Further industry consultation on licensing

13 Jan 2006: In August and September 2005, the Occupational Licensing group brought together eight working parties from relevant industry and professional organisations to test and discuss proposals for licence classes, and to start developing indicative standards and assessment processes. A summary of the findings from these working parties are now available.

•  Summary of working party minutes 

The eight working parties each met twice to discuss the proposals for licensing people under the licensing of building practitioners regime introduced by the Building Act 2004.

Each group was invited to air general issues arising from the Department’s proposals, and discuss the standards to be applied to their trade or profession and ways to assess people for licensing.

The working parties provided the Occupational Licensing group with valuable feedback on the proposals which has been taken into account in refining the licence classes.

The Department is now preparing to report back to the government with the refined licensing proposals, and the practical implications and costs.

The working parties developed indicative licence class standards and assessment processes for each of their licence classes. The indicative standards and assessment processes reflect the view of the working parties that the transition into licensing needs to be sensible and accessible.

There needs to be recognition of those competent applicants with many years experience but limited formal qualification, to avoid driving away good practitioners. However it is also recognised that in the long term the main pathway to licensing should be through the achievement of relevant qualifications.

It is hoped the final licence classes will be presented in 2006 with standards and assessment processes following thereafter.