Mutual Recognition: Application Form (QLD)
Queensland Building And Construction Commission
Mutual Recognition is a process whereby an individual who holds a licence in one state, territory or New Zealand is entitled to be licensed in another state, territory or New Zealand to perform the same work. Mutual Recognition does not apply to a company or partnership.
If you are applying for a licence in Queensland (QLD) under Mutual Recognition please be aware that special rules apply.
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, the QBCC will not be able to issue you a licence.
Who can apply?
Applicants from: Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and New Zealand can apply.
New South Wales (NSW) applicants
Builder licences issued by NSW Fair Trading only apply to “Domestic Building Construction Work”. There is no requirement for a builder to hold a builder licence in NSW if they are performing commercial work. As the NSW licence only applies to domestic construction work, QBCC will restrict your equivalent QLD builder licence class to BCA Class 1a, 2, 4 and 10.
If you hold a contractor or qualified supervisor licence in NSW, the equivalent QLD licence type would be either a contractor licence or nominee supervisor licence.
If you hold an unqualified supervisor licence in NSW, the equivalent QLD licence type may be a site supervisor licence or an occupational licence. This will depend on the licence class. A site supervisor licence would entitle you to supervise building work as an employee only. An occupational licence would entitle you to supervise and personally perform the work as an employee only.
If you are a builder and wish to perform commercial work in QLD or if you hold a NSW supervisor licence, you need to consider your options. It may be more appropriate and easier for you to apply for the full licence class under Queensland requirements.
Builder Licence
As an alternative, if your builder licence is not limited to any work other than being restricted to BCA Class 1a, 2, 4 and 10 and you wish to apply for an unrestricted licence when you submit your Mutual Recognition application, you must provide the appropriate technical qualification for the licence class and supply relevant details of your experience in the commercial sector. You must provide written references to verify your experience.
South Australian (SA) Applicants
If you hold a contractor and supervisor licence in SA, the equivalent QLD licence would be either a contractor licence or nominee supervisor licence. If you only hold a contractor licence in SA, you are not able to apply under Mutual Recognition as QLD does not have an equivalent licence.
New Zealand (NZ) Applicants
If you hold a Site LBP licence in NZ, you are not able to apply under Mutual Recognition as QLD does not have an equivalent licence. In NZ, a Site Licensed Building Practitioner cannot supervise “Restricted Building Work”, such as the structural elements or external moisture management systems of a building.
Company licensing
If you intend to trade through a company in QLD, the company must hold a licence in its own right. To obtain a QLD licence, a company must have a QBCC licensed contractor or nominee supervisor as its nominee. The nominee must hold the same QBCC licence class as the company.
If you intend to be the nominee for your company, submit a QLD company application at the same time you lodge your individual Mutual Recognition application.
Keep your interstate licence active
Your interstate licence must remain active. If your interstate licence is cancelled or suspended prior to approval of a QLD licence, you will not be entitled to a QLD licence under Mutual Recognition.
If you have any questions regarding your Mutual Recognition application, please contact your local QBCC office or log onto qbcc.qld.gov.au.
