CPC40120 (Certificate IV in Building and Construction)
CPC40120 is the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building), the standard entry-level builder qualification and a pathway to SA, TAS and NSW licences.
Ask Chalkline about this →CPC40120 is the national code for the Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building), the standard entry-level builder qualification in Australia. It covers the knowledge a builder needs to run residential and small commercial jobs: building law and contracts, structural principles, plan reading, estimating and costing, and site and project management. For example, a carpenter moving from working under a builder to holding their own licence typically completes the Cert IV as the qualifying step.
It is the qualification regulators point to for entry-level builder credentials, though each state applies it differently. In South Australia it is a pathway qualification for a general building work supervisor registration; in Tasmania it is the qualification for a Domestic or Low Rise builder licence; in NSW it forms part of the general builder licence pathway, paired with a trade qualification or held alongside a relevant degree. The step up from the Cert IV is the Diploma of Building and Construction (CPC50220), needed for higher licence classes such as medium rise.
The Cert IV is delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs), and experienced tradespeople can gain it through recognition of prior learning (RPL) rather than full classroom study. The qualification alone does not grant a licence: every regulator adds its own minimum experience and application requirements on top, so check the specific licence class with the relevant regulator before enrolling.
Also known as: Cert IV in Building and Construction, CPC40120-01, builder’s Cert IV.
Category: Licensing and qualifications / VET.
Related
See also
- SA builder licence: CBS classes, qualifications and fees
- TAS builder licence: CBOS classes, qualifications, fees and CPD
- NSW building licence: classes, qualifications and thresholds
- RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning)
References
- training.gov.au: CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (verified 2026-05-08)
- CBOS Tasmania: Building licence qualifications (verified 2026-05-08)
Last updated: 2026-05-30. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.