GUIDE for APPLICANTS

Individual Contractor or Building Consultancy Licences, and

Qualified Supervisor or Tradesperson Certificates
OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING’S HOME BUILDING SERVICE 13 32 20 www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building

1. Information Guide

This guide is to assist completion of an application under the Home Building Act 1989 for the following authorities:

• Individual Contractor Licence • Qualified Supervisor Certificate • Tradesperson Certificate

• Variation to existing Licence/Certificate • Building Consultancy Licence – for pre-purchase property inspection

2. When is a Contractor Licence Required?

A Contractor Licence is required to contract, subcontract and/or advertise to carry out:

• all residential building work where the current market value of labour and materials is more than $1,000 (GST included);

• all electrical wiring work (including domestic, commercial or industrial);

• all plumbing, draining and gasfitting work (including domestic, commercial or industrial);

• all air conditioning and refrigeration work (except on a self-contained, single phase plug-in domestic system or an air conditioning system in a motor
vehicle); and

• supply of kit homes where the contract price for the set of building components is $1,000 or more.

All contracts must be entered into in the name that appears on the “Contractor Licence”. A contractor licence will be issued to an individual or partnership
or company depending on the type of application lodged and manner in which a business is to be conducted.

3. Who Should Use This Form to Apply?

Only individual applicants should complete this form. Applicants intending to contract as a partnership or a company should apply on the application
form for a Contractor Licence for a Company/Partnership. This includes husband and wife partnerships and partnerships between individuals and/or
companies. A current apprentice cannot be issued with a Licence or Certificate.

4. What is a Qualified Supervisor?

A Qualified Supervisor Certificate is required to supervise residential building, building trade and specialist work contracted for by a holder of a Contractor
Licence. The Qualified Supervisor must be an employee of the licence holder or a member of the partnership or director of a company holding the
Contractor Licence.

A Contractor Licence endorsed with the letter ‘Q’ or the holder of a Qualified Supervisor Certificate indicates that the holder is “qualified”.

In the electrical, plumbing and gasfitting industries, a holder of an individual licence without ‘Q” endorsement may only carry out work as a Tradesperson
Certificate holder under the general supervision of a Qualified Supervisor.

5. What are the Responsibilities of a Qualified Supervisor Certificate or Endorsed Licence Holder?

• A holder of a Qualified Supervisor Certificate is responsible for all work carried out under their supervision and for ensuring work is done in a proper
and workmanlike manner and complies with the relevant regulations, ordinances, codes etc. and that suitable materials are used.

• A Qualified Supervisor Certificate will not permit the holder to contract, subcontract or advertise to carry out work. In order to do so, a Contractor
Licence must be held. However, a Certificate holder may perform work in connection with property they own or in which they reside.

• If you hold a Contractor Licence endorsed with ‘Q’, i.e. “Qualified Individual”, you are not required to also hold a Qualified Supervisor Certificate for the
same category of work.

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 6. Licence Fees
For a list of current fees see the Office of Fair Trading – Home Building Service website:
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/pdfs/building or Phone: 13 32 20
The application fee must accompany the application. Cheques are to be made payable to the ‘Office of Fair Trading’. Fees can also be made by EFTPOS
or credit card.
This application is GST exempt (ABN 54 625 095 406)
NSW Office of Fair Trading, Department of Commerce, Home Building Service
Postal Address: PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2124 Telephone: 13 32 20 Facsimile: (02) 9895 9956 Interpreter Services: 13 14 50

7. Your Checklist for Making an Application

Completing your form
• Use BLACK INK and use BLOCK LETTERS.
• You MUST answer all questions.
• You MUST sign and date the form where requested.

Lodging your form

Proof of Identity is required for all new applications. You must lodge your application form, all supporting documents and proof of identity material
in person at a:
• Fair Trading Centre – phone 13 32 20 or check the Office of Fair Trading website: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building – click on “contact us”
then “Fair Trading Centre” for your nearest centre. For regional Fair Trading Centres check:
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/corporate/contactus/regionalftcservices.html; or

• Government Access Centre – phone 13 22 13 or check on the Government Access website www.nsw.gov.au/gap/ – click on “Govemment Access
Centres” then “View offices by map” to find your nearest Government Access Centre.

