Trade Licensing Guide Victoria. Use this guide to verify which licensed trade you need for your home improvement job

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1 Trade Licensing Guide Victoria Use this guide to verify which licensed trade you need for your home improvement job

2 Is Your Tradesperson Licensed? Have you ever asked a tradesperson for their licence? If the answer is no, then you could have been using an unqualified and unskilled contractor. As the home owner you may become liable for any unlicensed work that is carried out, any damage they cause or any accident or injury that occurs during works. You also have no legal recourse with unlicensed trades, if for example they carry out sub-standard work. What is a Trade Licence? Licensing proves that the contractor has passed the relevant state exams for their trade. Licensing of trades was introduced to protect you from unskilled and unqualified trades. To qualify for a licence a contractor will typically have to be in possession of one or more qualification/s. These are designed to establish, maintain and improve standards in the relevant trade. Possession of a licence also allows a contractor to advertise their services to the public, and they are legally obliged to display their licence number on any form of advertisement. Checking a Licence A trade licence is typically a credit card sized and will display the contractor or business name, registered address, licence number and expiry date. It will also detail any restrictions or denote the class of licence issued. This indicates what scope of work the licence holder is allowed to carry out. Australia has state-specific licensing governed by regulatory authorities who administer licences for trades in their jurisdiction. Most have a facility that enables you to run an online licence check or you can just as easily give them a call. Visit hipages.com.au for more information on licensing authorities in your state or territory. 1

3 Licence Scope Licence holders are only authorised to carry out the work detailed on their licence so an electrician cannot carry out refrigeration work, for example. The range of work that is able to be carried out by the licence holder is called scopes of work a description of the conditions and restrictions that apply to a licence. Trades subcontracting to builders or working for an owner builder are still required to hold a licence. Uncertificated or unqualified trainees also need to be under the supervision of a certificated or qualified person, who has been authorised by the employer to act as supervisor. Trade Licences In Victoria In Victoria anyone doing residential building work worth more than $5000 must be a registered building practitioner. If they carry out work worth more than $12,000 they must be in possession of domestic building insurance. In Victoria a range of bodies register, accredit and license trades and building professionals, including: Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) Building Commission Department of Health EnergySafe Victoria Plumbing Industry Commission WorkSafe Victoria Victoria Police's Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) 2

4 Licences by Trade or Job What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Air-conditioning Air-conditioning work Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC), Plumbing Industry Commission Architects Registered architect Architects Registration Board of Victoria (ARBV) Install, maintain and service air-conditioning systems. Service related to design phase, contract documentation and administration. Asbestos removal Bricklayers Asbestos Removalist Class A (specific friable asbestos), Class B (nonfriable asbestos), Class B ( specific non-friable asbestos) Domestic Builders Limited Brickwork Class H, Brickwork Builder Domestic Builder Unlimited (DB-U), (DB-L), Domestic Builder Manager (DB-M). Builder (Renovation - kitchen, bathroom or laundry) Building Inspector (DB-L) Building Inspector (Unlimited or Limited) WorkSafe Victoria Handling, removing and disposal of asbestos. Brickwork connected with the construction of a dwelling including brick veneer. Work that is worth more than $5,000 requires a builder to be registered. Carry out all brick/block work connected with the erection, construction, renovation, alteration, extension, improvement or repair of a home. Assess design documentation and make on-site inspections during building work, checking that proper methods and materials are used. 3

5 What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Building Surveyor Building Surveyor (Unlimited or Limited) Ensure that construction standards meet the appropriate regulations. Cabinet Making Class N (Cabinet-making and joinery) Carpentry Domestic Builder (Limited - Class C), Code :Carpenter, Code E: Garage, carport, Code F: Door and window replacement/installation, Code G: Gates, fences, Code I: External cladding to a home, Code N: Cabinet-making and joinery Carport Domestic Builder - Class E (Garage, carport) Cabinet-making and joinery works for all types of cupboards, shelving and staircases. Timber frames, verandas, pergolas, decking and alterations, completion works, architraves, staircases, floorboards and weatherboards. Construction under a major domestic building contract. Cladding Domestic Builder Class I (External cladding) Cladding works to a dwelling, including: weatherboards, panelling, rendering and attaching concrete masonry. Concreting Domestic Builder Class B (General Concreting) or Class O (Floor slabs, footings) Laying and placing concrete for floors, stairs, ramps, footpaths, driveways etc. 4

