Question 1

Does CPC30426 give me a demolition licence?

Accepted Answer

No. The qualification is one component. SafeWork NSW, QBCC and other regulators assess licensing separately, including experience and other requirements.

Question 2

Can I be assessed on the demolition work I already do?

Accepted Answer

Yes, where you can evidence it. Every element of every unit must be evidenced or gap trained — experience alone is not automatic recognition.

Question 3

What evidence do I need?

Accepted Answer

Dated photos and video of your work, employer references or statutory declarations, SWMS and site documents, and existing tickets or statements of attainment.

Question 4

How is this different to Certificate IV in Demolition?

Accepted Answer

Certificate III covers demolition work at the operator level. Certificate IV (CPC41020) targets supervision and management of demolition work.

Question 5

What is CPCCDE3030?

Accepted Answer

CPCCDE3030 Dismantle structures is the nationally recognised unit of competency covering the safe dismantling of structures for demolition. It is commonly required for demolition workers and is frequently listed as a competency requirement in demolition work method statements and licence conditions.

Question 6

Do demolition labourers need a licence in NSW?

Accepted Answer

The demolition licence itself is held by the business, not the individual labourer. Workers do need a construction induction card (white card) and the competencies relevant to the tasks they perform, including CPCCDE3030 where they are dismantling structures. High-risk work such as operating certain plant or working at heights carries its own separate requirements.

Question 7

Is a white card enough to work in demolition?

Accepted Answer

No. A construction induction card (CPCCWHS2001) is the minimum entry ticket for any construction site, but demolition work also requires task-specific competency, and any high-risk work licence classes that apply to the equipment or method used.

Question 8

How do I prove demolition experience without a certificate?

Accepted Answer

Through evidence: dated site photos and video of you doing the work, employer references or statutory declarations, payslips or contracts showing the period you worked, and the site documents you worked to such as SWMS, JSAs and demolition plans. An assessor verifies this evidence with a competency conversation or workplace observation.

Question 9

Do you need a demolition licence in NSW?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In NSW, demolition work that meets the definition of licensed demolition work under the Work Health and Safety Regulation must be carried out under a SafeWork NSW demolition licence. The licence sits with the business or licence holder, not with each worker on site. Individual workers still need the relevant competencies and a construction induction (white card). Requirements change, so confirm the current criteria with the regulator before you enrol.

Question 10

What is the difference between a restricted and unrestricted demolition licence in NSW?

Accepted Answer

Broadly, a restricted demolition licence covers lower-risk demolition — for example structures up to a limited height and complexity — while an unrestricted licence covers a wider range of demolition work including larger and more complex structures. Which class you need depends on the work you intend to perform, and SafeWork NSW sets the scope for each class. Check the current class definitions with SafeWork NSW before applying.

Question 11

How do you get a demolition licence in NSW?

Accepted Answer

The usual path is: confirm the licence class that matches the work you do, appoint a nominated supervisor who holds the required competencies, gather evidence of relevant demolition experience, hold the required insurances, then lodge the application with SafeWork NSW. The training component is the part OnShift can help with — we deliver the nationally recognised units that make up the supervisor competency requirement.

Question 12

What qualifications does a nominated demolition supervisor need in NSW?

Accepted Answer

SafeWork NSW requires the nominated supervisor to hold specified units of competency drawn from the construction training package — in practice the supervisor competency subset of CPC30426 and CPC41020. OnShift delivers those units as an Experienced Worker Program. Holding the units is one part of the application; the regulator also assesses experience and other criteria.

Question 13

Does NSW Fair Trading or SafeWork NSW issue demolition licences?

Accepted Answer

SafeWork NSW issues demolition and asbestos licences under work health and safety law. NSW Fair Trading handles building and trade contractor licensing, which is a separate scheme — some businesses need to deal with both depending on the work they carry out. If you are unsure which applies, tell an adviser what work you do and we will point you to the right regulator.

Question 14

How long does a NSW demolition licence take to get?

Accepted Answer

The training and assessment component depends on the strength of your evidence — experienced workers with well-documented site history move faster. The regulator assessment period is set by SafeWork NSW and is outside our control. We give you a realistic view of the training timeline before you commit; we do not promise a licence date.

Question 15

Can I use overseas demolition experience towards a NSW licence?

Accepted Answer

Overseas experience can count as evidence in an RPL assessment if it is current, verifiable and matches the units being assessed. You will typically need employer references, dated photos or video, and documents from the work you performed. Whether the regulator accepts that experience for the licence itself is a separate decision that SafeWork NSW makes.

Question 16

Do you need a demolition licence in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Queensland regulates demolition through two channels. The QBCC issues contractor licences that cover demolition as a class of building work, while Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WorkSafe Queensland) regulates how high-risk demolition work is carried out and who is competent to supervise it. Which approvals you need depends on the structure, the value of the work and how it is being taken down. Requirements change, so confirm the current criteria with the regulator before you enrol.

Question 17

How do you get a QBCC demolition licence?

Accepted Answer

The QBCC assesses technical qualifications, relevant industry experience and financial requirements for a contractor licence. The technical qualification component is where nationally recognised training applies. OnShift delivers the supervisor competency units; the QBCC then assesses your full application including experience and financial capacity.

