Please note that information in this article was based on trends from 2019, and may now be outdated.
Different states in Australia have different requirements for certifications. Most of them require some proof of good practice and one or both of these certifications.
Some states don’t even have any licensing process for their painters. That should not stop you from registering as a professional painter and obtaining these certificates.
If you want to land more painting contract jobs, you should get a license. That is the trust mark that improves your chances of being hired by individuals and businesses alike. Here are the different ways you can get licensed in different states in Australia.
Your first step towards getting licensed in New South Wales is to contact the Department of Fair Trading, NSW. That’s the authority that deals with licensing for all painting contractors in all of New South Wales, Sydney included.
It’s necessary to have a licence for any painting contract jobs that are worth over $5,000. This price includes the work, materials and GST. However, if you are doing internal paintwork as a stand-alone painting contract, you don’t have to have a licence.
If you need a licence to get painting contract jobs in Sydney or anywhere else in NSW, here is what you need to do:
To get a licence or certificate to do painting, you must complete one of the qualifications listed below.
Complete:
CPC30611 / CPC30608 / BCG30603 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
or
BCG30498 Certificate Ill in General Construction (Painting & Decorating) TAFE course #8063
or
Qualification 11766 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating TAFE course #2155
or
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating, Trade TAFE course #5129
If you are only doing painting contract jobs in Victoria, you don’t have to be registered. However, if you do a combination of works, registration with the Victorian Building Authority is necessary. Here is what they have to say:
Why you need to register
You must be registered with the Victorian Building Authority in Victoria to:
- perform domestic building work that costs more than $10,000 (including labour and materials)
- carry out re-blocking, re-stumping, demolition work or removal of a home, regardless of cost
- provide more than one type of building work (such as plastering and painting) that costs more than $10,000 (including labour and materials).
All registered building practitioners (except companies) are issued with a Photo ID card that lists the type of work they are eligible to do. All practitioners should carry this ID card. Either of the ID cards shown below may be valid, depending on the practitioner’s date of registration.
All practitioners registered from 1 September 2016 onwards should have a VBA-branded ID card. Practitioners registered before that date will carry a Building Practitioners Board branded card until their next annual renewal date. From 1 September 2017 only VBA branded cards will be valid.
When looking for painting contract jobs in Brisbane or the rest of Queensland, you should be certified. Ask for the information about the certificate from the Building Services Authority, Queensland. Here is what you’ll find:
Painting and decorating
Any one of the following—
(a) successful completion of either of the following course
- (i) an apprenticeship in painting and decorating including the unit of competency – Apply trowelled texture coat finishes CPCCSP3003A;
- (ii) Certificate III in Painting and Decorating CPC30611 including the unit of competency – Apply trowelled texture coat finishes CPCCSP3003A;
(b) successful completion of a course the commission considers is at least equivalent to a course mentioned in paragraph (a);
(c) a recognition certificate as a qualified painter and decorator including the unit of competency Apply trowelled texture coat finishes CPCCSP3003A;
(d) a qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.Painting and decorating, excluding applying cement render
Any one of the following—
(a) successful completion of either of the following courses—
- (i) an apprenticeship in painting and decorating;
- (ii) Certificate III in Painting and Decorating CPC30611;
(b) successful completion of a course the commission considers is at least equivalent to a course mentioned in paragraph (a);
(c) a recognition certificate as a qualified painter and decorator;
(d) a qualification or statement of attainment of required competency for the class of licence.
The Building Services Board, WA, says that a painter needs to be registered in Western Australia if they perform painting contract jobs that are worth more than $1,000. There is no certification requirement, but there are some obligations for registered painting contractors.
The obligations listed are classified into:
While there is no certification, there are audits. In this way, Western Australia ensures the quality and standard of the painting work done by the professionals in that state. Here is what the Department of Mines, Industry, Regulations and Safety says about the audits:
A written notice of an audit will be issued to the registered painting and decorating contractor to allow adequate time to retrieve the relevant or required documents ready for the audit.
During the audit, the registered painting and decorating contractor will have an opportunity to discuss any compliance related matters.
Building and Energy officers are bound by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s Code of Conduct. Any information obtained during the audit will remain confidential unless the Board or Building and Energy is required to disclose the information by law.
Inspections of painting and decorating work will also be conducted. The sites will be selected from current or recently completed work being undertaken.
Generally, an audit conducted at your office may take approximately two hours, depending on the size and nature of the business.
Consumer and Business Services, SA, issues licences for building work contractors. This is the only licence you need if you want to be a licenced painter. There is no separate licence for painters other than this one. The same goes for decorators. Here is what the CBS says about the requirements for building work contractors:
To apply for the building work contractors licence with a painting and decorating specialisation, you must have the applicable nationally recognised qualification, which is CPC30611 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating. You may also apply with an RPL recognised equivalent qualification.
A license will help you land more painting contract jobs. It will also open doors for you to participate in national tenders all over Australia. Put yourself into the shoes of your potential customers. On one side, they have a painter without a license; on the other, they have a painter with a license.
The license tells them that the painter invested time and money to better themselves. Their work has been under the spotlight of authorities and they granted them with a license. That builds trust.
Of course, some uncertified painters will offer their services at lower prices. That should not worry you. They will only attract clients who don’t care about quality. Their only criterion is money. You don’t want to work for those people. You want clients who want to pay a reasonable price for a painting contract job well done.
List your business at Service Seeking. With a proper licence and good rating, you will be able to land the best painting contract jobs.
Potential clients list the jobs they need to be done. They describe the job and put their budget. You bid only for those painting contract jobs you really want. Upon reviewing all the bidders, the client picks the one that they like the most. List your painting business today and start building the reputation you deserve.