Automatic Mutual Recognition

Real Estate, settlement and business agents

In Western Australia, professionals who help manage the sale or transfer of property are called settlement agents. In other states like NSW and Victoria, they’re known as conveyancers but the roles aren’t always exactly the same. For example, in NSW and Victoria, a settlement agent is known as a conveyancer, and while conveyancers also manage the sale and transfer of property they may also be authorised to undertake some activities not covered by a WA settlement agent licence.

WA Settlement Agents can be licensed by Consumer Protection or be certified legal practitioners under the Legal Profession Act 2008.

• Types of Licences in WA:
  • Business Settlement Agent: Handles commercial property transactions. View a list of authorised activities.
  • Real Estate Settlement Agent: Deals with residential property sales and transfers. View a list of authorised activities.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must have an Australian police check.
• Must have sufficient material and financial resources.
• Must make a payment to the Fidelity Account of $150.00 (you will be contacted for payment once application has been received).
• Must be of person of good character and repute and a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
• Must hold (or be covered by) Professional Indemnity Insurance of at least $250,000.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form 

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Settlement Agents Act 1981, Settlement Agents Regulations 1982, Settlement Agents Code of Conduct 1982 and Settlement Agents Code of Conduct 2016. More information to assist real estate agents comply with WA laws is available here. To be able to renew your licence you need to:

• Acquire six compulsory professional development points per year.
• Must deposit monies received in relation to a real estate transaction into a statutory trust account which must comply with the Settlement Agents Regulations 1982.

Real estate and business representatives

A real estate and business sales representative holds a certificate of registration and must work for a licensed real estate agent or developer, conducting transactions on their behalf. For a real estate agent, they can negotiate and manage contracts for buying, selling, leasing, or managing residential and commercial property, as well as buying or selling businesses. For a developer, they can negotiate contracts to sell residential and commercial property.

View a list of authorised activities.

Requirements

• Must have a prescribed qualification.
• Must have an Australian police check.
• Must make a payment to the Fidelity Account of $45.00 (you will be contacted for payment once application has been received).
• Must be of person of good character and repute and a fit and proper person to hold a licence.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form 

What happens next 

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Australian Consumer Law (WA), Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978, Real Estate and Business Agents (General) Regulations 1979 and the Real Estate and Business Agents and Sales Representatives Code of Conduct 2016. To be able to renew your licence you need to:

• Acquire ten compulsory professional development points per year (three points mandatory (defined), seven points elective).
• Must be employed by a real estate and business agent or real estate developer – but they cannot work for more than one at the same time.

Licensing requirements and scope of work for debt collectors, process servers, repossession agents and investigators are different in each State.

Only debt collectors who hold a licence in another Australian State or Territory can access AMR to work in WA. Under AMR, you can carry on the same activities as those authorised by your substantive, home State licence.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria do not licence debt collectors, which means individuals from these States will not be eligible to undertake this work in WA, without applying for a WA debt collector’s licence.

Some home State licences may include activities not covered by the WA debt collector’s licence. For instance, the licence for an Investigation Agent issued in South Australia includes activities of two separate WA licences - Debt Collector, issued in WA by DEMIRS, and Investigator, issued in WA through the WA Police. You will only be able to work in WA under AMR , using your home State licence to undertake debt collection activities. To undertake investigator activities you will need to apply for a WA licence under mutual recognition with WA Police as it is an excluded occupation in WA for AMR.

Authorised activities

In WA, anyone involved in the collection of money for unpaid loans, overdue accounts, or other debts is required to be licensed, as specified under the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964.

Debt collectors in WA are able to contact the debtor by phone, mail or in person to advise them of the debt and arrange for payments to be made. They can negotiate the repossession of goods as payment or make other flexible arrangements for payment over time. They may also prepare summonses and statements of claim for filing at court on behalf of their client. In some cases they may be required to locate debtors who have changed address.

