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Is licensing for me? Site 1, 2 and 3

You can apply to be licensed in any of these three classes (Site 1, 2 and 3) if you are a competent builder, site supervisor or construction manager responsible for coordinating, overseeing or managing building work.

Whichever class you decide to apply for, your assessor will be looking for broad evidence of your competence - whether your application demonstrates, on the whole, the practical experience, skills and knowledge to meet the standard of competence required for that class.

What do I need to know?

The standard for each of the Site classes is made up of a number of 'competencies' - areas that reflect the depth and breadth of experience and knowledge required by a competent person to be licensed in the class they apply for.

The standards for the Site 1, 2 and 3 classes are explained below.

Which Site class should I apply to be licensed in?

If you... You should apply for this class
Coordinate and oversee the construction or alteration of Category 1* buildings Site 1

Coordinate and oversee construction or alteration of any category of building, with a focus on moderately complex projects; or

Provide technical coordination and oversight to support a Site 3 Licensed Building Practitioner on large and/or highly complex projects

 Site 2
Manage some or all of the construction or alteration of any category of building, with a focus on large and/or highly complex projects Site 3

Site 1 class

If you coordinate or oversee the construction or alteration of Category 1 buildings, with a focus on technical coordination and oversight, this is the class you should apply to be licensed in.

Category 1 buildings are detached or semi-detached residential buildings of limited complexity, with conventional timber frame or masonry construction and low- or medium-risk envelope design.

(See the booklet Understanding the building categories accompanying this guide for a more detailed explanation of Category 1 buildings).

You must work within the scope of your specific class(es) and your own competence, and recognise when other skills are required.

Site 1 standard

The skills and knowledge required to be licensed in this class include but are not limited to the following:

  • Understand the regulatory environment of the building construction industry. This includes understanding of the purposes of: the Building Act and Building Code; Code compliance documents; building-related legislation; the building consent process; the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme; key roles in the design and building process; and the importance of operating within your own competence.

    Note: Your application pack will include a booklet that includes guidance about the regulatory environment.

  • Demonstrate technical knowledge of construction methods and practice. This includes applying your technical knowledge of construction methods and practice to Category 1 buildings.

  • Organise and manage building projects. This includes such areas as: interpretation of working drawings, specifications, programme schedules, additional design documents etc; building site establishment; ongoing operations, and monitoring construction site performance, relevant to Category 1 buildings.

  • Supervise personnel. This includes the supervision of personnel at Category 1 building sites.

  • Provide technical supervision. This includes areas such as: sourcing site plans, drawings, compliance documents, etc; site excavation requirements; supervising the installation of structural elements and external envelope; coordinating junctions and interfaces and integrating building components, relevant to Category 1 buildings.

Full details of the standard for the Site 1 class are on the Department of Building and Housing website at http://www.dbh.govt.nz/occupational-licensing.

Site 2 class

If you coordinate or oversee the construction or alteration of any category of building, with a focus on technical coordination and oversight of moderately complex projects, this is the class you should apply to be licensed in.

Moderately complex projects may include any category of building (for residential or commercial use). The focus is on the complexity of construction, rather than the complexity of design.

Site 2 licensed building practitioners may support a Site 3 LBP on large and/or highly complex building projects.

Note: A Site 2 licensed building practitioner may also supervise the construction of Category 1 buildings – you do not have to be licensed in both classes. However, you must work within the scope of your own competence, and recognise when other skills are required.

Site 2 standard

The skills and knowledge required to be licensed in this class include but are not limited to the following:

  • Understand the regulatory environment of the building construction industry. This includes understanding of the purposes of: the Building Act and Building Code; Code compliance documents; building-related legislation; building and resource consent processes; the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme; key roles in the design and building process; and the importance of operating within your own competence.

    Note: Your application pack will include a booklet that includes guidance about the regulatory environment.

  • Demonstrate technical knowledge of construction methods and practice. This includes applying your technical knowledge of construction methods and practice, with a focus on moderately complex building projects.

  • Organise and manage building projects. This includes areas such as: interpreting working drawings, specifications, programme schedules, additional design documents or specialist information etc; implementing site safety plans; establishing building sites; and managing ongoing operations; monitoring construction site performance, with a focus on moderately complex building projects.

  • Supervise personnel. This includes the supervision of personnel at the worksite, with a focus on moderately complex building projects.

  • Provide technical supervision. This includes areas such as: sourcing site plans, drawings, compliance documentation, etc; site survey and excavation requirements; supervising the installation of structural elements and the external envelope; coordinating junctions and interfaces and integrating building components, with a focus on moderately complex building projects.

Full details of the standard for the Site 2 class are on the Department of Building and Housing website at http://www.dbh.govt.nz/occupational-licensing.

Site 3 class

If you manage some or all of the construction or alteration of any category of building, and project teams, with a focus on large and/or highly complex building projects, this is the class you should apply to be licensed in.

Note: Site 3 licensed building practitioners can manage the construction of other buildings. However, you must work within the scope of your own competence, and recognise when other skills are required, for example, technical coordination and oversight.

Site 3 standard

The skills and knowledge required to be licensed in this class include but are not limited to the following:

  • Understand the regulatory environment of the building construction industry. This includes understanding of the purposes of: the Building Act and Building Code; Code compliance documents; building-related legislation; local regulatory requirements; building and resource consent processes; the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme; key roles in the design and building process; and the importance of operating within your own competence.

    Note: Your application pack will include a booklet that includes guidance about the regulatory environment

  • Access and interpret technical knowledge of construction methods and practice. This includes accessing and interpreting technical knowledge of construction methods and practice relevant to large and/or highly complex building projects.
  • Control and direct the building process, including site risk management. This includes such areas as: use of working drawings, specifications, programme schedules, additional design documents or specialist information; management of administration processes, building site establishment, ongoing operations and construction site procedures; and directing and controlling construction site performance, relevant to large and/or highly complex building projects.

  • Manage project team and personnel. This includes the management of the project team and personnel at the worksite, relevant to large and/or highly complex building projects.

  • Manage and direct technical supervision personnel. This includes managing and directing technical supervision personnel who are supervising areas such as: sourcing plans, drawings, compliance documentation etc; site excavation requirements; installation of structural elements and the external envelope; junction and interface coordination and building component integration, relevant to large and/or highly complex building projects.

View the full details of the standard for the Site 3 class.