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Do You Need a White Card to Become an Owner Builder in WA?
Do Owner Builders Need a White Card in WA?
If you're preparing to become an owner builder in Western Australia, you may be wondering whether completing an owner builder course is enough — or whether you also need a White Card.
For applicants using the owner-builder training pathway, the answer is yes: you need construction induction evidence as well as your owner-builder training evidence.
The current WA Government Form 75 requires an applicant using the course pathway to have completed an owner-builder course relevant to Western Australia within the previous two years and provide a copy of a White Card, Blue Card or another document showing completion of the required construction-induction unit.
These are two separate requirements, and it's important not to confuse them.
Your Owner Builder Course and White Card Are Different
An owner builder course and a White Card serve different purposes.
Your WA owner-builder training is about understanding the duties and responsibilities you take on when managing building work as an owner builder.
Construction induction training is workplace safety training for people undertaking construction work.
The current Form 75 brings the two together under the owner-builder course pathway:
WA-specific owner-builder training + construction induction evidence → evidence of owner-builder knowledge for your application
Your White Card does not replace the owner-builder course, and completing an owner-builder course does not give you a White Card.
What Does Form 75 Actually Ask For?
Under the owner-builder course pathway (Pathway 1 on the current Form 75), the nominated owner/applicant demonstrating sufficient knowledge must provide evidence of:
Completion of an owner-builder course relevant to Western Australia no more than two years before the application; and
A White Card, Blue Card or other document demonstrating completion of the unit of competency Prepare to work safely in the construction industry.
The same construction-induction evidence is also requested from applicants relying on registration as an architect, building surveyor or building engineer, or on previous registration within the last five years. The form doesn't ask for it from applicants relying on current registration as a Building Practitioner in WA.
Only one applicant needs to demonstrate the required owner-builder knowledge where there are multiple owners, although all owners become jointly responsible for supervising and managing the building work.
What If You Have an Old WA Blue Card?
This is a useful one because some prospective owner builders completed construction induction training years ago.
Form 75 accepts either a White Card or a Blue Card as evidence.
WA changed the card design from blue to white in 2009.
So don't automatically assume that an older WA Blue Card is useless simply because it isn't white.
If your induction was completed in another Australian state or territory, WorkSafe WA generally recognises cards issued elsewhere, but some older card types are not recognised (for example, NSW green cards). Check that yours is a type WA accepts.
Does a White Card Expire in WA?
Not in the same way as a licence with a fixed expiry date.
WorkSafe WA states that a general construction induction card remains valid while the holder remains consistently within the construction industry. However, if the person leaves the construction industry for two consecutive years or longer, the card becomes invalid.
If you're relying on an older card and aren't sure whether it remains valid, check your circumstances before submitting your owner-builder application. If you're unsure what evidence will be accepted, you can contact the department's Licensing Services team on 1300 489 099.
WorkSafe WA also provides an online database where construction-induction card details can be checked.
What If You've Lost Your White Card?
WorkSafe WA advises first identifying the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that issued your construction induction card and contacting that RTO about a replacement.
If you don't know which RTO issued your card, WorkSafe's construction-induction card database may help you identify the provider.
Depending on your records and circumstances, you may need your Statement of Attainment or may need to undertake construction induction training again.
Where Can You Get a White Card in WA?
White Card training is nationally recognised construction-induction training and must be delivered by an appropriately registered training organisation. Only RTOs can deliver and assess nationally recognised training.
Owner Builder Institute does not currently provide White Card training.
If you need a White Card, use an appropriate RTO that delivers construction induction training for WA. WorkSafe WA provides information about construction induction training and finding an RTO.
Already Have Your White Card? What Comes Next?
If you already have acceptable construction-induction evidence and you're using the training pathway, the other major piece is your WA-specific owner-builder training.
Owner Builder Institute's online WA Owner Builder Course contains 10 modules covering areas including:
Becoming an owner builder in WA
What owner builders can and cannot build
Owner-builder approval and Form 75
The WA building permit process
Plans and drawings
Contracts, quotes, budgets and progress payments
WHS duties and construction safety
Insurance and selling obligations
Site management and sequencing
Inspections and completion
Most OBI students complete the course in approximately 2–4 hours, and receive a Certificate of Completion after successfully completing the course.
Getting Ready for Form 75
Once you've sorted out your owner-builder training and construction-induction evidence, you can start bringing the rest of your application together.
We've created two step-by-step guides to help:
White Card + Owner Builder Course: The Simple Version
If all the terminology is getting confusing, remember:
White Card → Construction induction/safety training
WA Owner Builder Course → Training about your duties and responsibilities as an owner builder
Form 75 → Your application for owner-builder approval
Owner-builder approval → Required before applying for the relevant building permit as an owner builder
Building permit → The later local-government permit stage before the relevant building work proceeds
The WA Government currently requires owner-builder approval before you apply to your local government for a building permit as an owner builder.
Preparing to Owner Build in WA?
If you're planning an owner-builder project, getting your training and application evidence organised early can make the process much easier.
If you already hold the necessary construction-induction evidence, you can learn more about Owner Builder Institute's online WA-specific owner-builder training below.
Learn more about Owner Builder Institute's online WA-specific owner-builder training.
For official White Card and construction-induction information, refer to WorkSafe WA, and for current owner-builder eligibility and application requirements, refer to the WA Government owner-builder approval requirements before applying.
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