Licensed builders and swimming pool builders in NSW need 12 CPD points every year. The points must be earned in the 12 months before the licence renewal date, must relate to at least one of eight approved topic areas, and are a condition of renewal: if they are not there, the Commissioner can refuse to renew or restore the licence.
The short version
12 points a year. Twelve hours of interactive learning, or six hours of assessed RTO or university learning, or a mix. Same number whether your licence runs one, three or five years. Up to 11 spare points carry into the following year.
Who the 12 points apply to
Individuals licensed as a builder or swimming pool builder under the Home Building Act 1989, whether they hold an individual contractor licence or a qualified supervisor certificate. The requirement attaches to the person. A builder holding both a contractor licence and a supervisor certificate needs 12 points, not 24, and a company licence earns no points itself: the nominated individuals do.
Which twelve months
The CPD year runs to your licence renewal date. If your licence renews on 3 March, the points that count for that renewal are the ones earned between 4 March of the previous year and 3 March. It is not the calendar year and not the financial year, and two builders with different renewal dates have different CPD years.
Licences are issued for 1, 3 or 5 years, and the requirement is annual in every case. A five-year licence means five separate 12-point years, each ending on the anniversary of the renewal date. Because nothing is lodged in the intervening years, this is where long-licence holders most often fall behind without noticing.
What 12 points looks like in hours
| Route | Rate | Hours for 12 points |
|---|---|---|
| Interactive learning on an approved topic, with stated outcomes, from a provider with industry expertise (online or face to face) | 1 point per hour | 12 hours |
| Assessed learning tied to a National Training Package or university qualification, delivered by an RTO or university | 2 points per hour | 6 hours |
| Employing an apprentice or trainee, or a partner or associate learning on the business’s behalf | 1 to 2 points each | Capped at 4 points a year, so never the whole 12 |
Most builders mix routes. An apprentice on the books is worth a point. A full-day association seminar might be worth six or more. The rest comes from courses. Lunch and travel time at an event do not count; only the learning hours do.
Three worked examples
- Sole trader, no apprentice, online only. Six interactive courses at 2 points each, spread through the year. 12 points, twelve hours.
- Small company with two apprentices. 2 points for the apprentices, one full-day industry seminar worth 6, then two online courses at 2 points each. 12 points.
- Builder doing an RTO unit. A four-hour assessed unit mapped to a training package earns 8 points. Two online courses at 2 points each cover the rest. 12 points in eight hours of learning.
More than 12: what carries forward
Up to 11 surplus points carry forward for 12 months. Earn 20 and 8 carry; earn 25 and 11 carry with 2 forfeited. Carried points do not accumulate across years, so a big year can cover a quiet one but not two. The carry-forward guide has the detail.
Which topics the points can come from
Any of the eight NSW approved topic areas, in any mix: technical issues, sustainability, compliance, communication, dispute resolution, contracts, safety and business management. There is no minimum per topic. Twelve points of safety is compliant; so is twelve points of contracts.
If you are short at renewal
The gap in points is the gap in hours at the 1-point rate. Count what you have, including anything carried forward, then close the gap with activities you can complete and evidence before you lodge. The renewal checklist walks through it step by step, and the complete NSW CPD guide covers records, audits and exemptions.
Questions builders ask
Is it 12 points a year or 36 points over a three-year licence?
12 points in each year. A three-year licence needs 12 in each of its three years, counted against the anniversary of the renewal date, not 36 whenever you like across the term.
How many hours is 12 CPD points?
Twelve hours of interactive learning at 1 point per hour, or six hours of assessed RTO or university learning at 2 points per hour, or a mix. Up to 4 points a year can also come from employing apprentices or trainees, or from a partner or associate learning on the business’s behalf.
Do pool builders need the same 12 points?
Yes. Swimming pool builders licensed under the Home Building Act have the same annual requirement, the same rates, the same topics and the same 11-point carry-forward as other builders.
Sources: NSW Government, Continuing professional development for builders and swimming pool builders.