Thread: Carpenter licence

Didn't know there was such a beast

Marc,
I think you'll find that there's two seperate bits of paper: "trade papers" or a certificate III, carpentry & joinery and a state issued contractor's license. I'm not sure of the requirements in NSW for contractors licenses, but the cert III is nationally recognised. In Qld you need the cert III or recognition of equivalency to get the contractor's license.

I enquired at the local TAFE about sitting a trade test in order to get my cert III. I was told that I'd have to set out a stair stringer on a sheet of ply and build a saw horse, to a supplied drawing, using hand tools. There was also a fee of several hundred dollars (this was in about 1993). At the time I was supervising a very complex up-market house and decided I didn't want to waste a day playing silly buggers.

A few years later I sent a resume and references to the Department of Employment Training and Industrial Relations who issued me with my trade papers under Recognition of Prior Learning. Hope my experience proves enightening in your quest.

Mick

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

A few years later I sent a resume and references to the Department of Employment Training and Industrial Relations who issued me with my trade papers under Recognition of Prior Learning. Hope my experience proves enightening in your quest.

Mick

That's how I got mine a few years before I sat for the Builders Certificate.

All you needed was four years in the game. That was a long time ago now though.

Originally Posted by journeyman Mick

Marc,
I think you'll find that there's two seperate bits of paper: "trade papers" or a certificate III, carpentry & joinery and a state issued contractor's license. I'm not sure of the requirements in NSW for contractors licenses, but the cert III is nationally recognised. In Qld you need the cert III or recognition of equivalency to get the contractor's license.

I enquired at the local TAFE about sitting a trade test in order to get my cert III. I was told that I'd have to set out a stair stringer on a sheet of ply and build a saw horse, to a supplied drawing, using hand tools. There was also a fee of several hundred dollars (this was in about 1993). At the time I was supervising a very complex up-market house and decided I didn't want to waste a day playing silly buggers.

A few years later I sent a resume and references to the Department of Employment Training and Industrial Relations who issued me with my trade papers under Recognition of Prior Learning. Hope my experience proves enightening in your quest.

Mick

Sorry for the Hijack.

Interesting. So Mick, did you do that because you never completed a formal Apprenticeship?

I am in a similar boat. Couldn't start an apprenticeship when I began work because there were already two apprentices' and only 1 qualified tradesman. So I just continued on with out ever doing it. I now have 10 years of Cabinetmaking/Furniture/Shopfitting experience behind me. I don't really need it, but I wouldn't mind getting the 'piece of paper'.

Originally Posted by martrix

............Interesting. So Mick, did you do that because you never completed a formal Apprenticeship?.....................

Yep.

Mick

Carpenter 4411-13

Licensing or registration requirements

In many occupations you must be registered with or obtain a license from a local authority in the state or territory where you wish to practise your occupation. Select from the following state links to find out details of the local authority in your state.

New South Wales

Licensing is compulsory for unsupervised residential trade work. Licensing is not required for commercial or residential trade work.

Department of Fair Trading (DFT)
Home Building Licensing
Locked Bag A 5020
Sydney South NSW 1235
Telephone:133 220
Fax: 61 2 9377 9325
Website: http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au


Victoria

There is no legal requirement for licensing or registration for this occupation in Victoria.


Queensland

Licensing is compulsory in order to carry out or supervise building work over the value of $1100 (including Labour and materials).

Building Services Authority
11 Edmondstone Street
South Brisbane QLD 4101
PMB 84, Coorparoo DC QLD 4151
Telephone: 61 7 3225 2800
Fax: 61 7 3225 2999
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.bsa.qld.gov.au/Home/Default.htm


South Australia

There is no legal requirement for licensing or registration for this occupation in South Australia.


Western Australia

There is no legal requirement for licensing or registration for this occupation in Western Australia.


Tasmania

There is no legal requirement for licensing or registration for this occupation in Tasmania.


Northern Territory

Registration is compulsory in order to carry out residential building work over the value of $12,000.

