QBCC Site Supervisor vs Trade Licence: Do You Need Both?
Short answer: usually not both for the same work.
They're different licence types, and the right one depends on your role.
Trade licence (contractor type).
A contractor licence is a business licence that lets the holder contract directly with owners, builders, principal contractors or developers. That's the one you need if you're running your own jobs.
Site Supervisor Licence
It's issued to an employee of a licensed contractor to supervise building work matching the contractor's licence class. The holder can't contract directly with the public, builders or developers. A technical qualification is required.
Which one are you?
Own business, quoting and contracting: contractor licence
Employee running jobs for a licensed company: site supervisor
Company's technical nominee: nominee supervisor
Employee doing licensed trade work (like plumbing or gas): occupational
A few practical points:
A site supervisor can also personally perform the work in many classes, but needs an additional occupational licence for fire protection, mechanical services, plumbing, drainage, gasfitting or chemical termite work Queensland Building and Construction Commission
You'd only hold more than one licence if your roles or classes genuinely differ, for example a contractor licence in one class and supervision in another
Getting it wrong can stall your application.
Choose the type that matches how you'll actually work. Not sure? Check your eligibility and we'll tell you.
Not sure which licence class/type you need?
Check your eligibility with Licensing PA and we'll map your work to the right licence.