The WA Act defines debt collector as:

“a person (whether or not he carries on any other business) who on behalf of any other person and for or in expectation of any gain, fee or reward whatever, by whomsoever paid or payable and either on his own account or in conjunction with another, carries on the business of collecting requesting or demanding payment of debts or who advertises or notifies that he carries on that business”

View a detailed list of authorised activities.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Provide a bank guarantee or fidelity bond of at least $6,000 with the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. The bond or bank guarantee must be the original. Fidelity bonds are accepted from:
  • Institute of Mercantile Agents Limited
  • White Group (VIC) Pty Ltd t/as White Insurance Brokers
  • any entity that is the holder of an Australian Financial Services Licence which confers the authorisation to provide general insurance products
  • Bonds underwritten by Lloyds of London are also accepted.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form 

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Debt Collectors Licensing Act 1964. More information to assist debt collectors to meet WA compliance requirements is available at debt collector laws and compensation.

Compliance

Monies received in relation to the collection of a debt must be deposited into a statutory trust account.

In WA an individual who is in the business of finding workers for employers and/or work for people seeking employment, must hold a licence under the Employment Agents Act 1976. You are considered to be ‘carrying on business’ as an employment agent if you receive payment for helping people find employment or for finding employees for other people or businesses, whether this is on a fulltime, part-time or occasional basis. An employment agent may receive an ‘entrance fee’, periodical contribution or other payment from an employer for providing these services. View a list of authorised activities. 

Individuals carrying on the same work in Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), Tasmania, the Northern Territory (NT) and Queensland are not required to be licensed. This means, only SA and ACT licence holders are eligible for AMR in WA. If you are an experienced employment agent from another Australian State or Territory you will need to apply for a new licence to work in WA.

Labour hire

WA does not require a licence for the provision of labour-hire. This is where an individual provides short-term or temporary workers to a third-party organisation. The workers are paid by the labour-hire company but work at client organisations.

• Guidelines for Labour Hire Employers

Public protection requirements

• There are no public protection requirements imposed on employment agents in WA.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form 

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Employment Agents Act 1976 and Employment Agents Regulations 1976.

Registration of land valuers is only required in WA and Queensland. This means, suitably qualified land valuers from all other Australian States and Territories will be required to apply for a new licence to work in WA.

Authorised activities

Land valuation involves inspecting the property, ascertaining legal ownership and the interest held, and gathering relevant information such as the prices similar properties sell for.

Other factors influencing the valuation, such as considering the saleability of the property or its value for mortgage purposes are related activities. Land valuers provide valuations of many different types of real property including residential, commercial, industrial, rural and horticultural properties. View a list of authorised activities.

Public protection requirements

• There are no specific public protection requirements for land valuers in WA.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Land Valuers Licensing Act 1978, Land Valuers Licensing Regulations 1979 and the Licensed Valuers Code of Conduct 2016. Land Valuation in WA compliance handbook has more information to assist land valuers meet WA compliance requirements.

Authorised activities

There are three types of licence for motor vehicle dealing in WA:

• Motor vehicle dealer - When you make a business out of buying and selling vehicles; act as a financier for the purpose of buying and selling cars, or operate a car rental business. In Western Australia, if you sell or exchange four or more vehicles in any 12-month period with persons who are not dealers you need a motor vehicle dealer licence. – detailed list of activities page
• Motor vehicle yard manager - When you are employed by a dealer to manage or supervise the business of buying or selling vehicles on his/ her premises. – detailed list of activities page
• Motor vehicles salesperson - when you are employed by a dealer to buy or sell vehicles on the premises, but are not the yard manager – detailed list of activities page

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must have sufficient financial resources.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act 1973, Motor Vehicle Dealers (sales) Regulations 1974, Australian Consumer Law (WA), and the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987. WA compliance requirements provides more information to assist motor vehicle dealers and sales representatives to meet their obligations in WA.

Compliance

• Sales representatives and yard operators must be employed by a licensed dealer and the dealer must operate out of a registered premise.
• If a dealer wishes to undertake consignment sales they must also open a trust account.

