In Tasmania, asbestos removal licences are issued by WorkSafe Tasmania under the Work Health and Safety Regulations 2022, and applications are lodged in person at a Service Tasmania service centre. This guide sums up what you need before you apply.
Do you need a licence?
You need a licence to remove more than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos, or any amount of friable asbestos. Removing less than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos doesn't need a licence, but it must still be done in line with the code of practice How to Safely Remove Asbestos.
Class A or Class B?
- Class B covers non-friable asbestos and the asbestos-contaminated dust from removing more than 10 square metres of it. A competent person does the clearance inspection.
- Class A covers friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos and asbestos-contaminated dust. A licensed asbestos assessor must do the clearance inspection and issue the clearance certificate.
Both licences last five years unless WorkSafe cancels them.
Who can apply
The applicant must be a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), and the application must name a nominated supervisor. If you're applying as an individual and will supervise the work yourself, you put your own details in that section. The supervisor must be at least 18, and you need to give proof of age.
Supervisor experience and training
- Class A: at least three years' relevant industry experience removing friable asbestos, shown by a description of the work done over those three years and references (names and phone numbers). The supervisor needs certificates for the supervision course and for both the non-friable and friable removal courses.
- Class B: at least 12 months' experience removing non-friable asbestos, with a description of the work and references for that period. The supervisor needs certificates for the supervision course and the non-friable removal course.
References are only needed for new applications, or when a licence holder adds a new nominated supervisor (WorkSafe Tasmania).
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 That unit was superseded in November 2020 by the equivalent CPCCDE4008 Supervise asbestos removal, which is the supervision unit regulators now list.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.
Class A extra: certified safety management system
Class A applicants must give evidence of a certified safety management system that's currently in place. WorkSafe Tasmania says it must comply with ISO 45001 or an equivalent system WorkSafe accepts.
What to bring to Service Tasmania
- The completed Application for asbestos removal licence (Class A or Class B) form.
- Proof of identity for each named supervisor, and the experience evidence and training certificates above.
- A certificate of currency for workers compensation insurance, unless you're an exempt employer.
- Your trading name registration certificate if you trade under a business name, or your certificate of incorporation if you're applying as a company.
- Payment of the application fee. Check WorkSafe Tasmania's licensing fees page for the current amount before you go.
WorkSafe Tasmania generally won't issue a licence if you already hold an equivalent licence from another state, territory or the Commonwealth, unless that licence is due for renewal. Applicants living outside Tasmania, or companies with a registered address outside Tasmania, need to satisfy WorkSafe that the licence should be granted. Current interstate licences are recognised in Tasmania when used according to their terms and conditions.
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.
For disposal, see our Tasmanian disposal guide.
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.