General information only, not legal advice. Always check with the QBCC (Queensland) or the BPC (Victoria) before making any decision.
Pool inspectors check that the fences, gates and other barriers around swimming pools and spas meet the safety standard, and they issue the certificates that show whether a barrier complies. There is no single national pool inspector licence in Australia: each state sets its own rules. So the first question is always the same: where do you want to inspect?
This page walks you through the path in Queensland and Victoria, the two states where Pool Safety Barrier Training (RTO 41251) runs the approved course.
Step 1: Choose your state
| Queensland | Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| What you become | Licensed pool safety inspector | Registered Building Inspector (pool safety) |
| Who licenses or registers you | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) | Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) |
| The course | 11067NAT Course in Swimming Pool Safety Inspections (nationally recognised) | VBAISP2020 Course in Swimming Pool and Spa Barrier Inspections (BPC-approved, non-accredited) |
| Also needed before you apply | Professional indemnity insurance; the QBCC’s fit and proper person checks | At least six months’ experience (typically around 25 supervised inspections) and a technical reference |
| Full step-by-step guide | Becoming an inspector in QLD | Becoming an inspector in VIC |
Want a closer look at course length, cost and location? Read Pool Inspector Course: QLD vs VIC.
Step 2: Complete the approved course for that state
- Queensland: you need the 11067NAT Course in Swimming Pool Safety Inspections before the QBCC will license you. Ours is a 3-day, face-to-face course in Coopers Plains, Brisbane, every month. See the QLD course and dates.
- Victoria: you need a BPC-approved course from a BPC-endorsed RTO. Pool Safety Barrier Training is one of them. Our VBAISP2020 course runs over 5 days, face to face, in Highett, Melbourne, every month, and includes 15 inspections (a mix of simulated and live). See the VIC course and dates.
The course is the training step. It doesn’t give you a licence or registration by itself: that comes from the QBCC or the BPC once you meet all their requirements.
Step 3: Meet the other requirements
- Queensland: arrange professional indemnity insurance of at least $1,000,000 per pool safety inspector, with “Pool Safety Inspections” listed in the business description. The QBCC also checks that you are a “fit and proper person”.
- Victoria: build and record at least six months of practical experience in the BPC Experience Logbook, and get at least one technical referee (a registered building surveyor, building inspector or building inspector (pool safety)) to complete the BPC’s Technical Referee Report.
Step 4: Apply to the regulator
- Queensland: apply to the QBCC for a pool safety inspector licence with your statement of attainment, photo ID, evidence of your right to work and your insurance. Allow up to 8 weeks for processing.
- Victoria: apply online to the BPC for registration as a Building Inspector (pool safety) with your Technical Referee Report(s), Experience Logbook and evidence portfolio.
Fees are set by the regulators and change from time to time. See what it costs to become a pool safety inspector for a guide, and check the QBCC or BPC website for the current amounts.
Step 5: Start inspecting, and keep your licence current
Once licensed or registered, you inspect pool and spa barriers and issue certificates of compliance, or notices explaining what needs fixing. Many inspectors run their own business; others add inspections to an existing building, pool or fencing business. Read what a pool safety inspector does for a closer look at the work.
In Queensland the licence is renewed every year, with continuing professional development and current insurance. In Victoria, keep your registration and its conditions up to date with the BPC.
What about other states?
We run courses for Queensland and Victoria only. In New South Wales, interstate licence holders may be able to work under Automatic Mutual Recognition by notifying Building Commission NSW before they start, and conditions such as professional indemnity insurance apply. Check your eligibility on the NSW Government swimming pool certifier page before you rely on it. For other states and territories, check with the local building regulator.
Ready to start?
See all class dates for both states, or ask us a question. We reply within one business day.