Builder—project management services | Queensland Building and Construction Commission

Scope of work

Includes

Provide any of the following for a consumer or a principal, for all classes of building work:

  • administration services
  • advisory services
  • management services, other than coordinating the scheduling of building work by building contractors, including as agent for another person.

If appointed as a superintendent* under the contract, you can perform the following functions:

  • administer the contract on behalf of a principal for the contract
  • certify timing, quality and cost matters under the contract.

* A superintendent, under a building contract, means a person who is not a party to the contract, and is appointed under the contract to perform the following:

Does not include:

  • performing building work services under a construction management contract.

 

Eligibility requirements

As well as the eligibility requirements for each licence-type, you need to be fit and proper to operate and:

  • have permission to work in Queensland (citizen, visa, Immicard)
  • provide photographic proof of your identity
  • provide evidence of your business structure—if operating under a trading name, company, partnership or trust.
  1. To hold a licence, you need to demonstrate that you have the technical skills to perform the scope of work relevant your licence class.

    Technical qualifications for QBCC licensing

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class
  2. Required experience

    4 years experience in either:

    • the licence class scope of work
    • other work QBCC is satisfied is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.

    Experience declaration

    You will need to document your experience in the form below and submit it with your application.

    Experience declaration (PDF, 79KB)

  3. To verify your documented experience, the QBCC generally requires at least 3 referee reports which include confirmation of your competency in the scope of works and supervisory experience claimed. It is recommended that the written references are completed on the form below. 

    Referee report (PDF, 38KB)

    Referee reports must be signed and confirmed as correct by both the applicant and the referee.

    A person suitably qualified to verify the experience is a person who both:

    • holds a licence or qualification at the same or greater level that the licence that you are applying for 
    • can confirm your onsite experience by completing the referee report on the licence application.

    Ideally, referees verifying your work examples should hold a licence or qualification at the same or greater level than the licence that you are applying for. Alternatively the QBCC may give consideration if your referee is employed in a supervisory or managerial role with the company.

    Where an applicant cannot provide 3 written references to confirm their experience, the onus will be on the applicant to suitably demonstrate to the QBCC the experience documented is true and correct.

  4. You must demonstrate you meet the relevant minimum financial requirements by providing an MFR report or declaration with your application.

    If you are applying for this class as an additional contractor-type licence and you are not increasing your maximum revenue you do not need to provide additional financial information.

    Financial reporting exemption for PI holders

    Holding PI insurance in this class may exempt you from providing detailed financial information with your application.

    To be eligible you must hold (or be applying for) contractor licences in the following classes ONLY:
    • builder—project management services.
    • building design—low rise
    • building design—medium rise
    • building design—open
    • hydraulic services design licences
    • site classifier licences.

    If you are eligible for the financial reporting exemption you can complete and submit, with your application, a declaration of your estimated maximum revenue using the form below:

    Estimated maximum revenue declaration (PDF, KB)

    DO NOT COMPLETE THIS FORM if:

    • you also hold a QBCC contractor licence in any other class than those listed above. You must continue to demonstrate that you can meet the minimum financial requirements to hold your licence.
    • you operate under a trust. A Trustee cannot rely on the Trust assets, so you must still complete an MFR report. You may need to rely on a Deed of Covenant and Assurance.
  5. You must demonstrate you have professional indemnity (PI) insurance to apply for a contractor licence in this class. This can be demonstrated by 

    • a copy of the certificate of currency for the insurance
    • a statutory declaration (PDF, 43KB) verifying your insurance complies with the minimum standard of PI insurance 
    • if the insurance has been arranged by an insurance broker, a receipt from the broker showing the premium has been paid. 

    Learn more about the requirements of PI insurance, including:

    • the level of cover required
    • when we may grant you an exemption from holding PI insurance.
  6. You must demonstrate that you have a safety management system to ensure work carried out under the contractor’s licence will be performed safely and is compliant with your obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

  1. To hold a licence, you need to demonstrate that you have the technical skills to perform the scope of work relevant your licence class.