6 What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Damp Proofing Class J Sub-floor works. Demolition Builder Demolisher (low rise buildings) BD-L, Builder Demolisher (medium rise buildings) BD-M, Builder Demolisher (unlimited) BD- U Completely or partially dismantle buildings and other structures, by pre-planned and controlled methods. Doors Class F Replacement and installation Draftsperson Draftsperson Building Design (Architectural, Interior, Services) Architectural design, develop and prepare plans and documentation for all components of building work. Drainage Plumbing licence - Class: Drainage Plumbing Industry Commission Construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any part of a below-ground sanitary drainage system. Electricians Electrician, Electrical Contractor, Electrician (Supervised) Worker's Licence (ES licence), Supervised Worker's Licence (L Licence), Restricted Electrical Workers Licence (D Licence/Disconnect and Reconnect) EnergySafe Victoria Electrical installation and repair work, depending on class of licence. 5

7 What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Engineer Civil Engineer (EC) - Structual, Mechanical Engineer (EM) - Hydraulics, Electrical Engineer (EE), Fire Safety Engineer (EF) Excavation Fences Class M (Earthworks & Excavation) Class G Maintaining and improving the standards of buildings. Removing of earth or rock to previously determined excavation lines and levels to form a hole or trench Works relating to fencing. Fire Safety Fire Safety Engineer (EF) Maintaining and improving the standard of buildings. Gasfitters Plumbing - Class: Gasfitting & restricted classes Plumbing Industry Commission Construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any pipe, appliance, flue, fitting, apparatus, control or other item. Garages Domestic Builder - Limited - Class E Constructing garages under a major domestic building contract. Gates Class G Works relating to metal and timber gates. Gazebos Class E Constructing gazebos under a major domestic building contract. 6

8 What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Joinery Class N Cabinet-making and joinery works for all types of cupboards, shelving and staircases. Landscaping Class U (Structural Landscaping) & Class M (Earthworks & Excavation) Locksmiths Security Licence Victoria Police's Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) Work related to fences, pergolas, gazebos, retaining walls, ornamental structures, site preparation, landscape paving and landform structures requiring fabricated internal support. Security, electrical security, access control and alarm monitoring systems. Pest Control Pest control (3 classes) Department of Health Use of physical and chemical control methods including the application of pesticides and the use of powders, baits, foams, gels and granules. Plumbers Plumbing (Classes: Main, Restricted, Specialised) Plumbing Industry Commission Plumbing work in the class of plumbing in which they are licensed. Reblocking & Restumping Class J (Sub-floor works) Sub-floor works. Retaining Walls Class U (Structural landscaping) Work related to fences, pergolas, gazebos, retaining walls, ornamental structures, site preparation, landscape paving and landform structures requiring fabricated internal support 7

9 What Trade or Job Licence Required Licensing Authority Job Scope Roofing Plumbing - Class: Roofing (Stormwater), Roofing (Stormwater) Plumbing Industry Commission Construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, maintenance, testing or commissioning of any roof covering or roof flashing and any part of a roof drainage system Roof Repairs Class K Improvements to roof. Security Equipment Security Licence Victoria Police's Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) Security advice and equipment installation. Shade Structures Class V Work related to shade structures, including erecting shade structures. Swimming Pools Class S Works relating to the installation of in-ground or aboveground swimming pools or spas, including paving and fencing. Underpinning Class J Sub-floor works. Waterproofing Class W Work related to the use of waterproofing membranes to the interior, exterior, below ground and remedial areas of a building. Window Replacement Class F () Window replacement and installation. 8

10 This document has been prepared using the best information available to hipages.com.au. It does not extend any warranty as to the suitability of this information for your specific circumstances. You should always check that any work carried out in your home complies with the relevant laws that apply in your state or territory hipages.com.au