Building and Construction is Australia’s third-largest industry, employing approximately 9% of the country’s total workforce in full-time and part-time capacities. The sector is forecasted to continue its growth for the foreseeable future. This article aims to guide you through the essential aspects of obtaining a builder’s licence.
Tasmania’s builder licensing sits with Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), and the qualification you need depends on both the scale of work you want to do and whether you’re coming from a trade background. Here’s how it breaks down.
Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), part of the Department of Justice, manages builder licensing in Tasmania. You must be registered before you can operate as a building practitioner in the state.
The core “Builder” licence has sub-classes of Domestic, Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open, each tied to a different qualification level:
Tasmania also licenses two related specialist builder classes — Fire Protection Services Builder and Demolisher — each with its own scope of work.
At least half of this experience must have been gained after you were awarded your minimum qualification, and above the level of any lower builder licence you may already hold. Builders, fire protection services builders and demolishers also need $5 million in public liability insurance.
Your application should include:
If you’ve been working at this level without the formal qualification, RPL lets your supervised experience count toward the Certificate IV or Diploma you need. We help you build the evidence; one of our partnered RTOs carries out the assessment and issues the qualification.
We help you work out which builder class and qualification level actually matches your experience, then connect you with a partnered RTO to get it formally assessed.
For help with your Tasmanian builder’s licence, call RPL on 1300 588 967.
This page reflects CBOS requirements at the time of writing, including the National Construction Code 2025, which commenced in Tasmania on 1 May 2026. Confirm current fees and requirements directly with CBOS before applying.
No — CBOS requires registration to operate as a building practitioner, regardless of the class of work.
Yes — the exact amount required depends on whether you already hold a relevant trade qualification (2 years) or not (4 years).
Yes — builders, fire protection services builders and demolishers all require $5 million in public liability insurance.
Yes — we assess your experience against Tasmania’s Domestic, Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open classes and recommend the right fit.
The requirements can feel like a lot to untangle, particularly with multiple qualification pathways and historical course codes still in play. Our role is to help you work out which pathway applies to you and where RPL can genuinely save you time.
For further information and assistance with your Tasmania builder’s licence, contact our team at RPL on 1300 588 967, or reach out via the form on this page.
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