Building work supervisors make sure that all building work performed meets the required building standards. Supervisors must be registered and approved by Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
Suggested best practice principles for supervision of building work are outlined in supervision guidance (PDF 158KB).
Related pages
Apply for registration
To complete your registration you'll need to meet certain requirements and supply supporting documents - what you'll need.
If you can't lodge your application online, phone 131 882 to discuss your options with CBS staff.
What happens next
You’ll need to have your photo taken and your ID checked before you can be given a licence card.
Use the standard registration conditions list to find the condition that best matches your experience. You’ll need to demonstrate that your knowledge and experience satisfies the scope of work listed under the condition that you apply for.
If you don't demonstrate enough technical knowledge and experience, you won’t get a technical interview.
If you’re an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you’ll need to provide evidence regarding your intention to supervise building work in South Australia.
Technical interviews are held in person at the CBS office during business hours. If you can't attend an appointment in person, discuss this with CBS during the application process.
Who should apply
Sole traders must be a registered building work supervisor or have a supervisor approved for their business. They can register as a building work supervisor when they apply for their contractor's licence.
Companies must nominate a registered building work supervisor. If a company doesn't nominate a registered supervisor during the application process, the licence will be placed in suspension 28 days after the licence has been granted.
What you'll need
You will need to show:
- copies of trade certificates (or other qualifications)
- technical qualifications
- evidence of experience.
Knowledge and experience
Refer to the Standard Registration Conditions for details of minimum number of years experience and projects you need to have completed.
You'll need to complete a Work History and On-site Experience Record for each condition you apply for. The form is part of the online application and must be completed electronically.
Here are examples of the forms and information you need. These are examples only, don't complete these forms.
- Work History & Onsite Experience Record (Residential) - example
- Work History & Onsite Experience Record (Commercial) - example
- Work History & Onsite Experience Record (Civil) - example
- Work History & Onsite Experience Record (Specified) - example
Technical interview assessment
A technical interview will assess your building knowledge, ensuring you meet the performance criteria.
Information about the technical interview process
Police check
You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have held a licence within the last year and are applying for an equivalent licence
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
Registration conditions
General building work registrations include supervising other trades. The supervisor oversees the complete building process. A registration condition can be limited by height, type or class of building.
Specified building work registrations include supervising a single or multiple trade activity - e.g bricklaying and retaining walls.
Use the standard registration conditions list to determine the scope of work suited to your application.
- Find the condition that matches your scope of work.
- Check the qualification/experience pathways.
- Select the condition and pathway numbers on your application.
Only apply for conditions that suit your knowledge and experience. For example, if you're applying for 'any building work' you should have experience in:
- commercial building work 5 storeys and above, and
- residential building work 5 storeys and above, and
- major civil construction projects.
Digital licences
You can download your licence or registration to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet using the mySAGOV app.
Once registered in the app, press the '+' button in the top right corner, select your 'occupational licence' type, then enter the licence/registration number requested along with your client ID.
Your client ID can be found in the Consumer and Business Services licence register.
Hard copy licences will still be issued and it's a good idea to carry these with you until digital licences become widely accepted.
Related information
On this site
Other websites
Documents
Interstate building work supervisors working in SA (190KB PDF)
