Swimming pool repairs and servicing work
You must have a licence or certificate to do swimming pool repairs and servicing work. You need the required qualifications and experience before you apply.
Key information
- In NSW, you need a contractor licence to do any residential building or trade work, including swimming pool repairs and servicing, which is valued at more than $5000 in labour and materials (including GST).
- There are different types of licences and certificates available depending on the work you need to do.
- You must have the right qualifications and experience before you can apply for a licence or certificate.
- You can apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year licence or certificate.
What is swimming pool repair and servicing work?
Swimming pool repairs and servicing work is trade work.
Swimming pool repairs and servicing means work to fix or maintain parts of an existing swimming pool.
This includes work on internally reticulated pool plumbing that is not connected to a potable water source, solar thermal heating systems that are not hard-wired (excluding any solar photovoltaic (PV) systems), and installing equipment including filters and skimmers.
It also includes non-structural additions, changes and repairs; painting and surfacing (rendering or applying surface coatings) of a swimming pool; and acid washing and pool cleaning.
Swimming pool repairs and servicing does not include any work related to paving, decking, landscaping or fencing for a pool or spa.
A swimming pool is defined under the Swimming Pools Act 1992 as ‘an excavation, structure or vessel’:
- that can be filled with water to a depth more than 300 millimetres, and
- that is only or mainly used, or that is designed, manufactured or adapted to be only or mainly used, for swimming, wading, paddling or any other human aquatic activity.
This includes a spa pool but does not include a spa bath or anything in a bathroom.
To learn more about what is considered swimming pool repair and servicing work, see the definition in schedule 4 of the Home Building Regulation 2014.
You must have a contractor licence to carry out, advertise or contract for building or trade work that is valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials (including GST).
You can be fined $22,000 as an individual or $110,000 as a company under the Home Building Act 1989 for doing unlicensed work.
Applying for a licence or certificate
Licence types you can apply for
There are different types of licences available in NSW depending on whether you want to:
- contract to do the work,
- supervise work,
- do the work, or
- do a combination of these roles.
The licence types that apply to this category of work are:
- Individual contractor licence (or endorsed contractor licence)
- Company or partnership contractor licence
- Qualified supervisor certificate
You can apply for these licence types for 1, 3 or 5 years.
You can also get started with applying for your licence or certificate at Service NSW.
Time frames for licensing and registration applications
Find out about the current application processing times for different licence and registration categories.
Qualifications and experience needed
To get a licence or certificate to do swimming pool repairs and servicing work, you must complete one of the qualifications listed below.
Current qualifications
- CPP31218 Certificate III Swimming Pool and Spa Service, or
- CPP31212 Certificate III Swimming Pool and Spa Service, or
- 91520NSW Certificate III in Swimming Pool Repairs, Servicing and Interior Finishes, or
- A minimum of 12 months acceptable practical experience carrying out swimming pool repairs and servicing work verified in the relevant application form by the holder of an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in the categories of swimming pool repairs and servicing, swimming pool building, or building, and:
- one of the following that was commenced or completed prior to 15 August 2011:
- a Licence Skills Assessment formerly conducted by the Building Industry Skills Centre; or
- the former Basic Swimming Pool Repairs and Maintenance training program conducted by the Swimming Pool and Spa Alliance.
- one of the following that was commenced or completed prior to 15 August 2011:
Previous licence or certificate holders
You do not need to show your qualifications if you have
either:
- ever held an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in swimming pool repairs and servicing work that had no restrictions or conditions. If you apply for a new endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate, we will accept your previous licence or certificate in place of the current qualification requirements.
or:
- held an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in the last 5 years in swimming pool repairs and servicing work that had restrictions or conditions. We will assess your application and reissue you a licence or certificate that reflects the scope of work that your licence or certificate covered. This may include some conditions or restrictions.
If your application is approved, you will be issued the same licence or qualified supervisor number you had before.
To find organisations that deliver nationally recognised training, go to https://www.yourcareer.gov.au/learn-and-train/courses and search via the course code or name.
If you are currently an apprentice or trainee, you cannot be issued with a licence or certificate. Once you have completed your apprenticeship or traineeship, you will need to apply for a contractor licence if you intend to do, or contract for, building or trade work.
If you hold a licence from interstate or New Zealand, and want to work in NSW, see Working interstate and mutual recognition.
This category of building and trade work is included under the NSW Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme.
If you trained overseas, see Overseas trained applicants.
Do not make false or misleading claims
Providing false or misleading information is a serious offence.
If your license was obtained based on false or misleading information, you could face criminal prosecution, and your licence or certificate may be cancelled.
What would you like to do now?
Get in touch with Building Commission NSW
Need help with an application or want to know more about training and accreditation? Get in touch with Building Commission NSW.
From overseas, call:+612 3814 0545