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Asbestos assessor and removal licensing

Information about Asbestos in the ACT can be found on the WorkSafe ACT website.

Access Canberra is responsible for issuing licences for Asbestos assessors and removalists.

If you have an asbestos assessor or removalist licence and your address changes, you'll need to update your address.

Asbestos assessor licences

In the ACT you must be licensed to undertake asbestos assessor work, including:

  • identification
  • risk assessment
  • air monitoring
  • clearance inspections and
  • issuing of clearance certificates.

The scope of the assessor licence is broader in the ACT than in other states or territories.

Eligibility criteria for assessor licensing

To be eligible for an asbestos assessor licence, you must:

  • live in the ACT
  • be an individual
  • prove you have, through training or experience, industry knowledge and skills for asbestos assessment and removal.

You must also hold one of the following:

  • a certification for CPCCBC5014A - Conduct asbestos assessment associated with removal
  • a certification for CPCCDE5001 – Conduct air monitoring and clearance inspections for asbestos removal work
  • a tertiary qualification in:
    • occupational health and safety,
    • industrial hygiene,
    • science
    • building construction
    • environmental health.

If you don't live in the ACT, you must also provide:

  • a statement outlining your reasons for applying to be licensed in the ACT
  • justification for why you should be licensed in the ACT.

Training and experience

To prove you have the required knowledge and experience your application must include:

  • three written references
  • copies of certificates for any relevant training
  • copies of asbestos documents

The written references must be from a person:

  • familiar with your work in the asbestos assessment or removal industry
  • with relevant asbestos industry knowledge, such as a licensed asbestos assessor, removalist or an occupational or industrial hygienist.

The copies of certifications for asbestos related training can include:

  • professional occupational hygiene courses specialising in asbestos
  • air monitoring courses
  • risk assessment
  • auditing or identification training.

This doesn't include the certificate of completion for the 'Conduct asbestos assessment associated with removal' unit.

The copies of asbestos documents can include:

  • risk assessment reports,
  • management plans,
  • registers,
  • air monitoring reports,
  • removal clearance certificates or similar.

These documents should contain the client's name and contact details for verification purposes.

How to apply for an asbestos assessor licence

To apply for an asbestos assessor licence in the ACT you must:

You must submit:

  • your evidence of eligibility documents
  • a photo in jpeg format for your licence card if your application is successful.

Once you've submitted your application it'll be allocated to a licence assessment officer. They'll review your application and contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. They may also contact you if they need more information.

If your application is approved, you'll receive an email offering you the licence.

To receive your licence, you need to pay the licence term fee which lasts for 5 years.

After accepting the offer and paying the fee:

  • your licence card will be posted to you
  • your name, licence number and contact details will be added to the public register of licensed assessors.

If your application is refused, you'll be sent a notice of the decision outlining the reasons why. You’re able to apply for an internal review of the decision if you don't agree with the reasons for the refusal.

Asbestos removal licences

There are 2 types of Asbestos removalist licences:

  • Class A
  • Class B

A Class A asbestos removal licence means you can remove friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos and asbestos containing material. In the ACT, you must have a Class A asbestos removal licence to remove friable asbestos.

A Class B asbestos removal licence means you can only remove non-friable asbestos or asbestos containing material.

Who can apply for an Asbestos removal licence

To be eligible to apply for a Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence you must be:

  • an individual or a corporation
  • live in the ACT or if you're a corporation, the registered office of the corporation must be in the ACT.
  • meet the relevant eligibility criteria outlined below.

If you're an individual, you must meet the requirements to be appointed as an asbestos removal supervisor for the licence.

If you're a corporation, you must appoint at least one person who meets these requirements.

If you don't live in the ACT, or your registered office is outside the ACT, you must provide:

  • a statement outlining your reasons for applying to be licensed in the ACT
  • justification for why you should be licensed in the ACT.

Eligibility criteria for Class A removalist licensing

To be eligible for a Class A asbestos removal licence, you must be able to prove:

  • you have a certified safety management system in place.
  • you've appointed at least one or more person to supervise the asbestos removal work
  • each supervisor is at least 18
  • each supervisor has at least three years relevant industry experience
  • each supervisor holds certifications for the following specified vocational education and training courses:
    • CPCCDE3014A/CPCCDE3014 - Remove non-friable asbestos; and,
    • CPCCDE3015A/CPCCDE3015 - Remove friable asbestos; and,
    • CPCCBC4051A/CPCCDE4008 - Supervise asbestos removal.

Certified safety management systems must comply with the occupational health and safety management systems determined by the Regulator.

Eligibility criteria for Class B removalist licensing

To be eligible for a Class B asbestos removal licence, you must be able to prove:

  • you've appointed at least one or more person to supervise the asbestos removal work
  • each supervisor is at least 18
  • each supervisor has at least one year relevant industry experience
  • each supervisor holds certifications for the following specified vocational education and training courses:
    • CPCCDE3014A/CPCCDE3014 - Remove non-friable asbestos; and,
    • CPCCBC4051A/CPCCDE4008 - Supervise asbestos removal.

Evidence of industry experience

To prove relevant industry experience, each named supervisor must provide:

  • three written references
  • evidence that the supervisor has the industry experience need for the licence.

The written references must be from a person:

  • that's familiar with your work in asbestos removal industry practice
  • that has relevant asbestos industry knowledge, such as:
    • a licensed asbestos assessor
    • licensed asbestos removalist
    • an occupational or industrial hygienist.

Examples of evidence that the supervisor has experience in asbestos removal work, include:

  • asbestos removal clearance certificates for asbestos removal projects undertaken by the supervisor
  • asbestos removal control plans
  • safe work method statements
  • documents containing the clients name, address and scope of work
  • evidence of experience in Class A asbestos removal work – if applying for a Class A licence
  • evidence of experience in Class B asbestos removal work – if applying for a Class B licence.

How to apply for an asbestos removal licence

To apply for a Class A or Class B asbestos removal licence in the ACT you must:

Once you've submitted your application it'll be allocated to a licence assessment officer. They'll review your application and contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. They may also contact you if they need more information.

If your application is approved you'll receive an email offering you the licence.

To receive your licence you need to pay the licence term fee which lasts for a five years.

After accepting the offer and paying the fee:

  • your licence document and a list of approved asbestos removalist supervisors will be posted to you
  • your name, licence number and contact details will be added to the public register of licensed removalists.

If your application is refused, you'll be sent a notice of the decision outlining the reasons why. You’re able to apply for an internal review of the decision if you don't agree with the reasons for the refusal.

Interstate asbestos licence holders

If you have asbestos assessor or removal licence from interstate it can be recognised in the ACT. This will allow you to work in the ACT without applying for a new licence.

The first step is letting Access Canberra know before you start work in the ACT.

How to let us know

You'll need to:

  • complete the intention to work in the ACT online form
  • attach a copy of your interstate asbestos assessor or removalist licence.

Complete the intention to work in the ACT form

Find licensed asbestos assessors and removalists

You can find lists of licensed asbestos assessors and removalists in the ACT on the public registers on WorkSafe ACT.