Licence classes and qualifications
NSW Fair Trading licenses all builders and tradespeople that carry out work in the residential building industry in NSW.
Types of licences and certificates
Contractor Licence authorises that holder to contract and advertise to carry out the work described on their licence card.
Qualified Supervisor Certificate allows the holder to carry out the work as described on their licence.
Nominated Supervisor is an individual who holds a qualified contractor licence or a supervisor certificate, and who is registered against a contractor licence as the person supervising the residential building work or specialist work. All companies, partnership and unqualified individuals holding a contractor licence must nominate a supervisor.
Top of pageBuilding and trade licence classes
For information about the scope of work covered and the qualifications required for each class of residential building, follow the links below:
Specialist trades
For information about the scope of work covered and the qualifications required for each class of specialist trade work, follow the links below:
Air conditioning and refrigeration
Electrical
Disconnection and reconnection of fixed electrical equipment
Plumbing, draining and gasfitting
Apprentices and trainees
To apply for a contractor licence, qualified supervisor certificate or tradesperson certificate an individual must satisfy that they are not in a contract of training either as an apprentice or trainee. An applicant signs a declaration to this effect when they complete their application for a licence or certificate.
A contract of training is completed when the Commissioner for Vocational Training approves the completion. The Commissioner will consider a request to complete lodged by either the employer or trainee, or both, once the apprentice or trainee has obtained their qualification from a registered training organisation.
For information on how to complete a contract of training, go to the State Training Services website (www.training.nsw.gov.au) or call 13 28 11.
Reduction of red tape
Effective 29 April 2008, a previously held licence meets the qualification requirements for certain classes of licence or certificate issued under the Home Building Act 1989.
This change removes a major cost to former licence holders who would otherwise need to pay to have their former licence and experience recognised as being equivalent to the current qualification through the recognition of prior learning process.
This creates a quick and simple pathway for former licence holders to obtain a new licence and return to the industry.
From 16 September 2009, licensing ceased for building consultancy, non-structural flooring, kit home supply and mechanical services. Demolisher licensing ceased on 2 May 2008.