria interviews its applicants and Western Australia has five unique pathways.

Do I need insurance to apply for a licence?

Yes. Most states require public liability insurance and contract works insurance before issuing builder licences. Some states also require professional indemnity insurance for specified classes.

Your builder’s licence is waiting

Getting a builder’s licence in Australia takes time, qualifications and experience, but it’s the only way to run your business legally. Each state has different requirements, so pick your location and start gathering the qualifications and experience you need. 

At Builders Academy Australia (BAA) we feel genuine in helping our students achieve great results in a range of study options – and we believe that our 8000+ successful graduates across 120 locations are a testament to that. 

Contact us today to learn more about our courses and how we can help you get your builder's licence.