Question 18

Can a licensed builder do demolition work in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the class of licence held and the type of demolition. Some builder licence classes permit demolition incidental to building work, while standalone demolition contracting typically requires the appropriate licence class. Confirm scope directly with the QBCC for the specific work you plan to carry out.

Question 19

What is the difference between QBCC and WorkSafe Queensland for demolition?

Accepted Answer

QBCC is the licensing body — it decides who may contract to carry out demolition building work. WorkSafe Queensland (Workplace Health and Safety Queensland) is the safety regulator — it enforces how the work is planned and performed, including high-risk work requirements, demolition notification and asbestos rules. Most demolition businesses in Queensland deal with both.

Question 20

What qualifications does a demolition supervisor need in Queensland?

Accepted Answer

Queensland expects a supervisor to hold competency in demolition planning, work health and safety, risk control and site supervision, drawn from the construction training package. OnShift delivers those nationally recognised units through an Experienced Worker Program. The regulator makes the final decision on whether your qualifications and experience satisfy the licence class you apply for.

Question 21

Do I need to notify WorkSafe Queensland before demolition work?

Accepted Answer

Certain demolition work must be notified to the regulator before it starts — for example work involving structures above a specified height, or demolition involving asbestos or explosives. The notification thresholds are set in the Queensland WHS Regulation. Check the current thresholds with WorkSafe Queensland for your specific job.

Question 22

What is RPL and is it a real qualification?

Accepted Answer

Recognition of Prior Learning is a formal assessment process, and the qualification or statement of attainment it produces is exactly the same nationally recognised document as one earned by classroom study. What changes is how evidence is gathered — through your work history rather than through repeat training. The standard you must meet does not change.

Question 23

What qualifications can I get through RPL in demolition and civil?

Accepted Answer

OnShift Education (RTO 41304) delivers demolition and civil construction qualifications and units on its scope, including the supervisor competency subset of CPC30426 and CPC41020 and CPCCDE3030 Dismantle structures. RPL applies to the units on our scope — nothing outside it.

Question 24

Is RPL guaranteed if I have twenty years on the tools?

Accepted Answer

No. Experience is not automatically evidence. If your evidence does not cover every element of a unit, you complete targeted gap training for that unit only. Any provider promising a guaranteed qualification based on years alone is not operating within the VET Quality Framework.

Question 25

What evidence do I need for an RPL application?

Accepted Answer

Typically a résumé with dates, employers and the tasks you personally performed; employer references, supervisor sign-off or statutory declarations; dated photos and video of you doing the work; existing tickets, licences and statements of attainment; and workplace documents such as SWMS, JSAs, plant pre-start checklists and demolition plans. A competency conversation or workplace observation usually completes the file.

Question 26

How long does RPL take?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on evidence quality. Well-documented applicants move quickly; incomplete files take longer because gaps must be closed. An adviser reviews your background before you commit and gives you a realistic timeframe rather than a marketing promise.

Question 27

Does RPL cost less than the full course?

Accepted Answer

Usually, because you spend less time in training and assessment. The exact fee depends on the units involved and how much gap training remains, so we quote against your evidence rather than publishing a number that will not apply to you.

Question 28

How much does demolition supervisor training cost?

Accepted Answer

Fees depend on the units you actually need, which depends on what your evidence already covers. That is why we assess eligibility first and quote against your situation rather than advertising a headline price that changes at enrolment.

Question 29

Is government funding or a payment plan available?

Accepted Answer

Funding eligibility varies by state, qualification and your personal circumstances, and it changes over time. Ask an adviser and we will tell you plainly what applies to you, including whether staged payment is an option.

Question 30

Will completing this training get me the licence?

Accepted Answer

No provider can promise that. Training satisfies the competency component. The regulator separately assesses experience, insurance, financial and identity requirements, and makes the licensing decision. We are clear about that up front, before you enrol.

Question 31

Is the training recognised in other states?

Accepted Answer

The units and qualifications are nationally recognised, so the statement of attainment is valid Australia-wide. Licensing, however, is state-based — each regulator decides how it recognises your qualification and experience within its own scheme.

Question 32

Can I do the training while working full time?

Accepted Answer

The Experienced Worker Program is built around working crews — evidence comes from work you are already doing, and assessment is scheduled around site commitments wherever practical. Talk to an adviser about how your roster fits.

Certificate III in Demolition

Check your eligibility

Evidence & sources

Key facts at a glance

Units included (1)

Does CPC30426 give me a demolition licence?

Can I be assessed on the demolition work I already do?

What evidence do I need?

Who this is for

Delivery and assessment pathway

Entry expectations

Assessment

Workplace evidence

Certification issued on successful completion

High-touch support and what makes OnShift different

How it works

Eligibility check

Evidence and readiness

Assessment and completion

Frequently asked

People also ask

Demolition worker competency and CPCCDE3030

NSW demolition licensing — SafeWork NSW and Fair Trading

Queensland demolition licensing — QBCC and WorkSafe Queensland

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for experienced workers

Cost, timing and what happens after training

What happens next