Across Australia, many people have recently discovered that their qualifications—completed through a third-party broker, portfolio agency, or non-RTO intermediary—may no longer be recognised due to recent ASQA compliance action against certain Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
This has caused understandable confusion and stress, especially for tradies, builders and contractors who relied on these qualifications for their licensing applications or licences issued.
Construction Licensing has received a significant increase in calls from affected individuals. To help manage the volume and provide clear guidance, we’ve outlined what you should do next.
🔄 Existing Construction Licensing Clients
Our clients are important to us. If Construction Licensing prepared your QBCC or NSW licence application, the evidence for your licence application should contribute to your evidence about your referees and work history. Please email us and we will review your file and discuss your licensing strategy. We can upload any documents held on file from your original application so you have a complete, consolidated evidence library should a regulator request further information.
✅ 1. Request a Complete Copy of Your File From the Provider You Paid
If your qualification was arranged through a broker, portfolio service or non-RTO intermediary, you should immediately request a full copy of your portfolio and all evidence you submitted.
Ask for:
- all assessments and portfolio documents
- photos, videos and job evidence
- emails, correspondence and submissions
- any material forwarded to an RTO on your behalf
- access to Dropbox/Google Drive/shared folders containing evidence
It is essential that you secure your own independent copy of everything.
🛑 3. Your Current Licence Is Not Automatically Affected
Your licence remains valid unless a regulator (such as the QBCC or NSW Building Commission) formally reviews your technical qualifications.
However, given the national scale of the issue, licensing bodies may in future request:
- additional information
- clarification of your training pathway
- a Show Cause Notice
This is not guaranteed—but it is a foreseeable possibility.
🎓 4. Complete New, Valid Qualifications Through a Reputable RTO as Soon as Possible
To protect your licence and your business, it is strongly recommended that you complete updated qualifications directly with a Registered Training Organisation.
You can verify if an organisation is a genuine RTO here:
🔗 Check a Registered Training Organisation
If an organisation does not appear on training.gov.au, it is not authorised to issue nationally recognised qualifications.
Completing compliant qualifications early provides the strongest protection if your existing licence is reviewed or deemed invalid.
🛡️ 5. Updated Qualifications Reduce Future Licensing Risk
If a regulator reviews your technical qualifications, having correctly issued qualifications substantially reduces the risk of:
- licence suspension
- licence cancellation
- conditions being imposed on your licence
Being proactive places you in the strongest possible position if your qualifications are later examined.
📁 6. Keep Copies of All Updated Qualifications
If your licence is ever reviewed, being able to show that you have completed new, compliant qualifications through a recognised RTO will help demonstrate competence and reduce potential risk.
💬 7. Consider Seeking Resolution From the Provider You Paid
If you paid a broker or third-party provider to facilitate your RPL, you may wish to raise concerns regarding the outcome delivered. You may consider:
- questioning the fees paid
- requesting reimbursement or partial refund
- requesting complete copies of all evidence
- raising concerns about the invalid qualification
You may highlight that:
- you provided all evidence in good faith
- the qualification issued is now invalid
- this situation may affect your licence and business
- rebuilding your portfolio will require additional time and cost
- you may incur further expense to complete new qualifications through a legitimate RTO
If necessary, you may consider seeking legal advice regarding compensation for your loss.
✉️ Need Support?
If you are not a client, you will need to contact the organisation you originally paid for your qualification, or contact ASQA directly for guidance on 1300 701 801 (dial +61 3 8613 3910 from outside Australia) .
We understand how stressful this situation is and we will continue to support our clients as the regulatory process unfolds. Those that are affected outside of our client base will need to seek their own advice and guidance
❗ Construction Licensing Is Not an RTO
Construction Licensing is not a Registered Training Organisation. We do not issue qualifications, conduct RPL assessments, or manage ASQA processes.
Our role is to:
- help applicants understand licensing requirements
- provide licensing strategy and advice
We cannot validate, reissue, or correct qualifications.
