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Role and responsibilities of a certifier

Submitted by Fiona.Cameron@… on

Licensed building certifiers assess building applications, decide whether to issue building approvals and inspect and certify building works. The certifier ensures the building works comply with the building assessment provisions, the Building Act and the approval. Certifiers can work for local government or in private practice. 

Integrity of certifiers

There is a high level of accountability in your position as a certifier so it is important that you avoid situations that may cause a conflict of interest. Building certifiers must act in the public interest when performing building certifying functions.

Examples of building certifiers not acting in the public interest may include (but not limited to):

  • seeking or accepting a benefit to themselves or others for acting against their statutory functions
  • acting against their statutory functions 
  • falsely claiming to hold the appropriate licence needed to carry out building assessments of a particular type
  • acting outside the scope of their legislated powers
  • breaching the Code of conduct for building certifiers (PDF) 
  • acting in a grossly negligent or incompetent way.

A certifier's conduct can be reported to the QBCC.

Building certifiers need to keep copies of all building inspection documents for at least 7 years after the building work is completed.

Responsibilities

Building certifiers do

  • carry out building assessment work relating to new, altered and existing building work
  • give a Compliance Certificate stating building work complies with the building assessment provisions
  • under a Building Development Approval, inspect the building work to decide whether to certify the work, including mandatory stages for class 1a single-detached buildings - as defined under section 44 of the Building Regulation
  • may ask for any designs, inspections, certificates & documentation to determine the building work is compliant with the NCC and relevant planning laws and legislation
  • give a certificate for a stage of the building work
  • issue enforcement notices where required
  • give a final inspection certificate for the final stage of building work for Class 1 and 10 buildings/structures and/or a certificate of occupancy for a building or structure of another class.

Building certifiers don't

  • design the building or structure or carry out any of the building work
  • ensure a builder is complying with their contract
  • take responsibility for quality control and material finishes (e.g., quality of paintwork or finishes on a project, wrong coloured timber treads)
  • supervise the job site
  • enforce Workplace Health and Safety measures for building sites that is under the governance of the Workplace Health and Safety Act
  • meet the cost of referral agency assessment and inspection fees (e.g., QFES, local government etc)
  • ensure a subcontractor is complying with their contract with the owner. 

Notification of a missed inspection

It is the responsibility of the builder to let the certifier know when the project is at a stage requiring an inspection.

Certifiers must let the QBCC know if they did not receive a notice for inspection from the builder. This can be done by completing the form:

Notification of missed inspection (PDF, 33KB)

Lodge it with us:

Undertake continuing professional development

Keeping up to date with the latest building practices and legislation is an important part of your role. Continuing professional development requirements assist in maintaining your accreditation to meet licensing requirements.

Some of the areas where you may need to continue to increase your knowledge include:

  • technical building practices and related engineering, design and construction practices
  • building related law and the implications of those laws
  • building codes and standards
  • risk assessment and management principles relevant to the design and construction of buildings
  • professional and ethical responsibilities and obligations
  • effective communication techniques with designers, builders, building owners and the general community.

The QBCC's role in certification

Certifier misconduct

Building certifiers must act in the public interest. Examples of certifiers not doing this include:

  • seeking or accepting a benefit to themselves or others for acting against their statutory functions
  • acting against their statutory functions
  • falsely claiming to hold the appropriate licence needed to carry out building assessments of a particular type
  • acting outside the scope of their legislated powers
  • breaching the Code of conduct for building certifiers (PDF)
  • acting in a grossly negligent or incompetent way.

A certifier's conduct can be reported to the QBCC.

Apply for a certifier licence

Check eligibility requirements and apply for a certifier licence.

Apply now

Code of conduct for building certifiers

Learn about the requirements and expectations of certifiers.

Maintain your certifier licence

How to renew, replace or update a certifier licence

Complaint against a certifier

Notify us if you witness a certifier doing the wrong thing.

Building classes

A classification summary of buildings and structures under t...

Useful links

Building forms and guidelines—Business Queensland
Building approvals and inspections—Business Queensland
National Construction Code
Last reviewed: 3 Oct 2021 Last published: 3 Oct 2021
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