Apply for building practitioner registration

Introduction

Building practitioners need to apply for registration to make compliance declarations and lodge regulated designs on the NSW Planning Portal for regulated buildings: 

• class 2, 3, or 9c
• buildings with a class 2, 3, or 9c part.

You can register as a building practitioner for 1, 3 or 5 years. Registration application fees apply.

If your application is approved by Building Commission NSW you will receive your registration ID.

Registration classes

In this application, building practitioners can apply for:

• general
• general (medium rise) or
• general (low rise)
  • if you’re authorised to make compliance declarations for building work
  • if you prepare and provide required documents for building work
  • if you hold a contractor licence for general building work under the Home Building Act 1989
• body corporate nominee
• body corporate nominee (medium rise) or
• body corporate nominee (low rise)
  • if you’re a registered building practitioner that has been nominated by a body corporate
  • if the body corporate that has nominated you holds a building practitioner – body corporate registration
  • if you’re authorised to prepare and provide documents as a building practitioner on behalf of a registered body corporate
  • if you hold a supervisor certificate or you’re authorised to do general building work under the Home Building Act 1989.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you need to:

• be aged 18 or over
• for the relevant registration class(es):
  • meet the criteria
  • have the necessary knowledge, skills, qualifications and practical experience  

• for building practitioner – general, either:

  • hold an endorsed contractor licence authorised to do general building work under the Home Building Act 1989,

  or

  • satisfy the qualification requirements to hold an endorsed contractor licence under the Home Building Act 1989 (applicable to practitioners for 3 and 9c classes only)
• have a current National Police Check
  • completed 4 months or less before 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
  • Value of Australian Standards
• meet insurance requirements.

Note: 

• If you worked on two or more building sites at the same time it will be counted as one period of time only when calculating your equivalent full time work experience.
• You cannot register if you are an undischarged bankrupt.

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
• your endorsed contractor licence authorising you to do general building work, or a supervisor certificate
• the registration application fee.

How to apply

1. Check the registration type and class for the necessary qualifications and experience.
2. Gather your certificates and other required documents.
3. Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
   Note: You can save and resume your application within 60 days. If you have not submitted your application within 60 days any details you’ve entered will be deleted.
4. Log in, or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
5. Follow the prompts to:
   1. complete your application and
   2. pay the fee.

Privacy and personal information

To apply for building practitioner registration with Building Commission NSW you need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.

More information

Visit the Building Commission NSW website to find out more about:

• detailed eligibility requirements for building practitioners
• continuing professional development guidelines
• building practitioner obligations
• requirements for design and building practitioners working on regulated buildings
• reviews of Building Commission NSW decisions.

Contact