Apply for design practitioner registration

Introduction

You must be registered as a design practitioner or principal design practitioner to make compliance declarations and lodge regulated designs on the NSW Planning Portal for regulated buildings:

• class 2, 3 and 9c buildings
• buildings with a class 2, 3, or 9c part.

You can register as a design practitioner for 1, 3 or 5 years as:

• an individual or
• body corporate.

Registration application fees apply.

If your application is approved by Building Commission NSW you will receive your registration ID.

Add registration classes

If eligible, you can also apply for 2 other registration classes in the same digital application. If you intend to:

• do some types of engineering work on class 2 buildings or buildings with a class 2 part you can also apply to register as a professional engineer
• coordinate and lodge designs by other design practitioners for the building practitioner you can also apply to register as a principal design practitioner.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you need to:

• be aged 18 or over
• have the necessary knowledge, skills, qualifications and experience for a:
  • Design practitioner
  • Principal design practitioner
  • Design practitioner – body corporate or
  • Principal design practitioner – body corporate
• have a current National Police Check:
  • completed 4 months or less before you submit your application
  • name and date of birth check only
• have completed and passed the mandatory Construct NSW learning modules on:
  • Navigating the Design and Building Practitioners (DBP) Legislation, and
  • Value of Australian Standards
• meet insurance requirements.

Note

• If you worked on two or more building sites at the same time, it will be counted as one period only when calculating your equivalent full-time work experience.
• You cannot register if you are an undischarged bankrupt.

What you need

• a MyServiceNSW Account:
  • you can create one when you start your application
  • you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, passport)
• your National Police Check certificate
• copies of your:
  • degree, postgraduate degree, diploma or National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVR) course certificates and/or transcripts
  • certificates of completion for your learning modules
  • membership of accrediting bodies and/or letters of authorisation from recognised accrediting bodies
• details of your project experience
• the registration application fee.

How to apply

1. Check the registration type and class for the necessary qualifications and experience.
2. Gather your certificates and other required documents.
3. Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
   Note: You can save and resume your application within 60 days. After 60 days any details you’ve entered will be deleted.
4. Log in or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
5. Follow the prompts to:
   1. complete your application and
   2. pay the fee.

Privacy and personal information

To apply for design practitioner registration with Building Commission NSW, you need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.

More information

Visit the Building Commission NSW website to find out more about:

• requirements for design and building practitioners working on regulated buildings
• continuing professional development guidelines
• reviews of Building Commission NSW decisions.

You will also find details of design practitioner registration classes:

• architectural
• engineering
• building design
• facade
• vertical transportation
• fire systems
• drainage.

Contact