Every building services practitioner who intends to apply for or renew their registration must satisfy the Building Services Board (the BSB) that they are a fit and proper person. This is a legislative requirement, set out in section 17(1)(c) of the Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 (the BSRA).

The BSB has a policy that outlines how the fitness and propriety of a building services practitioner is assessed - the ‘Fit and proper person assessment criteria for the issue of registrations policy’ (the Fit and Proper Policy). 
 

The Fit and Proper Policy states that:

A fit and proper person assessment for the registration or renewal of registrations is based on the information provided in the applicant's National Criminal History Check (NCHC), an applicant's response to the fitness and propriety questions, compliance and complaints history and adverse findings by the department.  The NCHC must be no more than three months old at the time of application unless otherwise approved by the BSB.

The BSB has previously applied a flexible approach to the Fit and Proper Policy, and has not mandated a NCHC or other approved police check at every renewal. From 1 September 2020 this will change.

From 1 September 2020, all building services practitioners will be required to provide an Australian police check as a mandatory component of their application at every renewal. 

This is in accordance with section 17(1)(c) of the BSRA and will achieve consistency with the current standard practice across Licensing Services for all occupational licence types requiring a ‘fit and proper’ assessment. More information about how to obtain an Australian police check is available on our webpage 'Licensing police checks'. 

Police checks should be current – or not more than three (3) months old. Should the NCHC show a pattern of offences or serious offences a current NCHC will be required.

For more information about the assessment of fitness and propriety, or obtaining an Australian police check, contact Licensing Services on 1300 489 099 or email be.licensing@dmirs.wa.gov.au