About the (LBP) scheme
The LBP scheme aims to ensure that people in the building industry who are responsible for the building work done are competent and accountable, so that homes and buildings are designed and built right the first time.
The scheme is competency based. Competent designers, builders and tradespeople with a good track record can have their skills and knowledge formally recognised, whether they are trade-qualified or not. However, the emphasis on education and training will increase. From 2015 it is proposed that licensing will be qualifications-based.
The Department of Building and Housing administers the scheme, including:
- developing licensing standards
- managing assessment
- issuing licence ID cards for those who meet the relevant standards
- managing the public register of licensed building practitioners.
A Registrar appointed by the Department decides on licensing applications (based on assessors’ recommendations), and administers the LBP online public register of practitioners. LBPs are listed on the online public register, along with details of their licenses.
In this section we will be covering:
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Licensed Building Practitioner Rules (LBP Rules)
The LBP Rules are available online. The Rules set out the standards of competence that building practitioners must meet in order to be licensed and detail the procedures for assessing competence, collecting information, and issuing and cancelling licenses.
Read the LBP Rules »
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Building Categories
The LBP scheme uses three building categories to identify how applicants should be assessed and to provide a scope for the licence classes.
The new building categories are complexity based, ranging from simple low risk dwellings in category 1 to complex multi-storey commercial in category 3. The definition excludes ancillary and outbuildings.
Read more about Building Categories »
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Building Practitioners Board
The Building Practitioners Board (the Board) oversees the licensed building practitioner (LBP) Scheme. The Board is independent of the Department of the Building and Housing, but the Department supports the performance of its role and functions.
Board Members are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister for Building and Construction. The Board has eight members with a mix of skills, including industry expertise in design, construction and inspection services, legal, dispute resolution and mediation skills. Although some Board members belong to industry groups, they act independently in their role as Board members.
Board membership is reviewed as members’ terms expire.
Read more information on the Building Practitioners Board »
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Complaints
Anyone can make a complaint to the Building Practitioners board if an LBP has:
- been convicted of a serious offence that reflects on their fitness to be an LBP
- done work negligently or incompetently
- done Restricted Building Work that they are not licensed to do
- carried out or supervised work that does not comply with a building consent
- held themselves out to be licensed in an area they are not
- not provided the memorandums necessary for Restricted Building Work
- obtained their licence dishonestly.
The Building Practitioners board is unable to award compensation or reparation to a complainant however is able to:
- cancel an LBP’s licence
- suspend an LBP’s licence for up to 12 months
- restrict the type of work that an LBP can do or supervise
- order that an LBP be formally reprimanded
- order an LBP to do training
- fine an LBP up to $10,000.
Read more information on making a complaint »
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Appeals
A building practitioner can appeal to the Board against a decision by the Registrar to:
- decline practitioners application to become licensed, or
- suspend or cancel the practitioners licence.
The Board may order the practitioner or the Registrar to pay all or some of the other party’s costs in respect of the appeal.
Read about the LBP appeals process »
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