Finding and appointing a certifier

Key information

• Different classes of certifiers work on different types of development.  
• Industry associations can be approved to accredit practitioners, who carry out certain regulated work. For example, in the fire safety industry.
• Our register lets you search for certifiers and for the industry associations that can accredit practitioners.

Choosing the right class of certifier

If you need a principal certifier, that will be a registered building surveyor, local council, or registered body corporate. Your principal certifier can advise if you’ll also need to appoint another class of certifier, such as an engineer.

Find out what class of certifier you need for other types of work, for example to:

• certify an existing swimming pool (you’ll need a swimming pool inspector or your council)
• subdivide land (your council can be the principal certifier, but a private subdivision certifier can inspect the work)
• register a strata plan (you’ll need a strata certifier or your council)
• get an engineer’s report or certificate (you’ll need a certifier with the class of registration relevant to the work. For example, stormwater, fire safety, or mechanical).

Fire safety practitioners

For information about fire safety practitioners and a list of approved industry accreditation schemes, visit Fire safety practitioners.

Finding and appointing a certifier

Before appointing a registered certifier, you’ll need to:

• check the certifier has the right class of registration for the work, and read the conditions, if any, on their registration. Also, check that the certifier’s registration and insurance are current. Visit the building certifiers public register  
• look them up on the certifier disciplinary register to see if we’ve taken any decisions to caution, reprimand or fine them (it’s separate to the certifier register, you can check both to get a complete picture)
• carefully read the contract for certification work.

Learn more about  what certifiers do.

Some certifiers are members of a professional standards scheme. For more information about the consumer benefits of a professional standards scheme, visit the NSW Professional Standards Council.

Finding a certifier

To find a certifier for your development, search the Building Certifiers Public Register. For questions about the register, email certifierregistration@customerservice.nsw.gov.au.

Certifiers can work in NSW under Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR), which allows licenced certifiers to have their qualifications recognised across borders. However certifiers working in NSW under AMR don’t appear on the public register.

If you are appointing a certifier working in NSW under AMR, you should ask the certifier to provide evidence they have submitted the required notification to the regulator and are eligible to work in NSW.

Disclaimer

The register contains information that Building Commission NSW is required to publish under the Building and Development Certifiers Act 2018. Building Commission NSW disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you may incur as a result of using the information in the registers, or for the registers being inaccurate or incomplete, and for any reason.