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Last Updated on November 14, 2023 by Ozlinks Education

The steps to becoming a licenced builder in Australia.

To work as a licenced builder in Australia, you must first apply for a builder’s licence with the appropriate government in the state or territory where you intend to operate your business. You must have official building and construction qualifications, employment experience, and general abilities and understanding in the housing and building construction business before applying for the licence. As a licenced builder, you must be eligible for a work permit.

According to the 2021 National Industry Insights Report, Australia’s construction sector generates more than 9% of GDP, earns roughly $367 billion per year, and is predicted to rise by an average of 2.4 percent between 2019 and 2024. The bulk of construction enterprises are sole proprietorships or small businesses with less than 20 employees.

The construction industry will expand with more jobs in civil engineering and building construction. Australia’s construction industry offers job security and career advancement by allowing you to work in multiple locations and acquire a wide range of skills. You have a very appealing opportunity to conduct business in this industry. This is a really appealing business possibility for you to pursue.

Prior to applying for a building licence, you must have the necessary technical know-how, suitable job experience, and relevant qualifications. The process for applying for a builder’s licence is described in this article.

Step 1: Obtain the required qualifications.

The first stage in the registration process is to finish training in your state or territory for required certifications. Each state has its own set of standards for obtaining a builder’s licence. 

Australia has a large number of universities and institutions that provide diploma programmes to both domestic and foreign students. The majority of colleges are well-known for their high academic standards and calibre of instruction.

According to the technical qualifications need, the following building and construction requirements are relevant.

Building And Construction Courses

It is determined by the class builder, you will need one of the following technical qualifications :

• Certificate IV in Building and Construction
• Diploma of Building and Construction 
• Bachelor’s degree, Graduate Diploma, master’s degree in building

If you are an international student with a love for the building construction business and wish to become a licenced builder in Australia, please contact our education counsellor team for advice in selecting the appropriate building and construction degree. The Diploma in Building and Construction (Building) course is something you should think about if you’re an international student hoping to work in the building construction industry.

Step 2: Gain essential building and construction experience.

The second requirement to become a builder in Australia is to gain relevant work experience. Gaining experience as a stonemason by first working as a carpenter, joiner, and bricklayer is a fantastic method to learn the trade from the ground up. Attempt any construction project you can think of, from constructing a home to raising a skyscraper. A broad range of building tools, techniques, and safety precautions are introduced to you. You will need skills in teamwork, project management, and problem-solving.

Step 3: Register Builder’s Licenced

In Australia, different states and territories have different prerequisites for obtaining a builder’s licence. It is of the utmost importance that you familiarise yourself with the specific licensure legislation and requirements of the state or territory in which you plan to conduct business. Every municipality or county has its own licencing authority, which is in charge of handing out building licences. Visit the official website of the relevant authorities to obtain the information and resources you require in greater detail. After you have gathered all of the required documents, your application should then be submitted to the appropriate licencing authorities. Before submitting your application, you should be certain of the sort of class builder that is best suited to your qualifications and job experience.

Understand about builders’ licences: A, B, C, and D

Class A Builder (Unlimited)

The Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory has set the following prerequisites for a tertiary qualification in building for class A builders:

• Bachelor’s degree, Graduate Diploma, master’s degree in building

The builder’s licence class A allows you:

• For building work other than specialist building work.
• For building work of unlimited height on any Building Code of Australia (BCA) class of work.

Class B Builder (Medium Rise)

The Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory has set the following prerequisites for a tertiary qualification in building for class B builders:

• Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), or
• A tertiary qualification in building.

The builder’s licence class B allows you:

• For building work (other than specialist building work) in relation to a building that is three stories or lower.
• For basic building work.

Class C Builder (Low Rise)

The Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory has set the following prerequisites for a tertiary qualification in building for class C builders:

• Certificate IV in Building and Construction, or

• Diploma of Building and Construction 

The builder’s licence class C allows you to manage low-rise residential buildings ranging from one to two stories.

Class D Builder (non-structural work)

A non-structural builder is not required to have a formal qualification.

This licence allows you to conduct some types of home building work, such as bathroom renovations or kitchen installs.

What is it like to work as a builder?

Builders are responsible for the supervision, coordination, and construction of new homes and other buildings, as well as the repair and refurbishment of existing structures. They are also capable of managing the entirety of the project. The construction workers are responsible for adhering to stringent safety rules, which include utilising and wearing protective equipment and making sure the building site is safe.

Watch the Building & Construction at Holmesglen

The goals of the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) are to prepare students for careers as building professionals who are responsible for coordinating the construction of a building from start to finish, including the hiring of contractors, quality control, and client communication.

Career opportunities, include:

• estimators
• contract administrators
• on-site management and supervision of residential and medium rise projects
• local, national and international construction management
• specialist construction roles in quality assurance and safety

Pathway to Australian Permanent residency

Australia government welcomes overseas students and migrants with degrees in the building and construction industries. Most of the trade building and construction occupations, such as carpenter, joiner, and bricklayer, stonemason is listed on the Medium and Long-Term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL), making it possible to transition from a temporary work visa to a permanent resident one.

For more information about the potential visa pathways, visit the links below:

• ANZSCO: 331211 Carpenter and Joiner
• ANZSCO: 331212 Carpenter
• ANZSCO: 331213 Joiner
• ANZSCO: 331111 Bricklayer
• ANZSCO: 331112 Stonemason

Skill Assessment for Migration

To apply for skilled migration visas under the occupation of carpenter, joiner, bricklayer, or stonemason, you must first get a skill assessment from an Australian assessing authority. Each assessing authority has its own guidelines, timelines, and criteria. Get in contact with us if you require assistance with the evaluation of your skill assessment.

Need help getting started in a building and construction career?

Get in touch with Ozlinks Education to discover more about the services we provide. Ozlinks Education can assist you with everything from course enrolment to student visa applications for your building and construction studies in Australia. We are experienced in document checking, so you can be sure you’ve done everything you need to meet the skills assessment application criteria and give yourself the best chance of getting a positive result.

Contact us now