Standard application

The standard application is an experience-based application and requires you to provide information about your previous work history, jobs you have recently completed, and referees who can discuss what work you did on those jobs.

You must use a standard application to apply for a Design license.

If you hold an overseas qualification, you will need to use a standard application. This is because the LBP Rules only allow holders of specific New Zealand qualifications to use the qualified practitioner application form.

Rules of the Board

If you hold a New Zealand qualification that is recognised in the LBP Rules, it may be faster to submit a streamlined application as the application form takes less time than a standard application.

Streamlined application

If you hold an Australian State design or trade-related licence, please see the Australian licence holders page for additional information.

Australian licence holders

Trade and Site assessors

Our assessor team has been selected for their building backgrounds. Most of our assessors are LBPs themselves or hold the equivalent registration or experience. Your application will be assessed by someone with an extensive knowledge of your licensing class.

An assessor will:

• Review your application form;
• Call your referees to confirm your technical competence on projects you have worked on;
• Call you and discuss your application;
• Discuss with you your work history – this will include questions regarding your career pathway and overall development e.g. changes in employment, roles and responsibilities, movement between commercial & residential sectors, gaps or breaks from industry etc.;
• Carry out a phone-based assessment.

Once the assessor has completed your assessment, they will provide a written report to the Registrar as to whether they believe you have met the licensing competencies. The assessor will also make a recommendation to the Registrar regarding your licence.

Design assessors

Our design assessor team has also been selected for their design and/or building backgrounds. Our assessors are LBPs themselves or hold the equivalent registration or experience.

Where possible, a design licensing class assessment is held in a workplace to enable you to provide the assessor with the information they require to assess you against the Design licensing competencies. Your assessor will contact you to arrange a suitable appointment time.

You should refer to the evidence checklist within the Design application form to confirm what information you will need to have ready for your assessment interview. This will vary depending on the Area of Practice you have applied for.

In some cases, such as when there are no available assessors in your area, you may need to have a virtual assessment. For a virtual assessment you will need to send a portfolio work for the assessor to review, and then have a follow up interview via teleconference. There is additional guidance available to assist you in collating the required information.

Once the assessor has completed your assessment, they will provide a written report to the Registrar as to whether they believe you have met the licensing competencies. The assessor will also make a recommendation to the Registrar regarding your licence.

Referees

Standard application (non-design)

• You are required to provide at least two referees (additional referees may be required for some licensing classes which contain multiple areas of practice).
• Your referees need to have technical credibility i.e. must be able to answer technical questions relevant to the work you carried out – our preference is for an LBP.
• Your referees must have worked on the projects you have nominated in your application, and they must have observed the specific range of building work you carried out.
• Your referees need to be available to talk with your assessor.

Standard application (design)

• You are required to provide three referees.
• Your referees must relate to the projects you have nominated in your application.
• You are required to provide – a client; a contractor and a consultant.
• Your contractor and consultant referees need to have technical credibility i.e. must be able to answer technical questions relevant to the work you carried out – our preference is for LBPs and/or Registered or Chartered specialists.
• Your referees need to be available to talk with your assessor.