Want to take the next step in South Australia's building and construction industry?
Licences You May Need
Business Knowledge Units
Police Check Validity
Technical Interview
Becoming a licenced builder involves more than completing a qualification. Depending on the type of building work you intend to undertake, you may need to demonstrate a combination of technical knowledge, relevant qualifications, practical industry experience and business knowledge.
Important: Consumer and Business Services (CBS) determines all licensing and registration applications. CBS can update the specific units and conditions it accepts, so always confirm current detail directly with CBS on 131 882 before you enrol or apply.
Depending on how you intend to work in South Australia's building and construction industry, you may need a Building Work Supervisor Registration, a Building Work Contractor Licence, or both.
A Building Work Supervisor is responsible for performing or supervising the technical building work and ensuring the work is completed to the required standards.
Your eligibility depends on the type and scope of building work you intend to undertake, as well as your qualifications, technical knowledge and relevant industry experience.
• Demonstrate relevant qualifications and practical industry experience.
• Complete the CBS assessment process applicable to your registration pathway.
• Include a technical interview assessed against the relevant performance criteria.
• Relates to the technical performance and supervision of building work.
A Building Work Contractor Licence allows you to carry on a building business and contract directly with clients for building work covered by your licence.
• May require completion of relevant CBS business knowledge units.
• Requires applicants to satisfy CBS's fit and proper person requirements.
• Financial and insurance requirements may apply depending on the circumstances.
• A contractor must have an appropriately registered Building Work Supervisor in place for the building work being undertaken.
• Holding a contractor licence does not, by itself, establish that you are qualified to personally supervise all technical building work.
CBS confirms that a person contracting for building work in South Australia must hold a Building Work Contractor licence (or applicable interstate equivalent), and appropriate supervision must also be in place.
If you intend to both operate the business and personally supervise the building work, you may need to satisfy the requirements for both the Building Work Contractor Licence and Building Work Supervisor Registration.
CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction This nationally recognised qualification develops knowledge and skills relevant to building and construction management.
Licences You May Need
Excluding scheduled holidays
11 Core + 8 Electives
Real-time virtual online training
Subject to eligibility
Includes units aligned with CBS business knowledge requirements.
Becoming a licensed builder in South Australia involves more than completing a qualification. Your pathway will depend on the type of building work you want to undertake, your qualifications, industry experience and the licence or registration conditions you are seeking.
Start by identifying the type of building work you want to undertake and whether you require Building Work Supervisor Registration, a Building Work Contractor Licence, or both.
The qualifications and experience required will depend on the specific conditions and scope of work you are applying for.
For Building Work Supervisor registration, you will need to demonstrate that your qualifications, knowledge and practical construction experience are relevant to the scope of work you want to supervise.
This may include providing evidence of your work history and on-site experience and completing the applicable CBS technical assessment process.
Your experience matters apply for conditions that are supported by the work you have actually performed.
If you intend to operate as a building contractor, you must also meet the applicable CBS business knowledge and experience criteria.
For General Residential Building Work – Part 1, Option 1, CBS identifies six competency areas covering business finance, legal requirements, construction planning, estimating, contracts and business disputes.
CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) can provide nationally recognised training relevant to building and construction management, including units that may support the CBS business criteria.
Before applying, make sure you have the documentation required for your particular licence or registration pathway.
This may include:
Qualifications • Work history • Project evidence • Identification • Police certificate • Business competency evidence • Financial or insurance documentation.
The exact evidence required will depend on your application and the type of building work you intend to undertake.
Once you have the required qualifications, experience and supporting evidence, submit your application to Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
CBS will assess your application against the requirements for the particular licence or registration conditions you are seeking and determine the outcome.
Choose Your Licence
Demonstrate Your Experience
Complete Required Training
Prepare Your Evidence
Apply to CBS
Tell Us Where You Are. We'll Help You Understand Your Training Options.
Whether you're an experienced tradesperson, site supervisor, construction professional or looking to progress towards operating your own building business, our team can discuss your training pathway and funding eligibility.
Supervisor registration covers the technical side of building work, including carrying out or supervising work. A contractor licence allows you to operate the business and enter into contracts with clients. Sole traders will generally need both.
You generally need the appropriate licence and registration before you can contract for or supervise building work under that condition. Check with CBS about current processing times so you know what to expect.
For the contractor licence business requirement, you generally only need the units currently accepted by CBS, which may include six specific units. CPC40120 includes these units as part of the full 19-unit qualification and may be a better option if you want the complete qualification.
This can depend on the units and the current CBS requirements. Before enrolling, check with CBS or your training provider to make sure the course delivery method meets the requirements for your pathway.
No. Completing the qualification does not automatically give you a licence or registration. CBS assesses your qualifications, experience and other requirements as part of the application process.
Not always. If you have provided a National Police Certificate to CBS within the previous 12 months, or supplied one for another licence under the same Act, you may not need a new one. Check with CBS to confirm your situation.
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