When you need a licence

In most cases you do not need a QBCC licence if you are carrying out building work as an employee of a licenced contractor. There are exceptions to this outlined below.

You do need a QBCC licence as an employee if you become responsible for:

• overseeing and directing the building work i.e. supervising the work
• ensuring the work is of a competent standard, i.e. free of defects
• ensuring the work complies with the plans and specifications.

For example, if you are employed as a nominee or site supervisor, you are required to hold a QBCC licence in the relevant class for the scope of works being undertaken.

You do need an occupational licence, regardless of the value of the work, if you are overseeing or undertaking work that involves:

• plumbing
• drainage
• gas fitting
• termite management – chemical
• fire protection
• mechanical services work.

In most cases, you don't need a licence if you work as a subcontractor for a licensed trade contractor, because the responsibility for the work is covered by the licensed trade contractor.

However, you will need an occupational licence if subcontracting for the work listed below, regardless of the value of the work or the contracting arrangements. Occupational work includes:

• plumbing
• drainage
• gasfitting
• termite management – chemical
• fire protection
• mechanical services work.

You need to hold a contractor licence if you subcontract directly to a completed residential building inspector.

You need an appropriate contractor licence for the subcontracted building work you undertake for a licensed builder.

Regardless of the value of the work or the contracting arrangements, you will need an occupational licence for the following work:

• plumbing
• drainage
• gasfitting
• termite management – chemical
• fire protection
• mechanical services work.

An individual or company who subcontracts to carry out mechanical services work for a licensed mechanical services contractor is required to also hold a mechanical services contractor licence of the relevant class for the work.

You need a mechanical services occupational licence if you personally perform or supervise mechanical services work as an employee for a licensed mechanical services trade contractor (or another licence issued under legislation that authorises them to perform the work).

An individual or company who subcontracts to carry out fire protection work for a licensed fire protection trade contractor is required to also hold a fire protection contractor licence of the relevant class for the work.

You need a fire protection occupational licence if you personally perform or supervise fire protection work as an employee for a licensed fire protection trade contractor (or another licence issued under legislation that authorises them to do this work).

An unlicensed individual or company may enter into a principal contract to carry out building work provided the work is not residential construction work or domestic building work.

However, the unlicensed principal is not allowed to personally carry out or provide building work services for the work.

An individual or company who subcontracts to carry out building work for the unlicensed principal contractor must hold a contractor's licence of the relevant class for the work that they have been subcontracted to carry out.