You must be licensed to identify and assess asbestos and recommend on its safe management. General information about licensing applies to asbestos assessors. Among asbestos assessors's professional responsibilities are functions under the Building Act 2004.

Types of licences

There are two classes of asbestos assessors licensees:

• asbestos assessor Class A: licensees can provide an asbestos assessment service to undertake and supervise air monitoring, identify the location, type and condition of asbestos in buildings, assess the risk the identified asbestos presents and advise on how the asbestos should be managed and to report about the work as well as undertake field surveys to identify the location, type and condition of asbestos in buildings; and 
• asbestos assessor Class B: licensees can only undertake field surveys to identify the location, type and condition of asbestos in buildings. They cannot provide advice on how to handle the asbestos or a report.

Eligibility

The Mandatory Qualifications Schedule sets out the qualifications required for the different classes of licenses. These include tertiary qualifications and work experience. The Construction Occupations Registrar must also be satisfied that an applicant has adequate insurance.

Applications

You need to provide the following to apply for a Class A or B asbestos assessor licence. The Construction Occupations Registrar may consider anything else relevant and applicants may be requested to provide further details to support an application. Applications are treated on their individual merits.

Class A

• complete the prescribed form and pay the associated fee for individuals:

  • CL1 - Construction practitioner licence - individual.
• provide certified copies of the required university qualifications in occupational or industrial hygiene, or occupational health and safety, or an enviornmental or biological science discipline, or a discpline encompassing building construction, or another qualification that the Construction Occupations Registrar is satisfied provides a comparable level of knowledge in asbestos;
• provide a resume detailing two year' full-time or four years' part-time relevant work experience in performing or supervising the work of an asbestos assessment service, including block, section and suburb or the street address of the projects; and
• provide a minimum of two references - one from an organisation for which you have worked and the other from a customer who engaged you to undertake the work - in support of the application.

Class B

• complete the prescribed form and pay the associated fee (see forms above);
• provide a statement of practical experience that more than five residential and 10 non-residential field surveys have been performed under the direct supervision of a licensed Class A asbestos assessor or a person so qualified to provide the direct supervision , but who may not have held that licence within 12 months prior to this application - the statement must be signed by the person who supervised you); and
• if applicable, provide evidence of any relevant qualifications or any other documentation that would support your application.

Changes and replacements

Individuals need to complete:

• CL4 - Construction practitioner licence - Change of details and/or replace licence card

Renewal and refusal

The maximum period for which a licence may be issued is one year. You need to renew your licence before its expiry. The Construction Occupations Registrar can refuse and may impose or remove conditions on a licence at the time of licensing.