    Technical qualifications for QBCC licensing

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class
  2. Required experience

    4 years experience in either:

    • the licence class scope of work
    • other work QBCC is satisfied is at least equivalent to experience in the scope of work for the class.

    Experience declaration

    You will need to document your experience in the form below and submit it with your application.

    Experience declaration (PDF, 79KB)

  3. To verify your documented experience, the QBCC generally requires at least 3 referee reports which include confirmation of your competency in the scope of works and supervisory experience claimed. It is recommended that the written references are completed on the form below. 

    Referee report (PDF, 38KB)

    Referee reports must be signed and confirmed as correct by both the applicant and the referee.

    A person suitably qualified to verify the experience is a person who both:

    • holds a licence or qualification at the same or greater level that the licence that you are applying for 
    • can confirm your onsite experience by completing the referee report on the licence application.

    Ideally, referees verifying your work examples should hold a licence or qualification at the same or greater level than the licence that you are applying for. Alternatively the QBCC may give consideration if your referee is employed in a supervisory or managerial role with the company.

    Where an applicant cannot provide 3 written references to confirm their experience, the onus will be on the applicant to suitably demonstrate to the QBCC the experience documented is true and correct.

  1. To hold a licence, you need to demonstrate that you have the technical skills to perform the scope of work relevant your licence class.

    Technical qualifications for QBCC licensing

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class

Application fees

Set out below are the fees for each licence-type.

If you are applying for a contractor-type licence the fees you pay will be determined by your annual turnover (maximum revenue—MR).

If you hold a current individual QBCC licence and are applying for another licence class you will pay a reduced fee.

If you are changing your type or are a contractor increasing your maximum revenue (MR), there will be an adjustment to your licence fee. QBCC will contact you with details of the adjusted fee.

Our fees and charges increase on 1 July each year. On 1 July 2023 our fees and charges were increased in line with legislative requirements. You can contact us to find out details about specific fees, charges or prices.     

Certificate

You have the option of receiving a printed certificate stating which QBCC licence you hold. The certificates costs an additional $32.91 and can be selected on the application form.

$861.36—SC2

Total application fee—MR up to $800,000 p.a.

$469.16—SC2

Current QBCC licensees—MR up to $800,000 p.a.

$1104.15—Cat 1-2

Total application fee—MR up to $12 million p.a.

$634.99—Cat 1-2

Current QBCC licensees—MR up to $12 million p.a.

$1587.19—Cat 3-7

Total application fee—MR over $12 million p.a.

$881.44—Cat 3-7

Current QBCC licensees—MR over $12 million p.a.

$469.16

Total application fee

$234.58

Current QBCC licence holder

$469.16

Total application fee

$234.58

Current QBCC licence holder

$1,565.30—SC2

Total application fee—MR up to $800,000 p.a.

$782.65—SC2

Current QBCC licensed company—MR up to $800,000 p.a.

$2,016.17—Cat 1-2

Total application fee—MR up to $12 million p.a.

$1075.95—Cat 1-2

Current QBCC licensed company—MR up to $12 million p.a.

$2,877.64—Cat 3-7

Total application fee—MR over $12 million p.a.

$1468.26—Cat 3-7

Current QBCC licensed company—MR over $12 million p.a.

How to apply

Before you apply and pay fees, ensure you can meet all eligibility requirements to hold the licence. 

  1. Review the scope of work above and ensure it covers all work you intend to undertake. If you intend to undertake work outside this scope that is beyond incidental work, then you may need to hold additional licences.

  2. Choose the type of licence you will need to hold based on your intended role in the industry.

  3. Review both the general eligibility requirements and the specific requirements for the type of licence you wish to hold. Gather the supporting documents that demonstrate you meet the criteria and provide a certified passport photo for inclusion on your licence. 

