Updating your QBCC licence—a step-by-step guide

Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to Queensland's building and construction industry, maintaining your QBCC licence is crucial. 

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QBCC Photo ID licence card

Keeping your licence current is essential for staying compliant and maintaining credibility. 

Whether you’re renewing, replacing, or restoring your licence, here’s how to get it sorted.

Step 1: Know your licence status

First, determine what action you need to take:

a)    Renew—if your licence is due or recently expired (within 3 months)

b)    Replace—if your licence is lost, stolen, damaged, or your details have changed

c)    Restore—if your licence was cancelled after being expired for more than 3 months.

Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to Queensland's building and construction industry, maintaining your QBCC licence is crucial.  
 

Tip of the trade: 
You have up to three (3) months after expiry to renew. Beyond that, you must apply for a new licence entirely. Learn about licence renewal fees


Step 2: Prepare your documents 

Before applying, make sure you’ve got everything you need:

  • a QBCC renewal notice (usually sent a month before expiry)
  • payment details (bank card, account info, or BPAY)
  • valid ID
  • relevant forms based on your update type.

Tip of the trade: 
Licensing rules in 2025 may differ from previous years. You might need updated qualifications or additional training, so double-check current eligibility requirements.


Step 3: Choose your method

The QBCC offers convenient, simple ways to meet your individual needs including:

Step 4: Submit your application

Once your documents are ready, submit your application through your chosen method. Make sure all details are accurate to avoid delays.
 

Step 5: Receive confirmation

After processing, you’ll receive:

a)    a confirmation email or payment receipt

b)    your new licence card by mail

c)    all future notifications from the QBCC to your registered contact information.  
 

Tip of the trade: 
Don’t delay—waiting too long can mean extra fees or even a full reapplication. Even restored licences must still be renewed at the next annual date. And some older licence classes can’t be reinstated.


Learn more about licensing on our website.


Last reviewed: 22 Jul 2025 Last published: 23 Jul 2025
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Simplified guide to Builder—low rise licence applications

Knowing where to start can be the biggest challenge when approaching a builder licence application. The QBCC is helping to make this process easier with a redesigned Builder licence application form, and the Builder—low rise application guide. 

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The new Builder—low rise application guide was developed in collaboration with Master Builders Queensland, and the Housing Industry Association and is designed to help applicants understand: 

  • the different QBCC licence types available for this licence class 
  • what is considered eligible experience  
  • practical tips for gathering evidence to support applications.  

The guide can be found by clicking through website tabs relevant to a builder licence application. Experience requirements on the Builder—low rise licence webpage promote the guide and other valuable resources to understand and complete applications. 

With the Builder—low rise licence making up almost half of all builder licence applications received by the QBCC, from the 8 different builder classes available, the new Builder—low rise application guide provides a good road test for other builder and trade class application guides in the pipeline.  


Last reviewed: 16 Dec 2024 Last published: 17 Dec 2024
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Transition to digital licensing

New licensing application forms and photo ID cards are designed to improve your experience and help lay a foundation for the transition to digital licensing.

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QBCC Photo ID licence card

The QBCC is engaging with other Queensland Government agencies to include QBCC licences on the Queensland Government Digital Licence App in the near future. This work aims to provide licensees with increased anti-fraud protections and deliver secure and contemporary photo identification options for QBCC's licensees. In a future state, new capabilities will include the introduction of a digital QBCC licence credential in the existing Queensland Government Digital Licence app.

In preparation for this, QBCC Act licence application forms have undergone a comprehensive review, using industry feedback and insights, and the requirement to collect applicant photos has been added to support new photo-ID licence cards. 

How does this impact me?

Learn more about the recent changes and what they mean for you.

The QBCC’s redesigned QBCC Act licence application forms are now available via our service centres and to download from our website. You will need to provide two certified passport sized photos to support your application.

Old versions of the forms will no longer be accepted.

The QBCC digital licence is expected to be available to all eligible licensees from late 2025 in the existing Queensland Government Digital Licence app.

The QBCC digital licence is expected to be available to all eligible licensees from late 2025 in the existing Queensland Government Digital Licence app.

In addition, the QBCC is considering how to deliver photo licence requirements to existing licensees in the most cost-effective way.

A small-scale trial was undertaken with selected licensees to inform delivery of photo licensing requirements to all existing licensees. Further information about the outcomes will be provided at a later date. 

Find out more


Last reviewed: 30 Jun 2025 Last published: 30 Jun 2025
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