How to get a demolition licence in NSW
Demolition work in New South Wales is licensed by SafeWork NSW. This guide explains the licence classes, who needs to be a nominated supervisor, and the nationally recognised training that sits behind the application — without the sales spin.
Licence classes in NSW
Restricted demolition licence — covers demolition of structures within defined height and complexity limits set by SafeWork NSW.
Unrestricted demolition licence — covers demolition of any structure, including work involving load-bearing elements and explosives-free structural collapse methods.
Both classes require the business to nominate supervisors who hold the required units of competency and can evidence relevant industry experience. Check the current class definitions on the SafeWork NSW demolition licence page.
The supervisor competency requirement
SafeWork NSW draws supervisor competency requirements from the CPC Construction training package — in practice, a subset of CPC30426 Certificate III in Demolition and CPC41020 Certificate IV in Demolition. OnShift delivers that subset as an Experienced Worker Program for people already working on demolition sites, rather than as a full-length classroom qualification.
Demolition workers: CPCCDE3030
Workers who dismantle structures are commonly asked for CPCCDE3030 Dismantle structures (which replaced the superseded CPCCDE3016). It is a nationally recognised unit of competency and can be completed on its own — you do not need a full qualification to hold it.
The steps, in order
- Confirm which licence class the work you do actually needs.
- Identify who will be the nominated supervisor(s) for the business.
- Have those supervisors complete the required units of competency.
- Gather the experience evidence SafeWork NSW asks for in the application.
- Lodge the application with SafeWork NSW and pay the applicable fees.
Frequently asked
Not sure where you stand?
An OnShift adviser will review your experience against the current supervisor requirements and tell you plainly what you still need — including if the answer is that our program isn't the right fit.
Licensing requirements vary by state and may change. Completing training does not guarantee that a licence or supervisor authorisation will be granted. Applicants may also need to meet experience, qualification, identity and other regulator requirements. Confirm the current requirements that apply to you directly with SafeWork NSW before enrolling.