What's in the NSW owner-builder course?
An online owner builder course NSW recognises: five units, self-paced, 6 months to finish, then your permit application through Service NSW.
Written byEdway
The short answer
Are you considering taking the leap into becoming an owner builder? Whether you are starting a new home build or renovating your existing property, becoming an owner builder can be a rewarding experience.
Five nationally recognised units, studied online at your own pace, with 6 months to finish.
You come away with a Statement of Attainment — the education evidence New South Wales asks for once the work is worth $20,000 or more. The Owner Builder permit is the next step, and you apply for that separately through Service NSW.
The five units of the online owner builder course
| Code | Unit |
|---|---|
| CPCCWHS2001 | Apply WHS requirements |
| CPCCOM2001 | Read and interpret plans and specifications |
| CPCCCM1011 | Undertake basic estimation and costing |
| CPCCOM1013 | Plan and organise work |
| CPCCOM1014 | Conduct workplace communication |
The five units together are what NSW recognises as the approved owner-builder education.
What you learn should feel practical, not academic. A strong NSW Owner Builder Course gives you the decision-making backbone for the build: reading plans, costing, organising trades and communicating clearly.
How do you choose an online owner builder course that meets NSW requirements?
Look for the five units NSW recognises as the approved owner-builder education, all in one course, and a nationally recognised Statement of Attainment at the end.
Our online owner builder course ticks both. You study all five units at your own pace, and Edway Training issues your Statement of Attainment when you finish. Keep it ready for your permit application.
6 months to finish the owner builder course online
The course is self-paced online. You start when you enrol and work through it in your own time, wherever you are most comfortable, so you can balance your learning with your other commitments.
You have 6 months to finish, and the enrolment expires after 6 months. That is longer than the 2 months our other self-paced courses allow.
Why take the owner builder course online?
Online fits around your life. You start when you enrol, study wherever you are most comfortable, and work through it in your own time, around your job and your family.
You also come away with practical skills for the build itself: reading plans, costing, organising trades and communicating clearly. That sets you up to run your build with confidence.
Before you enrol
You need a Unique Student Identifier. There are no course prerequisites — the White Card you will need for the permit comes later, at the application stage.
There is also a short language, literacy, numeracy and digital check before you start. You complete it through your student account after you book.
What you receive
A nationally recognised Statement of Attainment for the five units. It does not expire.
It is emailed to you when you finish, and stays available to download from your student account.
Edway Training (RTO 91401) delivers the course and issues the Statement of Attainment.
Then you apply to Service NSW
The course is the education step. The permit is a separate application.
Apply online with a MyServiceNSW account, or book an appointment at a service centre. You will need your course evidence, a current White Card, proof of identity, proof that you own the land or hold a long-term lease, and your development approval (DA) or complying development certificate (CDC).
You pay an application fee when you apply. Building Commission NSW assesses the application and tells you the result.
At this stage you present the plastic White Card. The interim SafeWork NSW certificate is not accepted there. If your White Card was issued more than 2 years ago and you have not worked in construction since, you need to redo it first.
How do you become an owner builder in NSW?
Three steps get you there. When the work is worth $20,000 or more, start with the online owner builder course and your Statement of Attainment. Next, make sure you hold a current plastic White Card. Then apply for your permit through Service NSW with your course evidence, proof of identity, proof of ownership or a long-term lease, and your DA or CDC.
We are here to help with the course every step of the way.
Where it applies
In NSW, a permit is required for building work worth more than $10,000 on a dwelling where development consent is required, and the approved education — or an approved equivalent — is required once the work is worth $20,000 or more.
The course is built for the NSW permit scheme. Other states and territories run their own owner-builder schemes and set their own education rules.
Next step
Whether you are building your dream home or taking on a renovation, start with the Owner Builder Course (NSW) and build confidently.
You will need a current White Card when you apply for the permit, and you can get yours through the White Card course.
For anything about the course itself, contact us through the site's contact page. We are here to help.
Sources
- Service NSW — Apply for an Owner-Builder PermitThe permit application steps and documents, the application fee, and the $10,000 and $20,000 thresholds
- Building Commission NSW — Working as an owner-builderThe body that assesses an owner-builder permit application
- training.gov.au — CPCCWHS2001, CPCCOM2001, CPCCCM1011, CPCCOM1013 and CPCCOM1014Unit codes and official unit titles
- NSW Fair Trading — owner-builder permit schemeThe regulator responsible for the NSW owner-builder permit scheme and its education requirement
