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Builder's Licence in New South WalesLicence needed to contract.

  • Contractor licence (General building work), issued by Building Commission NSW
  • The qualification can be gained through RPL. The regulator also asks for more.
  • A free skills review before you pay anything
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A plumber, an air-conditioning technician and a bricklayer at work

Licensing for builders in New South Wales

For builders managing sites, coordinating trades, supervising construction, or carrying out residential building work. Here’s what New South Wales asks for.

Licence to contract

Builder in New South Wales

Contractor licence (General building work)

Issued by
Building Commission NSW
When you need it
To contract residential building work over $5,000 (incl GST). Class 2 work also needs extra registration.
What you need
CPC40120 Cert IV or CPC50220 Diploma (with mandatory units), plus 2 years' supervised experience and a police check.

If your experience meets the standard, the RTO can issue the qualification through RPL. The regulator also asks for more, such as experience, an exam or a business course.

See all trades in NSW →Source: official regulator information

Builder across Australia

Licensing rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the regulator before you apply.

Your experience in this trade

If you’ve been working as a builder, managing sites, coordinating trades, supervising construction, or carrying out residential building work, the proper qualification is essential.

The RTO assesses your experience against the qualification standard. Confirm the separate licence requirements above with the regulator before you apply.

Delivering RTOs

The partner RTO assesses your evidence and issues your qualification.

All qualifications are nationally recognised and issued by our partner RTOs. Qualification availability and partner details are confirmed during your review. For a licence, confirm the exact accepted qualification and units with the regulator; every qualification listed here may not meet those requirements.

How to Get a New South Wales Builder Trade Licence

  1. Free skills review

    Tell us about your trade background, years of experience and any certificates you hold. We check which qualification fits and whether your work history suits RPL.

    Already have the qualification? We’ll confirm it’s the right one for your licence and can pass you to Trade Licence Solutions, our trade licensing team, to help prepare your application.

  2. Build your evidence portfolio

    Your RPL it account manager helps you gather a clear portfolio of evidence: resume, job history, photos of work, reference letters, certificates and more.

  3. RTO assessment

    We submit your portfolio to a partner RTO. The RTO may ask for more evidence or a short interview, and, if you are assessed as competent, issues your nationally recognised qualification.

  4. Apply for your licence

    Once your qualification is issued, you apply to Building Commission NSW, yourself or through Trade Licence Solutions, our trade licensing team. Building Commission NSW decides your application.

RPL it Australia provides guidance and evidence support. The RTO makes the assessment decision; the regulator makes the licence decision.

What Could I Provide as Evidence of My Work Experience?

To support your experience, consider providing any of the following evidence:

  • Resume with industry experience & job roles
  • Employment contracts, job descriptions
  • Reference letters from employers, managers, and colleagues
  • Professional trade memberships
  • Photos or videos of completed work
  • Licences, tickets, or certifications already held
  • Training records or course completions
  • Logbooks or job diaries
  • Photos demonstrating your work
  • 2-minute video demonstration of your work
  • Invoices, quotes, and material received records
  • Job/Project Plans, SMWS (Safety Method Work Statement)
  • Drawings and plans

During your free skills review we’ll give you a tailored evidence checklist, so you only gather what’s needed.

RPL it Australia reviews

What our clients say

Cedrick Batangan

Adam provided excellent support throughout my Heavy Mechanic qualification. Despite some delays, he kept us informed and consistently reassured us. His professionalism and dedication made the process much smoother. I highly recommend his service.

Sami

Adam made it so easy to get my certificate. He did all the work for me and let me know what he needed from me, I had a very good experience.

Nigel McBride

Fantastic service, advice and support! Well done RPLit!!!

Thomas Phan

Couldn't be happier with the service from Adam! I was a bit skeptical at first since everything seemed quite easy to achieve. But Adam knew his stuff, and he guided me through the process very efficiently, and supported me with any queries along the way. It only took me nearly 2 weeks to get my Diploma with NO tasks required, purely from my profile.

Mauricio Zapata

Excellent RPL service. They guided me through the whole process to obtain my Certificate III in a clear and professional way. Communication was always quick and helpful. I really appreciate their support and highly recommend them.

Susiana W

I am so happy with my experience with RPL it! The whole process was smooth and professional. A big thank you to Adam, who guided me every step of the way to turn my experience and skills into a recognized qualification. He was incredibly supportive, patient, and made everything so easy to understand. Highly recommend this place!

Jordan Michaelides

I used RPL to get my Painting and Decorating skills officially recognised, and honestly the whole thing was super easy. Big thanks to Adam! He helped me from start to finish, explained everything clearly, and made the whole process way less stressful than I expected. Great service and really friendly to deal with!

Matthew Mm

I am profoundly grateful for the exceptional support I received during my educational journey. Adam, who was in charge of coordinating everything, was absolutely outstanding. His dedication, guidance, and unwavering assistance made the entire process seamless and incredibly positive. Thank you.

gede agus

I had a great experience with RPL it team.. just in a very short time and no stress at all, I received my RPL certificate. Thanks to the team especially Adam, he is very friendly, and very easy to communicate with. Very recommended!

Selected Google reviews. Individual experiences vary. Every applicant is assessed against the same requirements, and some require gap training or additional evidence.

Common Questions About RPL

Builder's Licence in New South Wales: licences, RPL and what the regulator asks for.

Got more questions?
Do builders need a licence in New South Wales?

Only to contract, supervise or run the work. To contract residential building work over $5,000 (incl GST). Class 2 work also needs extra registration. The licence is the contractor licence (General building work), issued by Building Commission NSW.

What do I need to get the licence?

For the VET pathway: CPC40120 Certificate IV with the regulator’s specified units, plus an approved carpentry or bricklaying qualification/licence or CPC50220 Diploma. Other approved pathways apply. You also need 2 years’ relevant supervised experience, mainly within the last 10 years, and a police check. If your experience meets the standard, the RTO can issue the qualification through RPL. The regulator also asks for more, such as experience, an exam or a business course.

Can I get it without completing an apprenticeship?

For the qualification, possibly: RPL can recognise your experience towards it instead of an apprenticeship, and the RTO decides. The regulator also asks for more: For the VET pathway: CPC40120 Certificate IV with the regulator’s specified units, plus an approved carpentry or bricklaying qualification/licence or CPC50220 Diploma. Other approved pathways apply. You also need 2 years’ relevant supervised experience, mainly within the last 10 years, and a police check.

How much does the licence cost?

The cost of obtaining a trade licence depends on factors such as the state, the licence type, and any additional training or tests required. For more information, it is advisable to consult an RPL it consultant or a partner trade licence adviser.

How long does the RPL process take?

Timing depends on how complete your evidence is and on the RTO’s assessment. After your free skills review, your RPL it consultant can give you an estimate for your trade. The time to get your licence also depends on Building Commission NSW’s processing time and any other requirements, such as experience, exams or insurance.