Where to Do Your CPD Points as a NSW Builder

If you hold a contractor licence as a builder or swimming pool/spa builder in NSW, you’re required to complete continuing professional development (CPD) every year. But a question we hear constantly is: where do I actually go to do it?

Not all training counts. NSW Fair Trading requires your CPD to be completed through a recognised provider — and your points must cover approved learning areas under the Home Building Act 1989. This guide covers exactly where you can do your CPD, what to look for in a provider, and the fastest way to get your points done.

Who Decides Where You Can Do Your Builder CPD in NSW?

NSW Fair Trading administers the CPD scheme for licensed builders under the Home Building Act 1989. They set the rules on how many points you need, which learning areas are required, and what types of providers can deliver CPD training.

To count toward your annual requirement, CPD must be delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or another provider approved under the NSW Fair Trading CPD framework. Not every training company qualifies — only those formally recognised under the scheme.

Builders CPD Online operates as RTO 91528, meaning every course on our platform is fully accredited and counts toward your NSW Fair Trading CPD requirement.

Can I Do My CPD Points Online?

Yes — absolutely. NSW Fair Trading fully accepts online CPD. There is no requirement to attend a classroom, travel to a training centre, or complete your CPD in person. This has been the case for several years and it applies to both contractor licence holders and swimming pool/spa builder licence holders.

Online CPD through an approved RTO like Builders CPD Online works exactly the same as face-to-face training in terms of what counts toward your licence renewal. The only thing that matters is that the provider is approved and your points are properly recorded.

Where Can NSW Builders Do Their CPD Points?

There are several types of providers where NSW builders can complete their CPD:

For most working builders, an online RTO is by far the most practical option. You’re not tied to a schedule, a location, or an event date. You can complete your 12 points across a few evenings or in a single day — whatever suits your workload.

What Makes a Provider Approved for NSW Builder CPD?

Before signing up with any CPD provider, check that they meet the following requirements under the NSW Fair Trading CPD framework:

• Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status — verified on the national training.gov.au register
• NSW Fair Trading recognition — the provider must be listed as an approved CPD provider for builders
• Courses covering approved learning areas — your points must come from the 8 designated CPD learning areas
• Certificate on completion — you need documentary evidence for licence renewal

Builders CPD Online meets all of these requirements. We’ve been delivering online CPD to NSW builders since 2004 and every course maps directly to the NSW Fair Trading approved learning areas.

The 8 NSW Fair Trading CPD Learning Areas

Regardless of where you do your CPD, your points must cover the 8 learning areas recognised by NSW Fair Trading. These are:

1. Technical skills
2. Sustainability
3. Business management
4. Work health and safety (WHS)
5. Legal and regulatory compliance
6. Customer service and dispute resolution
7. Digital literacy
8. Risk management

At Builders CPD Online, we offer courses across all 8 of these areas. You can mix and match to build your 12-point total however suits you — for example, doing more compliance courses if that’s where your knowledge gaps are, or focusing on sustainability courses with the NatHERS requirements now in effect.

How Many CPD Points Do NSW Builders Need?

Every licensed builder and swimming pool/spa builder in NSW must complete 12 CPD points per year. These points must be completed within your licence renewal period.

Each course at Builders CPD Online earns:

• 2 CPD points — standard course (read the material at your own pace)
• 4 CPD points — course with quiz (reading plus a 20-question assessment)

So to complete your 12-point annual requirement, you could do six standard courses, three quiz courses, or any combination that adds up to 12.

How Much Does It Cost to Do CPD as a NSW Builder?

Costs vary by provider. Industry association CPD can cost several hundred dollars per event, and in-person workshops often involve travel and time off site.

At Builders CPD Online, our pricing is straightforward:

No hidden fees. No travel. No time off the tools. And you get an instant certificate the moment you complete each course.

How to Get Started With Your Builder CPD Online

Getting your 12 NSW CPD points through Builders CPD Online takes four simple steps:

1. Register — create your account at builderscpdonline.com.au/registration
2. Choose your package — pick 12, 24 or 36 points based on what you need
3. Select your courses — choose from 40+ courses across all 8 learning areas
4. Complete and download — finish at your own pace, download your certificate instantly

Most builders complete their 12-point requirement in a single day. The content is written in plain language — no academic jargon, just practical knowledge relevant to your NSW licence.

Frequently Asked Questions