Builder—medium rise
Scope of work
Includes
- Building work on a class 1 or class 10 building.
- Building work to a maximum of 3 storeys, but not including Type A construction on classes 4 to 9 buildings.
- Building work that consists of non structural work on a building, regardless of—
- the class of the building; or
- the gross floor area of the building.
- Prepare plans and specifications if the plans and specifications are:
- for the licensee’s personal use, or
- for use in building work to be performed by the licensee personally.
- Temporarily until 2 May 2025 — for the building work described above, install and maintain:
- fire collars, fire-rated penetrations and fire-rated joint sealing;
- fire and smoke walls and fire-rated ceilings.
Does not include
- a completed building inspection for an interested party to the building, or
- personally carrying out any building work for which:
- a fire protection licence is required (other than the specified fire protection work temporarily authorised above), or
- an occupational licence is required unless the licensee holds the occupational licence.
- directly or indirectly causing non-structural work to be carried out on a building (regardless of the building class and gross floor area of the building), or providing non-structural building work services on a building (regardless of the building class and gross floor area of the building) if—
- a fire protection licence is required for the work; and
- the work is—
- for Type A construction on classes 4 to 9 buildings; or
- more than 3 storeys.
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.
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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:
- 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
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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.
OR
2 years experience in the scope of work (or equivalent), if you are qualified in one of the following:
- bricklaying and blocklaying
- carpentry.
Demonstrating your experience
You must demonstrate work where you carried out:
- supervisory services—the parts of the project and trades you personally supervised; examples where you applied your knowledge of building and other relevant legislation, interpreting plans and specifications
- administration services—examples of your experience on the job in tendering, contracts, on-site meetings and inspections, payment of subcontractors, issuing certificates and project management
- management services—examples of where you coordinated and scheduled work, resolved problems on the project, communicated with clients and other services and financial management.
Do include:
- sufficient detailed to demonstrate the work that you have performed or supervised
- the commencement and completion date for the work.
Do not include:
- examples of experience that was obtained as part of a training program, apprenticeship, or study toward a qualification
- work that was performed or undertaken prior to obtaining the technical qualification for this licence class, unless it was performed as an employee for an employer with the appropriate class of licence
- work that was performed under an owner builder permit.
Type of building work
- The majority of experience (i.e. greater than 50%) must be in builder—medium rise work.
- Building work relating to low rise may contribute and open licence class experience may be accepted where it is demonstrated the construction methodology aligns with builder—medium rise work from Volume 1 & 2 NCC.
For experience requirements specific to the stages of building work, read the factsheet:
Builder—medium rise experience factsheet (PDF, 38KB)
Experience declaration
You will need to document your experience in the form below and submit it with your application.
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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 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.
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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 licence and you are not increasing your maximum revenue you do not need to provide additional financial information.
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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.
-
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:
- 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
-
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.
OR
2 years experience in the scope of work (or equivalent), if you are qualified in one of the following:
- bricklaying and blocklaying
- carpentry.
Demonstrating your experience
You must demonstrate work where you carried out:
- supervisory services—the parts of the project and trades you personally supervised; examples where you applied your knowledge of building and other relevant legislation, interpreting plans and specifications
- administration services—examples of your experience on the job in tendering, contracts, on-site meetings and inspections, payment of subcontractors, issuing certificates and project management
- management services—examples of where you coordinated and scheduled work, resolved problems on the project, communicated with clients and other services and financial management.
Do include:
- sufficient detailed to demonstrate the work that you have performed or supervised
- the commencement and completion date for the work.
Do not include:
- examples of experience that was obtained as part of a training program, apprenticeship, or study toward a qualification
- work that was performed or undertaken prior to obtaining the technical qualification for this licence class, unless it was performed as an employee for an employer with the appropriate class of licence
- work that was performed under an owner builder permit.
Type of building work
- The majority of experience (i.e. greater than 50%) must be in builder—medium rise work.
- Building work relating to low rise may contribute and open licence class experience may be accepted where it is demonstrated the construction methodology aligns with builder—medium rise work from Volume 1 & 2 NCC.
For experience requirements specific to the stages of building work, read the factsheet:
Builder—medium rise experience factsheet (PDF, 38KB)
Experience declaration
You will need to document your experience in the form below and submit it with your application.
-
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 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.
-
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:
- 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
$469.16—SC2
$1104.15—Cat 1-2
$634.99—Cat 1-2
$1587.19—Cat 3-7
$881.44—Cat 3-7
$469.16
$234.58
$469.16
$234.58
$1,565.30—SC2
$782.65—SC2
$2,016.17—Cat 1-2
$1075.95—Cat 1-2
$2,877.64—Cat 3-7
$1468.26—Cat 3-7
How to apply
Before you apply and pay fees, ensure you can meet all eligibility requirements to hold the licence.
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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.
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Choose the type of licence you will need to hold based on your intended role in the industry.
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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:
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Download and complete the relevant form for the licence-type you are applying for.
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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.
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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.
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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:
- a 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.
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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).
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Download and complete:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
- plumbing
- drainage
- gasfitting - issued by Chief Gas Examiner and Resources Safety and Health Queensland
- termite management—chemical - issued by Department of Health.
As a nominee supervisor —you require an occupational licence to perform work that is:
- fire protection
- mechanical services
- plumbing
- drainage
- gasfitting - issued by Chief Gas Examiner and Resources Safety and Health Queensland
- termite management—chemical - issued by Department of Health.
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.
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Gather any relevant supporting documents including:
- details of your current interstate or NZ licence
- photographic proof of your identity
- evidence you have permission to work in Queensland(citizen, visa etc.)
- evidence of partnership, company or trading names, where relevant.
If applying by mail, only provide us with certified copies of your original documents, as we cannot return them to you.
-
Download and complete:
-
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.
