In the Australian Capital Territory, Access Canberra handles asbestos removal and assessor licensing on behalf of the WorkSafe ACT Commissioner. The ACT's rules are stricter than most states in a few ways, so it's worth reading them closely before you apply.
How the ACT is different
- WorkSafe ACT states that no asbestos-containing material may be removed from premises in the ACT, commercial or residential, by anyone other than a licensed asbestos removalist.
- Identification, risk assessment, auditing, air monitoring and clearance inspections can only be done by a licensed asbestos assessor, a broader scope than in other states.
Class A or Class B?
A Class A licence lets you remove friable asbestos, non-friable asbestos and asbestos-containing material. In the ACT you must hold Class A to remove friable asbestos. A Class B licence covers non-friable asbestos only.
Who can apply
Individuals and corporations can apply. You must live in the ACT, or for a corporation have a registered office in the ACT. If you don't, you must give a statement of your reasons for seeking an ACT licence and why you should be licensed there. An individual applicant must meet the supervisor requirements themselves; a corporation must appoint at least one person who does.
Supervisor requirements
- Class A: each supervisor must be at least 18, have at least three years' relevant industry experience, and hold CPCCDE3014 (or CPCCDE3014A) Remove non-friable asbestos, CPCCDE3015 (or CPCCDE3015A) Remove friable asbestos, and CPCCDE4008 Supervise asbestos removal. The business must also have a certified safety management system that meets the system determined by the regulator.
- Class B: each supervisor must be at least 18, have at least one year's relevant industry experience, and hold CPCCDE3014 and CPCCDE4008.
Access Canberra still lists the older supervision code alongside CPCCDE4008, so certificates in the old unit are listed as meeting the requirement.
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 That unit was superseded in November 2020 by the equivalent CPCCDE4008 Supervise asbestos removal, which is the supervision unit regulators now list.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.
Proving experience
Each named supervisor provides two written references from someone familiar with their asbestos removal work and with relevant industry knowledge, such as a licensed assessor, a licensed removalist or an occupational hygienist. Supporting evidence can include clearance certificates from past jobs, asbestos removal control plans, safe work method statements, and documents showing the client's name, address and scope of work. Class A applicants need evidence of Class A work, and Class B applicants evidence of Class B work.
Applying
- Complete the online application with Access Canberra, attach your evidence and pay the application fee.
- A licence assessment officer reviews it and may ask for more information.
- If approved, you're emailed an offer. You then pay the licence term fee, which covers five years.
- Your licence document and list of approved supervisors are posted to you, and your details go on WorkSafe ACT's public register.
Fees are set each financial year by the Work Health and Safety (Fees) Determination, so check the current determination before you apply. If you're refused, you can ask for an internal review.
Already licensed interstate?
Licences from other WHS states and territories can be recognised in the ACT. WorkSafe ACT asks interstate licence holders to notify it of their intention to work in the ACT, where possible within 20 working days of starting, using the online Intention to Work in the ACT form with a copy of the licence. Licence holders from Victoria and Western Australia, which aren't model WHS jurisdictions, must apply for an ACT licence.
Asbestos assessor licence
An ACT assessor licence is held by an individual who lives in the ACT (or justifies why they should be licensed there). Applicants need CPCCBC5014A, CPCCDE5001 or a relevant tertiary qualification, two written references, training certificates and copies of asbestos documents they've prepared, such as registers, risk assessments, air monitoring reports or clearance certificates.
For disposal, see our ACT 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.