According to the Builder licence page from Consumer Affairs Tasmania (CAT), updated 5 August 2026, Builder Domestic centres on houses and similar domestic work and can include NCC Classes 1, 2 and 10, while Builder Low Rise covers low-rise commercial or other non-domestic work and can also cover Class 1 and 10 work. The same guidance lists 2 years with a building trade qualification or 4 years without one for each and says a Low Rise application supported only by domestic evidence will be refused; figures checked 1 October 2026.
How do Builder Domestic and Builder Low Rise differ?
The subclass sets both the type and size of work covered, so the evidence must match the class being applied for.
| Point | Builder Domestic | Builder Low Rise |
|---|---|---|
| Main work | Mainly houses, townhouses, garages, sheds or similar domestic work | Low-rise commercial or other non-domestic building work |
| NCC evidence | Class 1 and Class 10 evidence is the minimum. Suitable Class 2 evidence is needed if Class 2 is to be included | Relevant evidence can include NCC Classes 2 to 9 or other non-domestic work within the Low Rise scope. Class 1 and Class 10 work is also included |
| Application test | Apply when your experience is mainly domestic | Apply when your evidence shows commercial or similar building work experience |
| Domestic-only evidence | Supports Builder Domestic | A Low Rise application supported only by domestic work will be refused |
| Listed qualification | Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) | Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) |
| Listed experience pathway | 2 years with a building trade qualification or 4 years without one | 2 years with a building trade qualification or 4 years without one |
The overlap at Classes 1 and 10 does not make the two applications interchangeable. Low Rise still needs evidence of low-rise commercial or other non-domestic work.
Does Builder Domestic always include NCC Class 2?
Not automatically. CAT’s guidance makes the scope depend on the experience supplied:
- If a Builder Domestic application has no NCC Class 2 examples, the licence will likely be conditioned to NCC Classes 1 and 10 only.
- If your evidence only shows Class 1 and Class 10 work, ask for the licence to be restricted to those classes.
- To have Class 2 included, the statements must clearly show suitable Class 2 experience. You should have at least one referee who observed the work, preferably a licensed builder or another building professional.
What evidence must prove the selected scope?
Use CAT’s approved Statement of Experience and Referee Statement forms. The evidence must identify the correct NCC classes, your role, your level of responsibility and the work stages you managed or carried out.
| Evidence | What it should establish |
|---|---|
| Statement of Experience | A new application must include a digital copy. The applicant-completed summary should list projects, dates, project size in square metres, number of storeys, your role and third-party contact details |
| Referee Statements | A new application must include digital copies of two Referee Statements verifying experience and competency in the class applied for |
| Project records | Project addresses or descriptions, dates worked, NCC class, project size, storeys, role, responsibility and stages of work |
| Verifiable responsibility | Project management and stakeholder liaison, including relevant examples such as supervising trades, liaising with owners, designers, building certifiers, surveyors or councils, and paying subcontractors |
Each referee must be an industry professional, such as an engineer, architect, building surveyor, senior manager or supervisor from an established building firm. The referee must be licensed at the same or a higher level than the class applied for and must have overseen the work supporting the statement.
Referee forms must be signed, dated and show the period of supervised work. An application may be refused if its experience documents are not on the approved forms, while document formats intended for other state or territory regulators may be rejected. Letters are unsuitable because they rarely provide the information CAT needs for a complete assessment.
CAT also says applicants should not supply photos, building designs or testimonials from non-qualified, non-technical parties because these do not enhance the application and can make processing harder.
When can experience not be counted?
Several rules can affect whether your supervised experience supports the licence:
- Scope: It must be relevant to the requested licence class and match the scope of work.
- Information gaps: Experience may not be counted where the submitted information contains gaps.
- Recency: Experience must be recent. Experience more than 5 years old will not be accepted without recent experience.
- Post-qualification gaps: An application will be refused for a gap of 2 or more years after obtaining the minimum qualification unless more verifiable experience is provided.
- Timing: At least half of the minimum required experience must be gained after receiving the minimum mandatory qualification.
CAT identifies the Occupational Licensing (Building Services Work) Determination, pages 11 and 49–53, as setting out the full qualification, experience and work-scope requirements.
What insurance evidence must the application include?
| Document | CAT requirement |
|---|---|
| Public liability insurance | The listed requirement for a builder licence is $5 million |
| Contract Works insurance | Builders must provide evidence of Contract Works insurance for new applications and renewals |
| Certificate of currency | A digital copy is required for new applications and renewals; tax invoices are not accepted as proof of cover |
These documents help CAT assess whether the licensing application is complete. They do not, by themselves, establish what a particular insurance policy covers for a project.
How should you confirm the licence and insurance fit?
Check the current Consumer Affairs Tasmania page for the subclass scope and any licence conditions. CAT says information is still being updated on the new agency websites, so use the live regulator page before applying.
A licence holder must also act only within their competence: the work for which they are qualified, experienced and capable. Check your policy’s PDS for the insurance cover and conditions applying to the particular job.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the regulator page and your policy’s PDS before relying on the scope or cover described here.
Sources
FAQ
Can I use Builder Low Rise for houses, garages and sheds if I have no commercial evidence?
No. Builder Low Rise can cover Class 1 and Class 10 work, but CAT says an application supported only by domestic evidence will be refused. With domestic-only evidence, Builder Domestic is the relevant pathway; ask for a restriction to Classes 1 and 10 if that is all the evidence you have.
Does a Builder Domestic licence automatically include NCC Class 2?
No. Without NCC Class 2 examples, the licence will likely be restricted to Classes 1 and 10. Class 2 should be included only where the approved statements demonstrate suitable experience and the required referee evidence.
Do Builder Domestic and Builder Low Rise have the same qualification and experience times?
They share the same listed qualification of Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) and the same experience pathway: 2 years with a building trade qualification or 4 years without one. Their work scope and required evidence still differ.
What insurance documents support a new builder application?
The listed public liability requirement is $5 million. Builders also need evidence of Contract Works insurance and a digital certificate of currency; tax invoices are not accepted as proof of cover. Check the policy’s PDS for the actual cover and conditions.
Does an interstate builder licence transfer automatically to Tasmania?
No. CAT states that builders are not covered by Automatic Mutual Recognition in Tasmania, so an interstate licence should not be assumed to carry over automatically.
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