In WA, an individual who supervises the repair work of others, or who carries out repair work unsupervised, must hold a Motor Vehicle Repairer’s Certificate for each class of repair work supervised or undertaken. 

A separate, additional licence is required to operate a motor vehicle repair business, including as a sole trader, mobile repairer, or employer of a certified repairer who supervises repair work.

Authorised activities

In WA, there are 23 classes of repair work (previously 29) that certificate holders can undertake including:

• Air conditioning work
• Body building work
• Electrical work
• Engine reconditioning work
• Underbody work

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type and sub-class:

• Motor Vehicle Repair Business
• Certified Motor Vehicle Repairer

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Operate out of registered premises; and
• Demonstrate sufficient material, human and financial resources.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Motor Vehicle Repairers Act 2003, and Motor Vehicle Repairers Regulations 2007; Fair Trading Act 2010 (Australian Consumer Law); and Retail Trading Hours Act 1987. Motor vehicle repairers’ licensing kit page provides more information to assist motor vehicle repairers and business owners to operate in WA.

Building contractor and practitioner

Authorised activities

The activities and scope of work covered by your substantive, home State registration may be different to those covered by a Western Australian building contractor or building practitioner’s registration. A building practitioner is authorised to manage and supervise building work while a building contractor may contract and carry out building work. Building work activities include construction, renovation, assembly and site works.

In WA, registration is required for building work:

• for which a building permit is required;
• with a value of $20,000 or more; and
• which is carried out in a defined area of the state.

View a detailed list of activities:

• Building contractor
• Building practitioner

Demolition and asbestos removal activities are licensed separately in WA.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• sufficient financial resources to meet debts as and when they fall due.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate form online, by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the National Construction Code as well as the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011, the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011 and the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022. More information to assist building contractors and practitioners to operate in Western Australia is available from the Compliance with building standards page.

Authorised activities

A registered adjudicator is appointed by the parties or an authorised nominating authority to decide whether a party who is claiming payment over construction work is entitled to payment and, if so, how much.

View a detailed list of activities:

Adjudicator

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Construction Contracts Act 2004, Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act 2021, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Regulations 2011 and Construction Contracts Regulations 2004.

Authorised Activities

A demolition licence is required for the demolition or dismantling of a structure 2 metres or higher; or a fence or wall 1.8m metres or higher; or to demolish or dismantle a structure which is not a single storey dwelling. The licence can be designated Class 1 or Class 2 depending on the height, construction method and manner of demolition.

View a detailed list of activities at:

• Demolition licence.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 and requires familiarity with AS2601-2001.

Authorised activities

Accredited HRWL Assessors conduct Vocational Education and Training assessments that result in the issuing of a Notice of Assessment (NOA). The assessment is conducted using a nationally approved assessment instrument for the particular class of HRWL. Persons wishing to obtain a High Risk Work Licence (HRWL) must be assessed by an accredited HRWL Assessor for the class of HRWL required.

View a detailed list of activities:

• High Risk Work Licence Assessor

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Work Health and Safety Act 2020, Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022.

Electrician, electrical contractor and restricted electrical worker

Electrical workers and Electrical contractors are not currently part of the AMR scheme in WA and therefore you are not able to work in WA using your home State registration.

You can still apply for mutual recognition and use your substantive registration to get a WA licence.

Plumbing tradesperson, contractor

Authorised activities

Authorised activities and scope of work can vary greatly in each State and with different licence types so it is important to know what activities you are authorised to undertake. For example fire protection equipment can only be installed by a licensed plumber in Victoria, but this activity is not covered by a WA plumber’s licence. That means a plumbing tradesperson from WA working in Victoria under AMR would not be licensed to do fire protection work and would have to obtain a licence in Victoria to be authorised to do so.

