Class A vs Class B Asbestos Removal Licence
Australia and New Zealand both run a two-tier asbestos removal licensing system: Class A and Class B. The split comes down to one thing: whether the material is friable or non-friable. Get that right and the rest of the rules follow. Here's what each licence covers, where the line sits, and what it takes to hold one.
It all hinges on friable vs non-friable
Every licensing decision starts with the condition of the material, not the building or the job size.
- Friable asbestos is material that is in powder form, or that can be crumbled, pulverised, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. Think sprayed fireproofing, pipe lagging, and loose-fill insulation. It releases airborne fibres easily, so it carries the highest risk.
- Non-friable (bonded) asbestos is mixed with cement or a bonding agent that holds the fibres in place: fibre cement sheeting, vinyl floor tiles, corrugated roofing. It's more stable, but it can still release fibres if it's cut, drilled, broken, or left to weather and deteriorate.
Because friable material is so much more likely to put fibres in the air, the law treats it differently. That's the whole logic behind the two classes.
Class A licence
A Class A licence is the higher of the two. It permits the holder to remove any type and any amount of asbestos:
- Any amount of friable asbestos
- Any amount of non-friable (bonded) asbestos
- Any amount of asbestos-contaminated dust or debris (ACD)
In short, a Class A holder can do everything a Class B holder can, plus friable work. Any job that involves friable asbestos, no matter how small, must be carried out under a Class A licence.
Class B licence
A Class B licence is narrower. It permits removal of:
- Any amount of non-friable (bonded) asbestos
- Asbestos-contaminated dust or debris associated with removing that non-friable asbestos
A Class B holder can't touch friable asbestos. The moment a job involves friable material, it's Class A work and needs a Class A removalist.
When no licence is required
You don't need a licence to remove 10 square metres or less of non-friable asbestos, measured cumulatively across the whole job at a site. That's the threshold that makes a Class B licence mandatory.
One catch worth stating plainly: you can't get around it by carving a large area into 10 m² sections and removing them one at a time. The 10 m² is the total for the whole job. And unlicensed doesn't mean unregulated. The work still has to follow the relevant Code of Practice and WHS rules, and anyone doing it needs asbestos awareness training.
Side by side
| Work involved | No licence | Class B | Class A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friable asbestos (any amount) | No | No | Yes |
| Non-friable asbestos, 10 m² or less | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Non-friable asbestos, more than 10 m² | No | Yes | Yes |
| Asbestos-contaminated dust (ACD) | No | Non-friable work only | Any |
Who has to supervise the work
Both classes require a trained asbestos removal supervisor, but the bar is higher for Class A. Supervisors and workers hold nationally recognised units of competency, completed through a registered training organisation. The long-standing ones, still shown on many existing certificates, are Remove non-friable asbestos (CPCCDE3014), Remove friable asbestos (CPCCDE3015), and Supervise asbestos removal (CPCCDE4008). Newer versions have since replaced them: CPCCDE4009 replaced the supervision unit on 3 February 2026, and the removal units are now CPCCDE3028 and CPCCDE3029.
- Class A. The supervisor must hold the friable removal and supervision competencies plus several years of relevant experience, and must be present on site while friable removal is underway.
- Class B. The supervisor needs the non-friable removal and supervision competencies plus relevant experience, and must be on site or readily available while the work is underway.
Exact experience requirements and how "readily available" is defined vary by state and territory, so confirm the detail with your regulator.
Air monitoring and clearance
This is another place the two classes part ways. Class A (friable) work has to be checked by an independent licensed asbestos assessor, who carries out air monitoring during the job and the clearance inspection afterwards, then issues the clearance certificate.
For Class B (non-friable) work, the clearance inspection and certificate can be issued by an independent competent person. A licensed assessor isn't mandatory, though one can still do it.
Notifying the regulator
A licensed removalist, whether Class A or Class B, has to notify the relevant WHS regulator in writing at least five days before licensed removal work starts. The notification names the supervisor who will oversee the job, along with the site and client details.
New Zealand
New Zealand uses the same Class A and Class B structure under the Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016, and the boundaries line up closely with Australia:
- Class A covers any type or quantity of asbestos, including friable asbestos and ACD.
- Class B covers non-friable asbestos and the associated ACD only.
- Removing more than 10 m² of non-friable asbestos requires a licensed removalist; any amount of friable asbestos requires Class A.
- Class A sites need a licensed assessor for air monitoring and clearance; Class B clearance can be issued by an independent competent person.
Licences are issued by WorkSafe New Zealand and a Class A licence requires a nominated supervisor with the relevant certified competency.
How to get licensed
Asbestos removal licences are issued by the WHS regulator in each Australian state and territory, and by WorkSafe in New Zealand. The path is broadly the same wherever you are:
- Hold the right units of competency for the class of work, gained through a registered training organisation.
- Show the relevant hands-on experience, with more expected for Class A than for Class B.
- Nominate a qualified supervisor and apply to your regulator with the supporting evidence and fee.
Licences are typically granted for a period of up to five years before they need renewing, though the exact term and requirements sit with each regulator. Our State Licensing Reference lists the regulator for every jurisdiction.
The short version
Class A covers everything, including friable asbestos. Class B is limited to non-friable asbestos and its associated dust. Anything friable is always Class A, and 10 m² or less of non-friable needs no licence at all. If you're unsure which class a job falls under, treat the material as the deciding factor and check with your regulator before you start.
Looking to hire instead? Find a licensed asbestos removalist on Asbestos List.
This information is provided as a general reference. Requirements differ between jurisdictions and can change. Always check directly with the relevant regulator for current requirements before carrying out or commissioning asbestos removal work.