How to Become a Licensed Painter in Australia

You've been painting for years — cutting clean lines, prepping tricky surfaces, turning out work clients are happy with. But when it comes to taking on bigger jobs in your own name, one thing keeps tripping you up: the licence. Here's how experienced painters actually get licensed, without going back to square one.

Do painters need a licence?

In much of Australia, paid painting work above a certain value needs a licence. The exact rules — the dollar threshold, what's covered, who issues it — depend on your state or territory and its building/trades regulator (for example, the QBCC in Queensland, Fair Trading in NSW). Below the threshold you may be able to work unlicensed, but for the contracts that actually pay well, a licence is usually non-negotiable.

The catch: to get that licence, regulators almost always want to see a recognised qualification plus relevant experience.

The qualification behind the licence

For painters, that qualification is typically the nationally recognised Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (CPC30620). It's the formal proof that you can do the work to standard — exactly what a licensing authority is looking for.

So the path to a painting licence usually runs:

1. Get the qualification (Certificate III in Painting and Decorating).
2. Meet your state's experience and licensing requirements.
3. Apply to your state regulator for the licence.

You don't have to study it from scratch

Here's the good news for an experienced painter: you don't have to enrol in a long course to get that Certificate III. If you've already been doing the work, you can be recognised for the skills you already have — by showing evidence of your real jobs — rather than sitting in a classroom learning what you do every day.

What you'll need to show

• Photos and videos of your work — prep, undercoats, top coats, cutting in, spray work, special finishes
• A bit of work history — where you've worked and what you did
• A reference or two from a builder, supervisor or client
• Answers to some practical questions about how and why you work the way you do

How it works with All Pathways

1. Tell us about your experience and the qualification your licence needs.
2. Build your evidence — answer questions and upload photos or videos, at your own pace.
3. Our team reviews it and helps you fill any gaps.
4. A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) formalises it and issues your certificate — the document you take to your licence application.

What it costs

Your first week is free, then it's $20/week while you build your evidence (cancel anytime), plus a one-off $1,000 at the very end, only when everything's ready to submit to the RTO for your certificate.

A fair heads-up

Getting started doesn't guarantee a qualification or a licence — the qualification outcome depends on your evidence meeting the unit requirements (the competency decision sits with the RTO), and the licence itself is granted by your state regulator on their terms. Always check your state's licensing authority for the exact requirements.

Get the qualification your licence needs

If a missing Certificate III is the only thing between you and a painting licence, it might be closer than you think. Answer a few quick questions and we'll map out your pathway.