QBCC Trade Licensing – Career In The Building And Construction Industry

June 23, 2024

Starting your journey to a QBCC Trade Licence involves identifying the correct licence class and securing the right qualifications.

Step One: Identify The Correct QBCC Trade Licence

Your journey to obtaining a QBCC Trade Licence begins with identifying which QBCC Trade Licence Class scope covers the work that you are carrying out and securing the right qualifications for that licence.

The QBCC manages over 80 available licences for working in the building and construction industry.

The licence you choose to apply for will depend on:

your intended role in the industry
the scope of work you will undertake or be responsible for
if you can meet the eligibility requirements.

Determining the correct QBCC Trade Licence may seem fairly straight forward if you have obtained, for example, your carpentry trade qualifications and are carrying out carpentry trade work. You can look up all the QBCC Trade Licence Classes on the QBCC Website.

If you are unsure what QBCC Trade Licence Class covers your work, or there may be in fact several Trade Licence Classes that cover our could cover the work that you are carrying out. For example, if you are carrying out fencing work, there are several QBCC Licence Classes that cover the scope depending on the type of materials that you are using such as timber or colourbond. In this example a QBCC Structural Landscaping Licence would cover both timber and colourbond, similarly so would a QBCC Carpentry Licence.

If you are unsure which QBCC Trade Licence covers your work, use this tool to find out what licence you need for different types of building and construction work. You’ll also find common exceptions to the rules and the relevant sections of the legislation you can refer to.

Still lost and need licensing advice? Call one of our QBCC licensing specialists at Construction Licensing and tap into 30 years’ of experience.

Step Two: Secure The Necessary Trade Qualifications

This can be achieved through an apprenticeship or by earning a Certificate III from a Registered Training Organisation. Some QBCC Trade licence classes require specific units of competency at differing trade levels. You can reference QBCC’s Technical Qualifications for Licensing Policy which list all QBCC Licence Classes and matching qualification requirements.

In some instances, a higher level of qualification is required for example for a QBCC Swimming Pool Licence, the technical qualifications require a Certificate IV level of competency.

It’s crucial to recognize that not all qualifications are the same. As the industry evolves, qualifications that were previously valid may no longer be accepted.

Our knowledgeable team can evaluate your trade qualifications and pinpoint any additional requirements needed before you make an application for your QBCC Trade Licence. You can also search training.gov.au to find out whether your qualification is still equivalent and not superseded.

Step Three: QBCC Managerial Qualifications

You need an approved managerial qualification for certain licences. You must complete an approved managerial qualification to be eligible for a:

QBCC Trade Contractor
QBCC Trade Nominee Supervisor Licence (trade licence classes).

The approved managerial course is:

BSBESB402 – Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures.

To find registered training providers for trade or managerial qualifications you can search training.gov.au. We can also refer you to Construction Licensing’s network of trusted training providers.

Step Four: Prepare And Submit Your QBCC Trade Licence Application

So you’re ready to submit your QBCC Licence Application – congratulations! It’s not easy to get qualified, and nor should it be. Industry has set high standards for any level of QBCC Licence. So let’s have a closer look at the next crucial step in the process: the QBCC Licence Application itself.

Based on our years of experience assisting applicants with QBCC Licence Applications, the reality is that 4 out of 5 applicants are likely to receive a letter or email from QBCC requesting more information about their QBCC Licence Application. This can slow down the QBCC Licence Application assessment, or if you miss the letter, it can even result in your QBCC Licence Application being refused. That means that you will also lose your QBCC Licence Application Fee.

Read are article QBCC Licence Application – 3 Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make before submitting you application. Construction Licensing offer a consulting service to handle the paperwork, verify qualifications and work through any fitness and proprietary issues such as criminal convictions or previous bankruptcy.

Important Take Homes

Employee vs Self-Employed

If you work as an employee, and your employer has a licence for the work, you’re covered. But, if you’re working for yourself, on a subcontract, or have employees, and you’re doing trade work over $3,300 (including labour and materials), you must make sure you are licensed correctly.

The Benefits of Being Properly Licensed

Once you’re licensed correctly, you can take on a broad range of building and construction work for homeowners, businesses, or builders. This includes your ability to obtain QBCC Home Warranty Insurance for contracts direct to homeowners. You can specialise in fencing, custom interiors, decks, or get your foot on the ladder toward a full builder licence by becoming a site supervisor.

Company Structure And Financial Considerations

If you’re operating or planning to operate under a company structure, the company must also have a QBCC Contractor Licence, with you as the Nominee Supervisor. When obtaining a QBCC Contractor Licence, whether as a sole trader or company, you will also need to meet the QBCC Minimum Financial Requirements.

Join an Industry Association

Consider joining @HIA for residential building or @QMBA for the commercial sector. Membership in these associations offers numerous benefits, including access to contract templates, safety documentation, dispute support, insurance, and labor hire assistance. Plus, it’s a tax-deductible expense that adds credibility to your business – not to mention the cool sticker for your vehicle!

Seizing Opportunities with a QBCC Trade Licence

The opportunities are endless. We also specialise in NSW Fair Trading Trade Licences.

Ask us how to future proof your skills and experience and grow your business with a Trade Licence.

Read On:

To Become A Builder In QLD You First Need A Site Supervisor Licence

Grow Your Business With A QBCC Trade Licence

Pathway To Progress: Upgrading From Carpenter To Builder Licence In NSW And QLD

Kick Start Guide To Trade Contractor Licensing – New South Wales And Queensland

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