In WA plumbers are licensed to work on water supply plumbing, sanitary plumbing and drainage plumbing

View a detailed list of activities authorised in WA under each licence type:

• A plumbing contractor must also be a licensed tradesperson and can direct and control plumbing tradespersons, and issue notices and certificates of compliance for plumbing work.
• A tradesperson works under the general direction of a plumbing contractor.
• A provisional tradesperson’s licence is granted to individuals whose qualifications were obtained outside Australia and must currently work under the supervision of a tradesperson or plumbing contractor.
• A restricted plumbing permit is issued to licensed electricians or gasfitters who intend to carry out water heater replacements while performing electrical or gas fitting work.

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Plumbers Licensing Act 1995 and Plumbers Licensing and Plumbing Standards Regulations 2000. This includes the requirements to submit a Notice of Intention and a Certificate of Compliance within prescribed timeframes for all major plumbing work undertaken.

Gasfitter

Authorised activities

In WA, activities covered by a full gas fitter’s licence include installation, removal, demolition, replacement, alteration, maintenance, or repair of a gas installation, including the installation or conversion of a gas fuelled engine.

There are also six classes of licence for gas fitting work to cover activities for domestic and commercial appliances (Type A), industrial appliances (Type B), mobile engines, caravan and marine craft, and the storage and dispensing of gas under the Road Traffic Act 1976.

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type:

• Gas Fitter Registration

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Gas Standards Act 1972 and the Gas Standards (Gas fitting and Consumer Gas Installations) Regulations 1999.

The submission of Notices of Completion is a requirement of the Gas Standards (Gas fitting and Consumer Gas Installation) Regulations 1999. This can be done using DEMIRS’ eNotice facility. Download the Gas eNotice Guide.

Painting contractor and practitioner

Authorised activities

A registered painting contractor is authorised to contract for and arrange for the carrying out of painting work valued at $1,000 or more which is the application of paint (which includes varnishes and stains), wallpaper or a similar substance or material to a building or fixture within a defined area of the state.

A registered painting practitioner is authorised to act as a nominated supervisor for a registered painting contractor for the performance of painting work.

View a detailed list of activities:

• Painting contractor
• Painting practitioner

Requirements to work in WA

• Must have a prescribed qualification (and where required sufficient experience).
• you must not have been insolvent;
• if you have previously been insolvent, you must have the capacity to meet debts as and when they fall due.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011and the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011. Technical advice for painters and decorators provides more information to help comply with the laws.

Building surveying practitioner, technician and contractor

Authorised activities

A building surveying practitioner assesses building and construction work to ensure the works comply with all legislative requirements including safety, accessibility and energy efficiency.

To provide private certification services direct to the public, a practitioner must also be licensed to carry out the activities of a building surveying contractor level 1 or level 2.

View a detailed list of activities under each licence type:

• Building Surveying Contractor (Level 1 or 2)
• Building Surveying Practitioner (Level 1, 2 & Technician).

Requirements to work in WA

• Must be a registered building surveying practitioner (Level 1 or 2)
• Must not have been insolvent.
• Must hold professional indemnity insurance appropriate to manage the risk of the work undertaken, considering the nature, risk, size, and volume of the work.
• Must lodge notice of intent to operate by email or post.

Notice of Intent form

The form can be lodged online or sent to Licensing Services by email or post.

What happens next

Once submitted, you are deemed registered and can start working in WA under your existing registration terms, but you must follow all WA laws and safety standards. You must comply with the National Construction Code as well as the Building Act 2011, Building Regulations 2012, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration) Act 2011, Building Services (Complaint Resolution and Administration Regulations 2011, Building Services Registration Act 2011 and the Building Services (Registration) Regulations 2011. More information and technical advice to assist building surveyors to operate successfully in WA is available on the Building surveyors page.

Building engineering contractor and practitioner

Registration for structural, fire safety, civil, and mechanical engineers in the WA building industry is not mandatory until 1 July 2027. While registration is encouraged, any qualified engineer can work in the WA building industry without registration.

From 1 July 2027, engineers registered in participating states and territories will be eligible for automatic deemed registration or apply for mutual recognition to work in the WA building industry.

Contact the Building Industry Licensing team if you require further information about the registration pathways available prior to 1 July 2027.