Documents you will need to provide with your application

You must provide the application fee and the following documents:
1. Proof of Identity (originals only)

2. Documents which meet qualification requirements (originals or JP certified copies). This does not apply to applicants who have held a licence or
certificate in the same category within three years of the date of this application

3. References:
• at least two Referees’ Statements for Building work, Swimming pool building work, Swimming pool repairs and servicing (non structure) and
Mechanical services work categories
• either two Referees’ Statements or a craft/proficiency certificate for airconditioning/refrigeration and Trade work categories
• at least one Referee’s Statement for other Specialist work categories
• an employer’s letter supporting applications for Restricted Electrical work
(Consult the relevant Qualifications requirements to determine the references or certificates required)

4. Home Warranty Insurance status (originals or copies). (This is only required if you are applying for a Contractor Licence for building work categories
and if you are intending to do work in excess of $12,000).

Proof of Identity (POI)

You must present one document from POI List 1 and two documents from POI List 2 as described below:
At least one document which shows your photograph and date of birth.
At least one document which shows your current address.
A passport quality photograph.

POI List 1 documents are:

• A current Australian photo driver’s licence or other current photo card issued by a State or Territory Government agency
• A current Australian passport
• A current non-Australian passport

Note: The POI List 1 document must show the day, month, and year of your birth, and a photograph.

GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS 2

 7. Your Checklist for Making an Application (continued from page 2)

POI List 2 documents are:

• A current Medicare card
• A current credit card
• A current passbook or account statement from a bank, building society or credit union, up to one year old
• A telephone, gas or electricity bill up to one year old
• A water rates, council rates or land valuation notice up to one year old
• A residential tenancy agreement
• An electoral enrolment card or other evidence of enrolment not more than two years old
• A current student Identity card or a certificate or statement of enrolment up to two years old from an education institution

Note: One POI List 2 document must show your current address.

8. Experience, Qualifications and References

It is essential for you to see the qualification requirements relevant to the licence category for which you are applying. These can be obtained from Fair
Trading and Government Access Centres, the Office of Fair Trading (see website listed below) or by phoning 13 32 20 for a copy to be posted to you. The
qualifications and scope of work for each category are available at the Fair Trading website.

References:
It is also essential that you:
• Select the relevant Referee’s Statement Form from the website below and forward it to your chosen referees for completion.
• Choose referees who can verify your employment history and recommend your suitability for the work category you have indicated in your application.
• Attach completed Referees’ Statements (a minimum of two are required) to your application form.

Note: Only references presented on an Office of Fair Trading Referee’s Statement Form will be accepted.
http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/building/builderstradespeople/formsandfees.html

9. Home Warranty Insurance (for the various “Building” work categories)

Licence applicants for the various ‘Building’ work categories are required to provide evidence of either a holding current Home Warranty Insurance or
a current certificate of eligibility to obtain Home Warranty Insurance from an approved insurer. Home Warranty insurance certificates and certificates of
eligibility must be given the exact name(s) corresponding with that of the licence applicant(s). Alternatively, applicants may seek an exemption from the
requirement to hold Home Warranty Insurance. In the case of a licence being issued to an applicant that has been granted such an exemption the licence
will be endorsed with the condition ‘only for contracts not requiring home warranty insurance’ until eligibility has been obtained by the applicant and the
Office of Fair Trading has been notified.

10. What will happen to your application and the other documents and Proof of Identity (POI) material you submit?

The Checking Officer will:

• Verify that your application has been completed correctly and supporting documents are included.
• Sign the back of any copies they make of your qualifications and experience documents and give any originals back to you.
• Write details on your application form of the POI List 1 and List 2 documents you have submitted.
• Attach your photo to the application form and sign their name next to it to verify its authenticity.
• Give you a receipt for your application fee.

The Home Building Service will:

• Assess your application and supporting documentation and decide whether it will be accepted, approved or refused.
• If your application has not been accepted, write to you within two weeks with an explanation and give you a full refund of the fee.
• If the application is approved, register your details on the Office of Fair Trading database and place details of your licence/certificate on the
public register. (It will take approximately six weeks for your application to be assessed and your details to be registered. It will take a further two to
three weeks for your licence card to arrive.) Note that you may begin work as soon as your licence details have been entered on the public register.
• If your application is refused, notify you by mail and give you a partial refund of the fee.

GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS 3