Class A asbestos removal licence

This page explains what an asbestos Class A licence is, the eligibility requirements and how to apply.

On this page

Key information

  • Asbestos removal is dangerous and can cause death if not handled correctly. That’s why you must be licensed to remove it.
  • Different licences mean you can remove different types of asbestos. Class A asbestos removal licence holders can remove both friable and non-friable asbestos.

When a Class A asbestos removal licence is needed

You need this licence before you remove:

  • friable asbestos or asbestos-containing material (ACM)
  • friable asbestos fire doors and safes

You might find Class A asbestos when removing walls on buildings built or renovated before 1990.

A Class A asbestos ‘fire doors and safes only’ removal licence is also available. This restricted licence means you can only remove fire doors and safes, no other friable asbestos.

Eligibility

Who can apply

You must meet the following criteria to get a Class A asbestos removal licence. You must:

You must have three years’ experience since you completed training. This period must include at least three separate asbestos removal jobs.

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply for an asbestos licence unless you have the relevant training and experience.

How to apply

What you need

Before you begin your application, make sure you have:

You will also need to include a completed supervisor nomination form (PDF, 628.84 KB).

Apply for a new licence

Select the ‘Apply now’ link below. It will take you to the Service NSW online application form.

Your fee will be calculated on completion of the online application.

Your application will take around 30 minutes to complete.

Apply now for a new licence. Visit Service NSW if you need help applying online.

You can also renew your licence.

What happens next

  1. You will need to go to a Service NSW service centre within 30 days of applying, to complete facial verification.
  2. We will review your application. A SafeWork officer will contact you by email if more information is required.
  3. We will email you to tell you if your application was successful. We will include a copy of your licence and your details will be added to the public register Verify.licence.

Learn about unsuccessful applicants.

Renew a licence

You need to renew your licence before it expires. If you don't, you are not allowed to carry out asbestos work.

Complete the renewal application form (PDF, 223.81 KB) and email it to the SafeWork licensing team.

You can pay to renew your licence by credit card or PayPal and you will get a receipt number you can enter on the renewal application form (PDF, 223.81 KB).

If you don’t renew your licence within three months of expiry you will have to pay more to reapply.

We will email you around 60 days before the expiry date to remind you to renew.

Lost, stolen or destroyed licences

If your licence is lost, stolen or destroyed let us know in writing as soon as possible.

Complete the replace a licence application form (PDF, 155.88 KB) and email it to the SafeWork licensing team.

You can pay to replace your licence by credit card or PayPal and you will get a receipt number you can enter on the replace a licence application form (PDF, 155.88 KB).

Change of details

It is your responsibility to tell us within 14 days if your name, address or other details change.

Qualification requirements

Training

Training must be provided by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) like TAFE NSW. Find an RTO that offers Class A asbestos removal training.

To get your licence you will need to:

  • first complete the two-day ‘Non-friable asbestos removal’ course, then do the two-day ‘Friable asbestos removal’ course
  • complete the one-day ‘Supervise asbestos removal’ course, which covers both friable and non-friable asbestos.

Experience

Before you can apply for a licence, you need work experience under a supervisor who is already licensed.

Certified Safety Management System

To apply for a Class A asbestos removal licence you must have a Certified Safety Management System (CSMS).

Your CSMS will help you manage health and safety at work and reduce the risk of illness and injury.

To be certified, your CSMS must comply with AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018, and be certified by a JAS-ANZ accredited certification body.

You can find a consultant on the JAS-ANZ website.

A CSMS must include specific WHS resources, consultation, risk management processes, responsibilities, procedures and practises that relate to your Class A friable asbestos removal licence.

Find out more about certification standard ISO 45001 at iso.org

Nominated supervisors

Every asbestos job must have a supervisor. Nominated supervisors are different – they are a person you ask to oversee your asbestos work.

Your nominated supervisor must help you complete the supervisor nomination form (PDF, 628.84 KB).

They must have proof of their ‘Remove friable asbestos’ and ‘Supervise asbestos removal’ training, and at least three years’ experience including at least three Class A asbestos removal jobs.

Your nominated supervisor must be on site when you remove Class A asbestos.

If you are a sole trader you might want to be your own nominated supervisor. You will need to provide evidence of your training, skills and experience with reference letters from your employer. We check your supporting documents are genuine.

Email the SafeWork Licensing team to find out more.

Evidence of experience

You will be asked to prove that you have worked on three separate Class A asbestos removal jobs over three years. For example, three jobs from 2020-2021 is not three years of experience. Three jobs during the period from January 2019 to December 2021 is three years of experience.

The experience must not be older than five years. You must provide these details:

  • job name and address
  • type and amount of asbestos removed
  • start and end dates of asbestos removal work
  • number SafeWork gave you when you notified them the job was about to start
  • asbestos licence number of the licence holder you worked for and their contact details
  • documents that show how you worked eg, with an asbestos removal control plan

You will also need to provide signed, dated reference letters from your employers on a business letterhead.

One job equals one work contract.

Class A asbestos ‘fire doors and safes only’ removal licence

To get this Class A licence you will need all of the above training but you will only need experience removing Class A fire doors and safes.

Working interstate

There are three ways of working across states and territories:

  • Automatic Mutual Recognition
  • Corresponding Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws
  • Mutual Recognition.

Automatic Mutual Recognition

Asbestos removal is included in the Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) scheme.

Only Victorian asbestos licence holders would notify for AMR as asbestos licence holders from other states and territories already have the right to work in NSW under corresponding work, health and safety laws.

The AMR scheme offers an option for those interstate licensees not recognised under corresponding work, health and safety laws in NSW.

Interstate licensees will need to notify us of their intention to work here by completing an online notification. This can be accessed at the NSW Government website.

Under the AMR scheme, there is no need to obtain a local licence in a second state or territory or pay any additional licensing fees, as long as there is a home state licence in force.

Under AMR:

  • licensees working interstate are subject to all relevant laws in the second state or territory
  • their home state licence is considered a local licence in the second state or territory
  • the second state or territory cannot impose specific conditions on an interstate licensee if they are not conditions that would be imposed on a local licensee
  • any conditions on a licensee’s home state licence still apply while working in the second state or territory
  • licensees may appear on the second state’s public register - this depends on the state or territory.

The scheme does not apply to New Zealand occupational registrations and licences.

Corresponding work, health and safety laws

There are corresponding WHS laws in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory.

This means your NSW licence will be accepted there, and licences from these places will be accepted in NSW.

ACT licences must have been issued after 1 January 2015 to be used in NSW.

Mutual Recognition

Licensed workers who are ineligible for AMR and not recognised under corresponding WHS laws in NSW, may be able to apply to work interstate under Mutual Recognition (MR) arrangements.

MR enables a licensed worker to work in another state or territory by having their qualifications recognised in NSW and vice versa.

Under the MR system you can practise an equivalent occupation in NSW if the activities you're authorised to carry out under your original licence are substantially the same as those under the occupational licence in NSW.

You'll need to apply for recognition of your existing licence and pay any applicable fee.

For an application form please email the SafeWork licensing team or contact us on 13 10 50.

Note: Asbestos removalists operating in NSW must notify SafeWork NSW when carrying out asbestos removal work.

Latest updates

Find information about working as a licensed asbestos removalist.

Contact us

Need help applying?

If you need help with your application or have a question, please call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.

Unsuccessful applications

You can apply for a review.

A review involves a different SafeWork officer, who was not involved in the original decision on your application.

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