    Learn more about new photo-ID licence cards.

    If applying by mail, only provide us with certified copies of your original documents, as we cannot return them to you.

    Supporting documents

    You will need to download and complete:

    Experience declaration (PDF, 79KB)

    Referee report (PDF, 38KB)

  4. Download and complete the relevant form for the licence-type you are applying for.

    Contractor or nominee supervisor (PDF, 123KB)

    Site supervisor (PDF, 141KB)

  5. To lodge your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail—add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.
  1. Review the scope of work above and ensure it covers all work you intend to undertake. If you intend to undertake work outside this scope that is beyond incidental work, then you may need to hold additional licences.

  2. The company nominee must be an individual licensee with technical qualifications and experience in the same scope of work being contracted by the company.

    The nominee must be an employee, secretary or director of the company. They are responsible for keeping the site safe, supervising the work and ensuring it meets the required codes and standards. The nominee must hold either:

    • nominee supervisor-type licence
    • an individual contractor-type licence.

    If not already licensed, you can submit the individual application for the nominee at the same time as submitting the application for the company licence.

    You will need to provide evidence that the nominee is either

    • an employee—PAYG payment statement
    • officer of the company—ASIC historical extract.
  3. Gather the supporting documents for your application:

    • director's proof of id—see section 4 of application
    • copy of licence information (if applicable)—see section 8 of appication
    • partnership agreement (if applicable).
  4. Download and complete:

    Company licence (PDF, 270KB)

  5. To lodge your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail—add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.
  1. We may accept applications for mutual recognition from:

    • Australian Capital Territory
    • New South Wales
    • Northern Territory
    • South Australia 
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia
    • New Zealand.

    The QBCC may only issue a licence that is equivalent to the licence you already hold.

    If your interstate or New Zealand licence is subject to a condition or restriction, the QBCC must impose the same condition on your Queensland licence.

    Where there is no QBCC licence equivalent to your interstate or New Zealand licence, we will not be able to issue you a licence.

    Learn more about what licences we can accept through mutual recognition.

  2. Review the scope of work above and ensure it covers all work you intend to undertake. If you intend to undertake work outside this scope that is beyond incidental work, then you may need to hold additional licences.

  3. Your interstate licence must remain active to qualify for a QBCC licence. Be sure to renew your licence on time and pay any outstanding fines.

    If your interstate licence is cancelled or suspended prior to approval of a Queensland licence, you will not be entitled to a Queensland licence under mutual recognition.

  4. Some building work requires you to also hold an occupational licence covering the same scope of work for you to be able to personally perform the work.

    As a contractor—you require an occupational licence to perform work that is:

    As a nominee supervisor —you require an occupational licence to perform work that is:

    If you do not hold the relevant occupational class you can apply for this at the same time as submitting the mutual recognition form.

    NOTE: Gasfitting and termite management—chemical occupational licences are not issued by the QBCC. You will need to apply for these prior to submitting your application and provide us with a certified copy before we can approve your mutual recognition.

  5. Gather any relevant supporting documents including:

    If applying by mail, only provide us with certified copies of your original documents, as we cannot return them to you.

  6. To lodge your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail—add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.

What happens next?

Usually, most types of applications are fully processed within a few weeks, however sometimes it can take longer.  As a guide, allow around 8 weeks.

Some applications take longer to process than others, such as where:

  •  financial information needs analysis
  • a technical qualification is not the prescribed and requires comparison mapping
  • experience claimed needs assessment against scopes of work for a particular licence class
  • verification of the experience is problematic
  •  fit and proper assessments are required
  • problems with fee payment or application form not completed in full
  • other reasons. 

If your licence is approved, we’ll post you your printed licence card and licence letter, which includes your licence number and scope of work for the licence class.

If your application is unsuccessful we will refund you the licence fee, however we will retain the cost of processing the application.


Last reviewed: 30 Aug 2021 Last published: 30 Aug 2021
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