Compliance requirements in WA
To get registered in WA:
- Must be registered as a Building Engineering Practitioner of, or above, the contractor level being applied for.
- Must not be currently insolvent (if previously insolvent must demonstrate financial capacity).
- Must have an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance.
- Must have appropriate arrangements in place to manage and supervise building engineering services.
- Must pay an application fee.
To keep a WA registration:
- Must maintain professional indemnity insurance at the required level (refer to your indemnity insurance provider for details.)
- Must maintain appropriate arrangements to manage and supervise building surveying services.
- Must renew the registration every three years.
You must also comply with the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011, and Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
To be approved as a building engineering contractor, you must have an appropriate level of professional indemnity insurance (PII), as determined in accordance with the Building Services Board Policy for PII.
There are two ways to meet the requirement for adequate PII:
- Assessment of appropriate PII
An applicant can assess their own risk and determine an adequate level of PII coverage. The policy sets out the process to do this. When applying for contractor registration you will be asked to provide the PII policy certificate number. - Membership of a Professional Standards Scheme
If you are a member of a professional standards scheme that requires PII as a condition of membership, providing evidence of this will meet the PII requirements to be registered.
BSB Policy – Professional indemnity insurance requirements.
Continuing Professional Development
After 3 years, to renew your registration, you must have completed the required hours of continuing professional development (CPD).
There are two ways to meet the CPD requirements:
- Keep a record of your CPD hours, showing you comply with the policy.
- Maintain membership of an approved CPD scheme provider.
The Building Commissioner has approved the following industry organisations as CPD scheme providers:
Class of registration | CPD scheme providers |
|---|---|
| Building engineering practitioner, structural – professional |
|
| Building engineering practitioner, structural – technologist |
|
| Building engineering practitioner, structural – associate |
|
| Building engineering practitioner, fire safety – professional |
|
| Building engineering practitioner, fire systems – technologist |
|
| Building engineering practitioner, fire systems – associate |
|
Download the Registered building engineering practitioner approved CPD requirements document.
Building engineering contractor registration
How do I apply?
- To apply for registration as a building engineering contractor (professional, technologist, associate, fire systems technologist or fire systems associate) you must complete one of the application forms below.
- Choose the form that best suits your business operations as either an individual (sole trader), partnership or company.
- When you have completed the application form submit it and your supporting documents to Licensing Services with the applicable fees.
- Your application can be submitted online, by post or in person.
Automatic mutual recognition and Mutual recognition
If you are registered or licensed as a building engineer elsewhere in Australia or New Zealand and want to carry out building engineering work in Western Australia, you can find out more information about having your licence recognised in WA.
Still unsure which form to use?
If you are unsure of which form to use or about any of the information above, contact Licensing Services on 1300 489 099 or email be.info@demirs.wa.gov.au.
Individual
Show moreHow to apply
- Download the PDF application form: Form 91 – Building engineering contractor individual registration.
Partnership
Show moreHow to apply
- Download the PDF application form: Form 92 – Building engineering contractor partnership registration
Company
Show moreHow to apply
- Download the PDF application form: Form 93 – Building engineering contractor company registration
Scope of work
Show moreA Building engineering contractors’ scope of work is limited by the level of contractor registration they have.
| Registration class | Scope of work |
| Contractor (Individual, Partnership, Company) – Professional | Professional or technical engineering work for any building |
| Contractor (Individual, Partnership, Company) – Technologist | Technical engineering work for medium or low-rise buildings |
| Contractor (Individual, Partnership, Company) – Associate | Technical engineering work for low-rise buildings |
| Contractor (Individual, Partnership, Company) – Fire systems – Technologist | Technical fire systems engineering work for any building |
| Contractor (Individual, Partnership, Company) – Fire systems – Associate | Technical fire systems engineering work for medium or low-rise buildings |
If a contractor has a nominated supervisor who is registered at a higher level than the contractor, e.g., a registered professional engineer in a technologist level contractor organisation, the scope of work is limited to the contractor level, not the practitioner level.
- For example, a registered engineer – professional in a technologist contractor organisation must only do technical engineering work on medium or low-rise buildings.
Specific activities
- Enter into contracts to provide a building engineering services undertaken by registered building engineering practitioners.
- Appropriately supervise the work of any unregistered building engineer employed.
