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Building Services Board

Want to work as a builder in WA? First work out which registration you need.

WA separates the individual practitioner from the business that contracts for building work. BLS checks whether you need practitioner registration, contractor registration or both and helps prepare the documents.

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At a glance

Start with the right application.

  • Know whether you need practitioner registration, contractor registration or both
  • Prepare verified experience and police check documents
  • Set up nominee, business and financial requirements

What the regulator will ask for

Practitioner, contractor or both?

WA separates the registration held by the individual from the registration used to trade as a builder. Your role and business structure determine whether one application or both are required.

  1. 01

    Practitioner or contractor registration

    Practitioner registration is for an individual who may act as the nominated supervisor of a registered building contractor. Contractor registration is for an individual, partnership or company that intends to trade as a builder.

  2. 02

    Work scope and registration threshold

    Building and Energy guidance refers to relevant work requiring a building permit and valued at $50,000 or more for a Class 10a building, or $20,000 or more for other building work. Check the work type, value and Building Services Board jurisdiction before relying on a threshold.

  3. 03

    Qualification, experience and police check

    Practitioner applicants provide documented qualifications and experience, an approved Australian police check and information for a fit and proper assessment. A credible person must independently verify the experience record.

  4. 04

    Contractor business and nominated practitioner

    Contractor applications also cover management, supervision and financial capacity. The Building Services Board generally requires access to at least $50,000 in cash or cash equivalent and a quick ratio of at least 1:1. Partnerships and companies need at least one nominated supervisor who is a registered building practitioner.

  5. 05

    Verified project record

    The experience record should identify your duties, work type, project address and start and finish dates. A credible, independent person should sign and date it and provide contact details for checking.

Preparing your records

A person arranging project photographs in an album beside their working notes.

Preparing your records

Years of work.Clear records.

Start with relevant projects, then explain your own contribution and the supporting detail.

The project
What was built, where and when.
Your responsibility
The work and decisions you were responsible for.
Supporting records
Relevant documents and people who can verify your experience.

What BLS does for you

Prepare the individual and business registrations in the right order.

BLS checks which registration belongs to you and which belongs to the business, then helps prepare the documents for each application.

Help with the application

You know the work. We help get the application sorted.

  • Check whether you need practitioner registration, contractor registration or both.
  • Prepare experience evidence showing duties, building work, dates, addresses and responsibilities.
  • Confirm whether the business needs a nominated practitioner.
  • Put the business, financial and supporting documents in order before lodgement.

Who this is for

  • Individuals preparing a WA building practitioner registration application.
  • Individuals, partnerships or companies preparing building contractor registration.
  • Interstate builders checking the WA equivalent before applying.

When another service may fit better

  • Applicants looking for a guaranteed registration outcome or a shortcut around Building Services Board requirements.
  • Situations where the required work history, qualifications or business records cannot be provided.

Application guides

Read the guides for this application.

These guides explain the regulator requirements, application steps and documents you may need.

Application guide

WA builder registration: practitioner versus contractor

See which registration belongs to the individual, which belongs to the business and which application comes first.

Read the application guide

Service and cost

Know what is included before you proceed.

Licence and registration applications vary by state, class and how much preparation is needed. The free check gives BLS enough information to explain the service and provide a quote.

What affects the quote

The quote depends on where you are applying, the type of application, what records you already have and how much preparation is still needed.

Included work
BLS confirms the included application and evidence work before you proceed.
Other fees
Regulator, RTO, insurance, police check and other third-party fees are separate unless a proposal expressly includes them.
Qualification gaps
RPL or training is recommended only where a genuine qualification gap is identified.
Assessment
The regulator or RTO assesses the application or qualification and makes the final decision.

Your next step

Start with where
you are.

Get clear on your likely licence, gaps and next step before you pay for training or start pulling the paperwork together.

Find your next step