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Builder licence

This category is divided into three classes of licensed builder:

  • Builder (General Construction) - manages or carries out building work, demolition work, alterations, additions, relocations or repairs.
  • Fire protection services builder - manages or carries out fire protection services building work.
  • Demolisher - manages or carries out demolition work. A demolisher cannot perform new building work.

Each class is divided into subclasses. These subclasses set the type and size of work you may do. General Construction also includes a Domestic subclass.

Before you choose a licence class

  • You must use the Statement of Experience and Referee Statement forms listed below to show your experience. Your application may be refused if it is not in these approved forms. Applications with document formats for other state and territory regulators may be rejected.
  • Referee forms must be signed and dated and show the period supervised (e.g, May 2022 – July 2025, not just “for 3 years”). Letters are unsuitable because they rarely provide the information CBOS needs to make complete assessments.
  • Apply for a Builder Low Rise if your evidence shows commercial or other similar building work experience. This includes relevant work on NCC Classes 2 to 9, or other non-domestic work within the Low Rise scope.
  • Your application will be refused if you apply for a low rise licence and your evidence only shows domestic work.
  • Apply for Builder Domestic if your experience is mainly houses, townhouses, garages, sheds or similar domestic work.
  • If you apply for Builder Domestic and do not have NCC class 2 examples, your licence will likely be conditioned to NCC 1 and 10s only.

Eligibility - builder licence

To apply for a builder licence, you must provide:

  • the required qualification for the licence class you apply for
  • evidence of supervised experience in the same scope of work
  • other supporting documents (insurance, ID etc).

Important - Domestic licence and NCC Class 2 experience

  • A Builder Domestic licence includes work on NCC Class 1, Class 2 and Class 10 buildings.
  • Ask for a licence with a restriction to NCC classes 1 and 10 if you are applying for a Builder Domestic licence but your evidence only shows NCC Class 1 and Class 10 work.
  • If you want Class 2 work to be included, your statements of experience and referee statements must clearly show suitable Class 2 experience and you should have at least one referee who observed you and who is preferably a licensed builder or other building professional.

Important - experience must match the licence you apply for

  • You need the minimum mandatory qualification and the minimum supervised experience for the licence class you choose.
  • At least half of the minimum required experience must be gained after you received the minimum mandatory qualification (either 1 or 2 years after you get your building qualification e.g. Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)).
  • Your experience must be relevant and recent. If it is more than 5 years old it will not be accepted without recent experience.
  • If there are gaps in experience of 2 or more years after you gain the minimum qualification, your application will be refused unless you can provide more verifiable experience (referees reports verify experience).
  • The Occupational Licensing (Building Services Work) Determination explains the full qualification, experience and scope of work requirements (pages 11 and 49-53).
  • Contact CBOS if you have any questions before you apply. A timely email or phone call may save you hours of unnecessary effort and confusion.

Which builder licence should I apply for?

Use this table as a quick guide.

Licence class

Qualification

Experience needed

For best chance of success

Builder Domestic

Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)

2 years with a building trade qualification, such as a cert III in carpentry, brick laying, cabinet making or similar or 4 years without one. (See page 52 of the Determination)

For domestic work. Evidence should show NCC Class 1, Class 10 as a minimum. Show evidence of Class 2 work if you want that class included.

Builder Low Rise

Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)

2 years with a building trade qualification, such as a cert III in carpentry, brick laying, cabinet making or similar or 4 years without one. (See page 52 of the Determination)

For low rise commercial or other non-domestic work as well as Class 1 and 10 work. Do not apply if you only have domestic experience.

Builder Medium Rise

Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

2 years with a building trade qualification, such as a cert III in carpentry, brick laying, cabinet making or similar or 4 years without one. (See page 52 of the Determination)

For more complex work up to the medium rise scope. Evidence must match the medium rise scope.

Builder Open

Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction Management or building degree

3 years with a building trade qualification, such as a cert III in carpentry, brick laying, cabinet making or similar or 6 years without one. (See page 52 of the Determination)

For all building classes and unrestricted size, if you are qualified, competent and experienced for the work.

Fire Protection Services Builder

Low Rise: Certificate IV. Medium Rise: Diploma. Open: Advanced Diploma.

Low/Medium: 2 years with a relevant trade, or 4 years without. Open: 3 years with a relevant trade, or 6 years without.

For managing or carrying out fire protection services building work.

Demolisher

Low Rise: experience evidence. Medium Rise: Certificate III or equivalent competence. Open: Certificate IV or equivalent competence.

Evidence of managing and arranging demolition projects. Project number, height and commercial building requirements differ by subclass.

For demolition work only. A demolisher cannot perform new building work.

Evidence we need with your application

Provide detailed evidence that CBOS is able to verify your role, responsibility and building class experience. You do this by using the CBOS approved Statements of Experience and Referee statements

Your statements should include:

  • project addresses or descriptions
  • dates you worked on each project
  • NCC building class, for example: Class 1, Class 2, Class 5 or Class 10a etc
  • project size and number of storeys
  • your role and level of responsibility
  • the stages of work you managed or carried out
  • referee contact details so CBOS can verify your experience
  • signatures and dates where asked

Tip for applicants

  • Evidence must show that your experience fits the licence class and scope of work.
  • Experience must clearly show the correct NCC classes and your role.  We may not be able to count that experience if there are any gaps in information.
  • Experience must show evidence of project management and stakeholder liaison experience. Examples of these include but are not limited to the following: supervision and management of trades, stakeholder communication and liaison (owners, designers, building certifiers/surveyors, councils etc) and paying subcontractors.
  • Do not supply photos, building designs or testimonials from non-qualified, non-technical stakeholders and associates. Supplying these documents does not enhance your application, are often unverifiable and irrelevant, and make it harder for applications to be processed in an efficient manner. Sometimes ‘less is more’.
  • Understand the experience and qualification requirements. If in any doubt, contact CBOS before you apply to save you time and potentially unnecessary effort. We are very happy to help.

