WA Painters Registration: Overview of Current System & Proposed Changes
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) is consulting with the National Painting and Decorating Institute (NPDI) on proposed changes to painter registration requirements in Western Australia.​​ WA’s regulatory framework is considered among the most professional in Australia but current proposals raise concerns:
Requiring apprentices to study estimating twice, adding unnecessary duplication.
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Forcing qualified painters to pay for reassessment through specific "approved TSA providers" to prove already-earned qualifications.
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Continuing to allow registration of painters without essential training in working at heights, lead paint removal, or asbestos encapsulation despite the public safety risks.
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Preventing experienced painters from accessing the training needed to become fully qualified.
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These proposals are deemed counterproductive and unlikely to enhance safety or industry standards.
Existing Registration Pathways
Registration Pathway Requirements
Set 1: Trade Qualified - Certificate III in Painting and Decorating (nationally recognised)
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Two business units (small-business legal/risk + estimating)
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Either a completed apprenticeship or 4 years full-time painting experience.
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Set 2: Experienced Pathway - Course in Painters’ Registration (52921WA) or equivalent
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Practical trade test
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Minimum 5 years painting experience.
Certificate III in Painting & Decorating: The Industry Standard
The Certificate III in Painting and Decorating is the only nationally endorsed, industry-recognised qualification across Australia.
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It’s recognised by TAFEs, RTOs, employers, immigration, and government agencies.
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Required for licensing in NSW, QLD, and registration in Victoria.
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Updated in 2020, implemented since 2021, it now includes the CPCCCM3005 - Calculate Costs of Construction Work unit, ensuring all apprentices the ability to estimate, cost, and quote professionally.
Issues with the 52921WA Course (Set 2 Pathway)
This Pathway-2 course:
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Lacks any training or assessment in working at heights, scaffolds, lead-paint removal, asbestos encapsulation, or even basic painting skills.
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Poses safety risks to workers and the public by enabling registration without critical competencies.
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A NPDI survey showed 88% of WA painters believe only fully qualified painters should be allowed to register.
NPDI strongly recommends removal of the Set 2 pathway, to uphold safety and professionalism.
Concerns Over Mandatory Trade Certificates & RPL Restrictions
Some RTOs and stakeholders are pushing to make a “Trade Certificate” mandatory for registration. However:
Trade Certificates are not formal qualifications, only awarded via apprenticeships or trade-recognition processes. This approach risks restricting registration to only a few RTOs and handicaps experienced painters trained interstate or via gap training, even if they hold nationally recognised Certificate III qualifications.
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Case studies highlight the impact:
A painter qualified via RPL moving to WA needed reassessment even with experience. Skilled immigrants may fail due to training gaps (e.g., asbestos or lead safety) and are denied gap training in WA.
According to NPDI survey data approximately 50% of registered WA painters never completed an apprenticeship. Nationally, fewer than 50% of painting trade workers complete apprenticeships. Mandatory trade certificates would worsen skills shortages and discourage experienced professionals.
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