From 1 July 2027, anyone doing civil, structural, mechanical or fire engineering work for a building or incidental structure must be registered under the Building Services (Registration) Act as both a building engineering practitioner and/or contractor.
Building engineering work includes professional and technical engineering work for a building or incidental structure.
Building engineers must be registered as both practitioners (individuals) and contractors (businesses). A transition period applies until 1 July 2027 to allow engineers to be assessed by assessment entities and to apply for both practitioner and contractor registration. Unregistered people may lawfully do building engineering work until registration becomes mandatory on 1 July 2027.
It will be an offence for unregistered people to do building engineering work after 1 July 2027, with a fine of up to $25,000*
It is important that you and your business are both registered by 1 July 2027.
- For more information: 'Building engineers registration' fact sheet
FAQ's
Show moreWill you need to be registered as a building engineering practitioner?
- Do you carry out professional or technical engineering work?
- Do you do civil, structural, mechanical or fire safety engineering work?
- Do you do engineering work for buildings or incidental structures, as defined in the Building Act 2011 and the BCA?
- Do you work independently, not under supervision?
- Obligations of registered engineers - Information and obligations for registered building engineers
If you answered ‘Yes’ to these questions, you need to be registered as a building engineering practitioner in the relevant area and level. A building engineering practitioner is an individual (natural person), who meets the qualification, experience and competence requirements to do building engineering work.
For further details visit Information and obligations for registered building engineers.
Will you need to be registered as a building engineering contractor?
If your business provides building engineering services to consumers in WA, the business must be registered at the relevant level as a building engineering contractor.
A building engineering contractor must employ at least one registered building engineering practitioner to supervise and manage the work. A building engineering contractor must also meet prescribed requirements for insurance and financial capacity.
A business can be registered as an individual (sole trader), partnership or company. A building engineering practitioner intending to operate as a sole trader will also need to be registered as a BEC Individual. Under the new laws, registered building engineering practitioners will not be entitled to contract with consumers for building engineering work after 1 July 2027. This can only be done by registered contractors.
It is advisable for a registered building engineering contractor to have:
- At least one nominated supervisor registered as a practitioner in each of the areas of engineering that the contractor provides building engineering work in; and
- Sufficient engineers registered as practitioners in each area of building engineering work to supervise the work being done.
- However, employees who carry out building engineering work under supervision need not be registered practitioners.
- For obligations for registered engineers visit Information and obligations for registered building engineers.
Fees
Show moreApplication and registration fees for building engineering practitioners and contractors are prescribed in schedule 1 of the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2012.
Board policies
Show moreCurrent Board policies regarding building engineers’ registration can be found on the Building Services Board webpage under the 'Policies' tab.
Building Engineer’s Code of Conduct
Show moreAll building engineering practitioners registered under the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 are bound by the Code of Conduct. The Code sets minimum expectations for professional conduct, expertise and personal conduct.
