Construction Occupations Registrar (ACT)

The Construction Occupations Registrar (COR) is the Australian Capital Territory regulator for builder, building surveyor, plumber, drainer, gasfitter, and electrician licensing. The COR operates through Access Canberra under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (ACT) (verified 2026-05-15). It is the ACT functional equivalent of NSW Fair Trading, the Victorian Building Authority, or the QBCC for the residential building trades.

COR touchpoints for a builder operating in the ACT:

1. Licensing. Issues residential builder licences, plumber/drainer/gasfitter licences, and the related occupation registrations. Each occupation has its own licence classes (e.g. Builder A, Builder B, Builder C with progressive build-value caps).
2. Public register. Maintains a searchable public register of licensed practitioners. Owners can check the register before engaging a builder.
3. Demerit point scheme. Operates a demerit-point system: rectification orders, complaints upheld, and contract-law breaches accumulate demerit points. Accumulating thresholds trigger licence suspension or cancellation.
4. Complaint and disciplinary action. Investigates complaints against licensees, issues warnings, suspends and cancels licences, and prosecutes serious breaches.
5. Mutual recognition. Receives traditional mutual recognition applications from interstate licensees. Note that the ACT’s construction occupations are exempt from Automatic Mutual Recognition until 1 July 2027, so an interstate builder cannot start work in the ACT on AMR alone and must apply through the COR.

Also known as: COR; ACT Construction Occupations Registrar; Access Canberra building regulator (informal).

Category: Regulators.

Related

• Mutual recognition (builder licensing)
• Qualified Supervisor Certificate (NSW)

See also

• SOP Act 1999 (NSW)
• EP&A Act 1979 (NSW)

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Last updated: 2026-05-15. Verified: 2026-05-15. Quarterly review for currency.