Is Licensing For Me?
What is the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme?
New Zealand's licensing scheme for the building industry began in November 2007. If your work relates to one of the licensing classes being introduced, this is an opportunity to have your skills and experience formally recognised.
The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme will give you the recognition that plumbers, electrical workers, registered architects and chartered engineers, for example, already have through their registration schemes.
Licensing will promote, recognise and support professional skills and behaviour in the building industry.
What are the licence classes?
There are 13 licensing classes in the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme, based on specific roles or occupations that are crucial to a building's performance. Seven of these were introduced on 1 November 2007, with the others following in 2008.
The licensing classes are:
You can apply to be licensed in more than one class but you must be able to demonstrate to the assessor that you can meet the standard of competence required for each class you apply for.
Do I have to be licensed?
Initially, the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme is voluntary - being licensed is a personal and business choice for people who have the skills and experience to meet the relevant licensing class standards.
However, from 2010, some design, site and construction work will only be able to be supervised or carried out by licensed building practitioners. If you are not licensed by then, some of your work may need to be supervised by someone who is licensed.
If you are thinking about applying to be licensed, look through the standards of competence for the licensing classes being introduced his year to help you decide whether your skills, knowledge and experience fit the requirements.
The licensing class standards have been developed by industry working groups, and represent the skills and knowledge that a competent person with sound experience in the building and construction industry should be able to demonstrate.
Note: Licensing is for individuals, not for companies or organisations.
How will I benefit from being licensed?
There will be a number of personal and business benefits if you are licensed.
- You will be formally recognised as competent and experienced in your chosen field.
- You will be able to use your licensed practitioner status as a personal 'mark of quality' in your work.
- You will be listed on a public register so future clients or employers can see your licensing status.
- You will be supported by an advertising and promotional programme to the New Zealand public. This will focus on promoting the public register.