Turn your years on the tools into a nationally recognised qualification
BCQ helps experienced Australian builders and tradespeople prepare their Recognition of Prior Learning evidence for assessment by All Trades and Compliance, RTO 32398. Where a nationally recognised building and construction qualification forms part of your licensing pathway, we help you understand what you need and what evidence you already have.
Your existing skills and experience may count towards a nationally recognised qualification, so you may not need to start from scratch.
What are you after?
I want my builders licence
Cert IV or Diploma, depending on what your state authority wants. We'll tell you which on the call.
I want my trade qualification
Carpentry, concreting, tiling, waterproofing, wall and ceiling lining, painting, shopfitting.
I don't know which one I need
Most tradies don't. Tell us the work you've done and we'll tell you the shortest legitimate route.
Why tradies trust BCQ
Real qualification journeys
Real stories from tradespeople who used their industry experience to progress their qualifications and licensing pathways.
"I have been in the industry for over eight years, never went to TAFE, learnt everything on site. Tried this once before, the trainer that came out gave me a list of things to get for him and told me to contact him when I had it, no help at all. I contacted JVR from BCQ Education, wow, after a 20 minute phone discussion, I knew I would get help. I was amazed by how quickly I got my results. Highly recommended!"
You've done the work.
You just haven't got the paper.
Most of the people we help have been working in their trade for years and have no interest in going back to a classroom. Recognition of Prior Learning looks at the skills and knowledge you already use on site and maps your evidence against the relevant units of competency.
You're not paying to be taught your trade. You're paying for your existing experience and evidence to be gathered, mapped and prepared properly for assessment.
Your experience does the heavy lifting
We do the paperwork with you, not at you
Assessed by a registered training organisation
Photos on your phone, old invoices and a reference from a builder you worked under are evidence. We map them to units.
You get a written list of exactly what to find, and a BCQ pathway specialist who chases it with you until the file is complete.
We don't mark your file and we don't issue the certificate. A registered RTO does, which is what makes it count.
"Approved off site photos, three invoices and a reference. I never wrote an essay."
5,400+ candidates supported. 50+ years of industry experience behind the advice.
All Trades and Compliance · RTO 32398
How it actually runs, start to licence
Eligibility check
A call. We ask what you've built and where. Free.
Pathway plan + written quote
Which qualification, which units, what it costs. In writing.
Evidence collection
We tell you what to photograph and find. We chase it with you.
Assessment by RTO 32398
All Trades and Compliance (RTO 32398) formally assesses your evidence and, where all requirements are met, issues your qualification.
You apply for your licence
Certificate in hand, you lodge with QBCC or your state authority. We show you what they want.
From tradies who've been through it
"The assessment process was straightforward. I appreciated the fast turnaround on my qualification. It saved me time and stress."
"I wanted to contract for myself and needed a Certificate III in Wall & Floor Tiling. Getting certified was quick and painless."
"The instructions were laid out in plain language. I got my qualification quickly and felt supported every step of the way."
What it costs
Every pathway is different, so BCQ doesn't use one price for every applicant. Your written quote is based on the qualification you need, the evidence you already have and whether any gaps need to be addressed.
Qualification required
The qualification and pathway you need determines the scope of the file.
Evidence you already have
The more usable evidence you already have, the less work may be required to prepare your file.
Any gaps identified
If anything additional is required, we'll explain it before you proceed.
Know what you need? Get it in writing.
We'll confirm your pathway and the evidence you already have, then provide a written quote before you commit.
No obligation · Written before you proceed
The three things everyone asks before they ring
"Is this one of those dodgy qualification mills?"
No. We don't issue qualifications, we can't. Your evidence is assessed by All Trades and Compliance, RTO 32398, and if your experience doesn't stack up we tell you before you pay us anything. ASQA has publicly warned about operators promising a qualification in days. Anyone who quotes you a certificate in a week is selling you a problem.
"Will it actually get me my licence?"
The qualification is one part of a licence application. QBCC, or your state's equivalent, also assesses your experience record and your financials. We tell you which units your authority expects before you start, and what else they'll want, so there are no surprises at lodgement. What we won't do is promise you a licence we don't issue.
"I've got no paperwork from jobs I did 15 years ago."
Almost nobody has. Photos on your phone, old invoices, a signed reference from the builder you worked under, a site diary, even a conversation with the assessor about how you'd do the job: all of it is evidence. Working out what you can actually get your hands on is step 3, and it's our job, not yours.
Who does what, in plain English
Pathway advice, RPL facilitation, evidence preparation. We get your file assessment-ready and stay on it until it is.
The formal assessment and the certificate. An independent registered training organisation. Look it up on training.gov.au before you call us.
Issues the licence. QBCC in Queensland, and the equivalent body in every other state and territory except South Australia, where we don't operate.
Getting the right qualification is one part of your builders licence pathway. We'll help you understand what your state requires, prepare the qualification and evidence side properly, and make sure you know the next step before you proceed.
Common questions
How long does the whole thing take?
Most files run six to twelve weeks from eligibility check to certificate, depending on how complete your evidence is and how quickly you can supply what's missing.
Which qualification does a Queensland builders licence need?
QBCC generally requires a Certificate IV in Building and Construction or a Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), depending on the licence class. We'll confirm exactly which one applies to you on the eligibility call.
What happens if the assessor knocks back a unit?
We tell you straight away what's missing and what would close the gap: extra evidence or, occasionally, gap training. Nothing is hidden until the end.
Do I have to take time off the tools?
No. Evidence collection happens around your work: photos, invoices and references you gather as you go, not classroom hours.
Do you work in South Australia?
No. BCQ does not operate in South Australia. We support every other state and territory.
The Builders Licence Pathway Guide
Which qualification each state asks for, what evidence you'll need, and what the licensing authority looks at. Twelve pages, no cost.
Already licensed and running your own business? That's a different conversation. See how your business shows up when local customers search for a builder.
BCQ provides qualification pathway guidance and RPL evidence preparation as a third-party provider for Master Mechanics Training Pty Ltd, trading as All Trades and Compliance (RTO 32398). Formal assessment and certification are the responsibility of the RTO. A qualification is not a licence: builders licences are issued by the licensing authority in each state and territory, including QBCC in Queensland, against their own experience and financial requirements. BCQ does not operate in South Australia. ABN 50 621 900 543.