The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) sets out four licence types—contractor, nominee supervisor, site supervisor and occupational—and requires the application to match the role you intend to perform; contractor licensing is available to a company or individual (QBCC, Which licence type you need, updated 5 January 2024). Company and individual contractors can contract directly; nominee and site supervisors cannot personally enter the contract for the work they supervise, and an occupational licensee cannot contract personally without also holding a contractor-type licence. Figures checked 1 October 2026.
How do the four QBCC licence types differ?
The practical difference is the work each person or entity performs and whether that role carries authority to contract.
| QBCC licence type | Who fills the role | Can it contract directly? | Main role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contractor — company | A company | Yes, as the company | Holds the building-work contract as a business |
| Contractor — individual | An individual, including a sole trader, partner or trustee | Yes, as the individual | Can personally perform and supervise building work |
| Nominee supervisor | An appropriately qualified company director, secretary or employee | No; the company entity contracts | Oversees the scope of building work contracted by the company |
| Site supervisor | An employee of a licensed contractor | No | Supervises work equivalent in scope to the contractor’s licence class on the employer’s behalf |
| Occupational | A practitioner employed by a QBCC contractor licensed for the same scope | Only if the person also holds a contractor-type licence | Personally performs and supervises their own work under the employer’s contractor licence |
Although the QBCC comparison displays company and individual contractor options separately, both sit within contractor-type licensing. The key rule is that a licensee must perform only the role permitted by their particular licence type.
Who can contract directly for building work?
A contractor-type licence is the route to direct contracting. The company or individual licensee may contract directly with parties including a property owner, builder, principal contractor or developer. The QBCC guide also refers to contracting directly with the public.
The entity doing the contracting matters:
- A company contractor contracts through the company.
- An individual contractor contracts personally in their business capacity, which may be as a sole trader, partner or trustee.
- A nominee supervisor cannot personally contract with the public, a builder or principal contractor for the company’s building work. The company holding the company contractor-type licence makes the contract.
- A site supervisor cannot personally enter a building-work contract with a property owner, builder, principal contractor or developer.
- An occupational licensee cannot personally contract for that work unless they also hold a contractor-type licence.
Authority to supervise or personally perform work therefore does not, by itself, provide authority to contract.
What does a contractor licence require?
A contractor-type licence is a business licence for a company or individual. QBCC says applicants must demonstrate:
- a relevant technical qualification;
- business training through a relevant course;
- financial capacity to underwrite the business;
- technical skills and experience appropriate to the work; and
- experience for some licence classes.
The required class also affects what the contractor can do. A trade contractor has technical qualifications, or equivalent, and experience in one or more trade classes. A builder has more advanced qualifications and experience for managing larger and more complex projects.
A trade contractor licensee can engage qualified people in the same trade class, engage and supervise unlicensed contractors, and subcontract to a builder. A builder can engage trade contractors from a different licence class and coordinate other trade contractors working on site directly for the client.
When does a company use a nominee supervisor?
A nominee supervisor fits the role where a company needs an appropriately qualified person to oversee the building work it has contracted to undertake.
The nominee must:
- be a company director, secretary or employee nominated for that company;
- oversee the same scope of work covered by the company’s contractor-type licence class;
- have relevant experience, technical skills and managerial qualifications matching that class; and
- ensure the company’s work meets the relevant standards and codes.
For many licence classes, a nominee supervisor may also personally carry out building work. That permission does not allow the nominee to enter the contract personally—the company entity remains the contracting party.
When does a contractor employ a site supervisor?
A site supervisor is a person employed by a licensed contractor to supervise building work equivalent in scope to the contractor’s licence class. In practical terms, this is the supervisory role performed on behalf of the employer rather than a company-nominated oversight role.
The site supervisor must hold a technical qualification to obtain the licence in accordance with the Technical Qualifications for Licensing issued by the Department of Housing and Public Works.
For many licence classes, a site supervisor may personally carry out building work within the licensed scope. Like a nominee supervisor, the site supervisor cannot personally contract for the building work unless separately authorised through an appropriate licence.
When is an occupational licence also required?
A supervisor licence does not cover every trade activity the person may personally perform.
For a nominee supervisor or site supervisor, the QBCC says an additional occupational licence is required if the work they personally perform includes:
- fire protection;
- mechanical services;
- plumbing;
- drainage;
- gasfitting—issued by the Chief Gas Examiner and Resources Safety and Health Queensland; or
- termite management—chemical—issued by the Department of Health.
An individual contractor can personally perform building work, but the source specifically identifies an additional occupational licence for plumbing, drainage, gasfitting and termite management—chemical work. Contractors in those trades must continue maintaining the relevant occupational licence.
An occupational licensee must hold the relevant technical qualification and competency and work for a contractor licensed for the same scope. They can personally perform and supervise their own work under the employer’s contractor licence, but cannot personally contract for the work without also holding a contractor-type licence.
A provisional occupational licence may be issued to plumbers and drainers while they gain further experience in their trade.
What should be checked before applying?
Before choosing a licence, check the following:
- Intended role: Will the person contract as a business, supervise company work, supervise on an employer’s behalf, or perform occupational work?
- Scope of work: What building work will actually be undertaken?
- Operating model: Will the contracting entity be a company or an individual?
- Eligibility requirements: Does the applicant hold the required technical, business, financial and experience requirements?
- Licence class: Does the supervisor’s qualification and scope align with the relevant contractor licence?
- Personal trade work: Will the person personally perform work requiring a separate occupational licence?
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current QBCC regulator page before making a licensing decision, and check the product disclosure statement (PDS) for any insurance policy you are considering.
Sources
FAQ
Who can enter into a building-work contract directly?
A company or individual holding a contractor-type licence can contract directly within the scope and class of that licence. A nominee supervisor, site supervisor or occupational licensee cannot do so personally unless they also hold an appropriate contractor-type licence.
What is the difference between a nominee supervisor and a site supervisor?
A nominee supervisor oversees the scope of work contracted by their company and must have relevant experience, technical skills and managerial qualifications matching the company’s contractor licence class. A site supervisor is employed by a licensed contractor and supervises work equivalent in scope to that contractor’s licence class.
Can a nominee supervisor or site supervisor also perform building work?
For many licence classes, yes. Additional occupational licences are required if the person personally performs fire protection, mechanical services, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting or termite management—chemical work.
Does an occupational licence allow direct contracting?
No. An occupational licensee works under a contractor licensed for the same scope and may perform and supervise their own work. Direct personal contracting requires an additional contractor-type licence.
Who can receive a provisional occupational licence?
The QBCC guide says a provisional occupational licence may be issued to plumbers and drainers while they gain further experience in their trade.