Automatic Mutual Recognition - Please Note:

Builders are not covered under Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) in Tasmania. More information on AMR can be found at Automatic mutual recognition for occupational licences: https://www.cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/licensing-and-registration/licensed-occupations/automatic-mutual-recognition

Act within your area of competence

All licensed building service providers must only act within their area of their competence. This is the specific areas of skill for which a licensee is qualified, experienced, and capable of undertaking.  This means, even if you hold a licence with a specified scope of work (e.g. Builder - Medium Rise) you should not undertake work as the responsible builder (such as on a complex commercial building) if you do not have the necessary experience and training to cope with the special requirements of that project.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

As a licence holder, you are required to maintain and develop skills and knowledge through ongoing learning activities known as Continuing Professional Development or CPD. Find out more information about CPD points, training providers, CPD events calendar and training resources.

Checklist - builder licence

  1. Read the information on this licence page so you know what to do and what documents to provide
  2. Read the Personal Information Protection Statement
  3. Provide evidence of your identity (Tasmanians and people living interstate / New Zealand) (new application only)
  4. Have a photo taken for your licence card at any Service Tasmania shop (Tasmanian applicants only)
    1. Interstate and overseas applicants will need to provide a passport size photo certified by a Commissioner for Declarations or a Justice of the Peace (JP).
  5. Scan and save (computer or storage device like a USB) a digital copy of your qualifications (new application only)
  6. Scan and save (computer or storage device like a USB) a digital copy of your certificate of currency of insurance (new applications and renewals) 

    PLEASE NOTE:  Tax Invoices are not accepted as proof of cover.

  7. Builder, fire protection services and demolisher ($5 million public liability insurance)
  8. Builders will also need to provide evidence of Contract Works insurance (new application and renewal)
  9. Applicants may be asked to attend an interview at the nearest Consumer, Building and Occupational Services office if requested to do so as part of the application process.  Failure to attend as requested may be considered as non-compliance with the application process and may cause an application to be refused.
  10. Scan and save (computer or storage device like a USB) a digital copy of your Statement of Experience (PDF, 163.6 KB) (new application only) This should be in a summary form completed by the applicant and include:
    1. a list of projects you have worked on
    2. dates
    3. project size in square metres
    4. number of storeys
    5. your role and a third party's contact details for verification

    You will need to open the Statement of Experience template and save the document to your computer before you can input details.

  11. Scan and save (computer or storage device like a USB) a digital copy of two Referee Statements (PDF, 352.9 KB) verifying your experience and competency in the class of work you have applied for (new application only)
    1. Eligibility criteria for referees, the person providing this statement must
      1. be an industry professional, for example an engineer, architect, building surveyor or senior manager or supervisor from an established building firm or;
      2. be licensed at the same, or higher level as that applied for by the applicant; and
      3. have overseen the applicant carrying out the work that is the basis of the reference.
  12. You will need to confirm that you have completed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) (renewal only)
  13. Have a credit card ready to pay for your licence fee online or at any Service Tasmania shop.

Once all required information is received, applications will be processed within 21 days.

Roof drainage endorsement - builder licence

A builder can apply for a roof plumbing endorsement as part of their building licence.

Roof drainage endorsement eligibility

  1. The applicant must already be a licensed builder or have been granted a building licence as part of any initial application
  2. The applicant must be competent to perform roof plumbing work.

Roof drainage endorsement checklist

  1. Read the Fact Sheet - Roof drainage endorsement (PDF, 127.5 KB)
  2. Read the Director's Determination - Occupational Licensing - Restricted Roof Drainage Endorsement
    (PDF, 179.6 KB)
  3. Complete the self-assessment form
  4. Apply online
  5. Tick the 'Roof Drainage Endorsement' box
  6. Upload the self-assessment form in your My Licence account
  7. Pay the licence fee

Declaration

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions below, you will need to provide details and copies of all relevant documentation.

  1. Have you in the last 10 years been convicted of a criminal offence (other than a minor traffic offence) or are any court proceedings pending?
  2. Have you ever been disqualified from holding a licence or registration as a building services provider or have you had any occupational licence or certificate cancelled or suspended (including interstate licences, certificates or registrations)?
  3. In respect of any work you have done in an equivalent position, have you ever been fined, reprimanded or cautioned for any breach of rules, professional conduct or code of ethics?
  4. Have you been declared bankrupt or entered into an arrangement with creditors in the last 10 years?
  5. Have you, in the past 10 years, been a director, secretary or a person in a position to control or substantially influence a company's conduct or affairs within 12 months of that company being placed in receivership, administration, official administration, under a deed of company arrangement, in liquidation or wound up for the benefit of creditors?

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Related information

Last updated: 12 Aug 2026

This page has been produced and published by the Consumer Building and Occupational Services Division of the Department of Justice. Although every care has been taken in production, no responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user's purpose of the information. Those using it for whatever purpose are advised to verify it with the relevant government department, local government body or other source and to obtain any appropriate professional advice. The Crown, its officers, employees and agents do not accept liability however arising, including liability for negligence, for any loss resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information and/or reliance on its availability at any time.