Introduction
To ensure residential buildings are being built to the required standard, and to restore consumer confidence, legislation has been developed in the construction industry.
Compliance declarations and regulated designs must be lodged on the NSW Planning Portal before building work can begin on:
- class 2 buildings
- class 3 buildings
- class 9c buildings
- buildings with a class 2, 3, or 9c part.
Under the legislation, designers who make compliance declarations or lodge these documents must be registered design practitioners or principal design practitioners.
Design practitioner registration classes include:
- architectural
- architectural (medium rise)
- architectural (low rise)
- body corporate
- building design (medium rise)
- building design (low rise)
- civil engineering
- drainage
- drainage (restricted)
- electrical engineering
- façade
- fire safety engineering
- fire systems (detection and alarm systems)
- fire systems (fire sprinkler)
- fire systems (fire hydrant and fire hose reel)
- fire systems (mechanical smoke control)
- geotechnical engineering
- mechanical engineering
- structural engineering
- vertical transportation.
Registration is for 1, 3 or 5 years. Fees are applicable.
Note: If eligible, you can also apply for 2 other registration types in the same digital application:
- professional engineer – if you do some types of engineering work on class 2 buildings or buildings with a class 2 part
- principal design practitioner – if you’ll coordinate and lodge designs by other design practitioners for the building practitioner.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you need to:
- be aged 18 or over
- meet the criteria regarding qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience for the registration class(es) you’re wanting to apply for
Note: 'Transitional pathways' option is no longer available. - have a current National Police Check that is valid for 4 months when you submit your application (Name and Date of Birth Check only)
- have completed and passed the mandatory Construct NSW learning modules on Navigating the Design and Building Practitioners (DBP) Legislation, and the Value of Australian Standards
- meet insurance requirements as required.
What you need
- a MyServiceNSW Account
- you can create one when you start your application
- you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, passport)
- your National Police Check certificate that is valid for 4 months when you submit your application (Name and Date of Birth Check only)
- copies of your:
- degree, postgraduate degree, diploma or National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVR) course certificates and/or transcripts
- certificates of completion for your learning modules
- membership of accrediting bodies and/or letters of authorisation from recognised accrediting bodies.
- your contact details
- a current credit card for payment.
How to apply
- Check the eligibility criteria for the registration types and classes you want to apply for.
- Gather your certificates and other required documents.
- Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
Note: You can save and resume your application, but if you have not submitted it within 60 days, any details you’ve entered will be deleted. - Log in, or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
- Select and verify your 2 identity documents.
- Select the registration types and classes you’re applying for.
- Select the duration of your registration.
- Answer all questions in the digital form, including those on your suitability to perform the work and your background.
- Upload your supporting documents.
- Review your answers and give consent to process your application.
- Enter your payment details.
- Select ‘Submit’.
Privacy
To apply for design practitioner registration with NSW Fair Trading, you’ll need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.
By logging in you consent to sharing your name and email address in your MyServiceNSW Account with NSW Fair Trading, a division of the Department of Customer Service.
The Professional engineer and/or design practitioner registration – privacy collection notice explains how your personal information will be handled once it is shared by Service NSW.
More information
When you apply for registration, you'll:
- need to wait for your application for registration to be assessed and approved by NSW Fair Trading before you can declare or lodge designs
- be contacted by NSW Fair Trading if further information is needed
- be notified about the result of your application within 28 days of submitting it (unless placed on hold, pending further information)
- receive your registration ID if approved.