What are Queensland’s Builders License Requirements?

If you’re planning a construction project in QLD, there are several requirements you must adhere to, including builders licences. Builders’ licensing in Queensland is managed by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, and there are several options to choose from. These include: Builder – Low Rise; Builder – Medium Rise; and Builder – Open. Before deciding which license is best for you, thoroughly read the conditions on the QBCC website. The kinds of work that require a building licence include: constructing or erecting a garage, carport, or shed (including kits), renovations in bathrooms, kitchens or laundries, swimming pool building and structural landscaping, screened or glass pool enclosures, atriums and conservatories, house lifting (e.g. permanently raising the height of an existing structure), removing and resitting dwellings, saunas and steam rooms.

Obtaining a QLD Builders License

There are a few general requirements you need to attain before you can get your builders licence in QLD. You require two years of 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 will be able to gain this experience through: building work on a Class 1 or Class 10 building, Building work on Classes 2-9 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. To qualify as experience, your employment – whether that is as an employee or as a sub-contractor – must be paid. Unpaid work cannot support your application.

Certificate IV in Building and Construction – CPC40110 & RPL

The Certificate IV in Building and Construction – CPC40110 exists to recognise the skills and experience of builders who have already been working in the industry, but who have not yet completed or attained their qualifications. This course is designed to help these builders tick off the subjects and qualifications they require to obtain a building contractor’s licence. If you have skills, knowledge and experience gained overseas or over the course of your career, then you may be eligible for receiving your qualification through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is the process by which you can have your past experience assessed against necessary qualifications by a Registered Training Organisation. They will do this after you present a portfolio of evidence, filled with items such as past qualifications, previous samples of work, referrals from past employers, and photos/footage of you performing work. This process could save you mass amounts of time and money, otherwise wasted on re-learning skills you already possess within traditional learning avenues. 

What you’ll need for your application

There are several pieces of documentation, details, and paperwork required in order to submit your property builders license application. If you’re submitting your application to deadline, we recommend you begin organising these documents well ahead of time. To find out more about builders licenses, please get in touch with your state’s governing builders association, or reach out to a training institute in your area.