In South Australia, asbestos removal licences are issued by SafeWork SA under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 (SA).
Class A (unlimited) and Class B (limited)
SA describes the two classes as Class A (unlimited), for any asbestos including friable material, and Class B (limited), for asbestos-cement products such as fibro and other non-friable materials like floor tiles. The SA Government notes that asbestos-backed vinyl floor coverings are friable and need a Class A licence (SA.GOV.AU).
Supervisors and training
Each application includes a supervisor nomination. Under the regulations, a Class B nominated supervisor must be at least 18, hold the supervision certification and have at least one year's relevant industry experience (reg 494). Class A supervisors need the friable removal and supervision units and at least three years' relevant experience, and must be present while friable work is being done.
One note on course codes: older guides and some regulator pages still mention CPCCBC4051A Supervise asbestos removal. That unit was superseded in November 2020 by the equivalent CPCCDE4008 Supervise asbestos removal, which is the supervision unit regulators now list. If you're booking training, look for CPCCDE4008 or its newer equivalent version (on training.gov.au, CPCCDE4008 was itself replaced by the equivalent CPCCDE4009 in February 2026). The removal units are CPCCDE3014 Remove non-friable asbestos and CPCCDE3015 Remove friable asbestos, or their newer equivalents. Check with your training provider and the regulator that the course you book meets the licence requirements.
Applying
- Download the Class A or Class B application form and supervisor nomination form from SafeWork SA.
- Lodge the signed application with the fee and supporting documents listed in the form.
After you're licensed
You must notify SafeWork SA at least five days before every asbestos removal job, through the SafeWork SA online portal. Licences are renewed every five years. Transporting asbestos for fee or reward needs an EPA waste transport licence. See our SA disposal guide.
Asbestos assessor licence
An asbestos assessor licence is separate from a removal licence. Under the model WHS Regulations, a licensed assessor must carry out air monitoring, clearance inspections and clearance certificates for Class A (friable) removal work. Applicants generally need either the unit Conduct asbestos assessment associated with removal (listed as CPCCBC5014A on regulator pages) or a tertiary qualification in occupational health and safety, occupational hygiene, science, building, construction or environmental health, plus relevant experience. An assessor must be independent of the removalist on the job.
This guide summarises official regulator information as at October 2026. Requirements and fees change, so always check the regulator's current page before you apply.