Building Practitioners Board
GPO Box 1680 Darwin NT 0801
Telephone: 61 8 8999 8964
Fax: 61 8 8999 8967
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ipe.nt.gov.au


Australian Capital Territory

There is no legal requirement for licensing or registration for this occupation in the ACT.

http://www.migration.gov.au/asri/occ....htm#licensing

Thank you all for your kind replies.
I received today the CD from the "Building Industry Skills Centre".

I must say that it all looks a bit daunting. I feel more comfortable building a two level house than sitting for this thing. It has dozens of modules to be passed I wish it was like you say Mick, plus the fee is $1500, I must build a portfolio with previous experiences and it would take several days just to go through the modules alone, not to mention the obvious possibility to fail and need to sit again.
This is typical shifty NSW government.

I will go over the information again slowly but it seems to be designed to discourage anyone from applying and channel all through Tafe certificate 3.

May be I can go to Queensland and build a saw horse, (I need one to cut firewood) and come here with the Queensland license...

Thanks fellas, I too needed this information.


Cheers

G'day all. I am a victorian qualified Carpenter, and have working in NSW for 15 years on wages as a C&J, and have recently applied for a Carpenters lisence, was refused by Fair Trading. Was told that I need to have my Vic Qualification recognised in NSW, NSW Tafe has quoted me $4000 to do RPL, to get NSW recognised qual' to get lisence. Tried to get it through Vic, first, then transfer over to NSW ( an accepted option through Fair Trading,) they require I sit a formal interview to show all req'd knowledge feilds, they require knowledge equilivant to NSW Builders i.e, Cert IV, just to get a restricted Carpentry lisence. Does any body have some advice, or have been through a similar situation?

All that just to bang in some nails...

Has anyone here sat for the assessment exam (NSW) to get a carpenter licence without going through the TAFE courses?

How hard is it to obtain the licence this way?[/QUOTE

Hi,
I'm a 22 year old carpenter in NSW, thrown in the deep end, started as a labourer, went into carpentry, now mainly work by myself on small renos etc.
I want to get my licence and applied to the Vocational Training Tribunal givring then photos of jobs I've done, and references and a bit else...

This cost ~150
They say I need to do a practical, which will be in wollongong. I don't know what to expect for this, whether its easy or hard or what.
It cost a further $275.

I'd like to know if anyone else has done it, if not, I'm the online guinea pig since I can't find anyone else's answers.....
I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks when I do it.

Originally Posted by damian cullen

G'day all. I am a victorian qualified Carpenter, and have working in NSW for 15 years on wages as a C&J, and have recently applied for a Carpenters lisence, was refused by Fair Trading. Was told that I need to have my Vic Qualification recognised in NSW, NSW Tafe has quoted me $4000 to do RPL, to get NSW recognised qual' to get lisence. Tried to get it through Vic, first, then transfer over to NSW ( an accepted option through Fair Trading,) they require I sit a formal interview to show all req'd knowledge feilds, they require knowledge equilivant to NSW Builders i.e, Cert IV, just to get a restricted Carpentry lisence. Does any body have some advice, or have been through a similar situation?

Some time last year the Fed Gov in conjunction with all state Gov ( COAG)bought in a scheme where all interstate trade licences or qualifications would be recognised Nation wide that icludes electricians, plumbers, lineworkers, gasfitters, carpenters & joiners, bricklayers , mechanics , builders licences, and so on.
For further information check out the following web site-
www.licencerecognition.gov.au.
The web site should have information on where to apply for a licence.
Best of Luck with Beauocrats.
Mac

Originally Posted by 100mm

Hi,
I'm a 22 year old carpenter in NSW, thrown in the deep end, started as a labourer, went into carpentry, now mainly work by myself on small renos etc.
I want to get my licence and applied to the Vocational Training Tribunal givring then photos of jobs I've done, and references and a bit else...

This cost ~150
They say I need to do a practical, which will be in wollongong. I don't know what to expect for this, whether its easy or hard or what.
It cost a further $275.

I'd like to know if anyone else has done it, if not, I'm the online guinea pig since I can't find anyone else's answers.....
I'll let you know how it goes in a few weeks when I do it.

I'm hanging out for this information - and I hope it goes well for you.