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Course update

NSW E1 Swimming Pool Certifications Course

An E1 Accredited Certifier is now known as a Registered Swimming Pool Inspector. The NSW Office of Fair Trading is now the State Government department who licenses Registered Swimming Pool Inspectors — the NSW Building Professionals Board no longer does this.

Read on to find out what is actually current, how to become licensed in NSW today and how APSIC can help you!

What changed

E1 Swimming Pool Certifier is no longer the current title

The role once known as an E1 Swimming Pool Certifier is now called a Registered Swimming Pool Inspector in NSW, regulated through NSW Office of Fair Trading rather than the former Building Professionals Board. APSIC previously offered a course for people wanting to provide ‘consultancy advice’ to pool owners.

How can we help? APSIC delivers the QLD Course in Swimming Pool Safety Inspections, which has no pre-requisite requirements for enrolment. A NSW individual can complete the QLD course and then apply for that licence to be mutually recognised in NSW. You can now work in QLD and NSW! Read on below for how we can help you

How it actually works today

NSW Course has strict prerequisite requirements for enrolment – we can help you!

To become a NSW Registered Swimming Pool Safety Inspector (previously E1 Accredited Certifier) you must first enrol in the NSW Course. Unfortunately there are strict prerequisite requirements in NSW to enrol directly into that course. You must hold certain builder or certifier qualifications or have relevant council experience. There are also limited training providers.

How can APSIC help? We deliver the QLD 11067NAT Course in Swimming Pool Safety Inspections. There are no prerequisite requirements to enrol in this course. After completing this course, you can then obtain your QLD licence, and then obtain your NSW equivalent licence with the NSW Office of Fair Trading through the process known as ‘Mutual Recognition’. Read on below for further information about how we can assist you.

How it works

Three steps from no qualifications to licensed in NSW

The QLD mutual recognition pathway is the most accessible route for NSW residents to become a licensed pool safety inspector, no matter your background.

1
Step one
Complete the QLD 11067NAT course with APSIC
Live 2.5-day face-to-face Zoom course from home. No prerequisites, no travel to Queensland. Your written assessment is completed during the course.
No prerequisites
2
Step two
Obtain your QBCC Pool Safety Inspectors Licence
After completing your qualification (RTO 40963), apply for your QBCC Pool Safety Inspectors Licence. Jacqui guides you through it.
Jacqui guides you
3
Step three
Apply for NSW Mutual Recognition
With your QLD licence, apply to the NSW Office of Fair Trading to become a Registered Swimming Pool Inspector. You’ll need your QLD licence, PI Insurance, and the mutual recognition form.
Licensed in QLD + NSW
QLD course + licence + NSW mutual recognition: $3,100 total — and you end up licensed in both states.

Why the QLD pathway works for NSW residents

Anyone from NSW can get licensed through mutual recognition

The NSW course has strict prerequisites for enrolment that most people looking to enter this industry simply don’t hold. The QLD pathway removes that barrier entirely.

Live Zoom — no travel to Queensland
APSIC delivers the full 2.5-day theory component live via Zoom. NSW residents attend from home or office, no need to travel.
Licensed in both states on completion
Complete the mutual recognition pathway and you'll hold a licence in both States, across two of Australia's largest property markets.
Legitimate pathway, not a loop hole
Many licensed industries allow someone who holds a licence in one State to apply for the same in another State through mutual recognition.
Cheaper to get licensed in both states
QLD course + QLD and NSW licence: total cost $3,100. The NSW course alone: total cost $3,500. You save $400 and get two licences.
Your trainer knows both QLD and NSW
Jacqui Murphy has delivered the QLD course for 15+ years and the NSW course for 2 years, so she understands the legislation for both states.
QLD pathway vs direct NSW enrolment

Why most NSW residents choose the QLD route

How APSIC compares to self-paced providers
A side-by-side comparison of both approaches to becoming a pool safety inspector
APSIC — live delivery
Live Zoom with Jacqui — 2.5 full days, virtual face to face from office/home
Written assessment done during the course — 90% pass required
Real-time Q&A throughout with student interaction
FREE: 3 onsite inspection queries post training ($150 value)
15+ years specialist trainer experience
Self-paced online providers
Read materials on your own – no live interaction
All assessment done independently – 100% pass required
No real time support or interaction
No post-course expert industry trainer access
Trainer background often unclear
Who enrols from NSW

NSW residents from every background choose this pathway

Because there are no prerequisites for the QLD 11067NAT course, Jacqui has trained NSW residents from every conceivable background since 2010.

🔨
Trades & construction
Adding pool safety inspections to existing services
🏠
Real estate & property
Agents expanding into pool safety compliance
🏛️
Council & government
Officers gaining formal qualifications
👨‍👩‍👧
Career changers
A flexible career that works across two states
👮
Career changers
Transitioning into inspection careers
🌏
NSW & interstate
Inspectors who want to work across both states
NSW-specific requirements

Pool safety laws in NSW are more complex than QLD

While the QLD 11067NAT qualification is fully recognised under the mutual recognition pathway and will allow you to apply for your NSW licence, it’s essential you also gain the knowledge to conduct inspections in NSW correctly.

Different legislation and standards

Pool safety laws are State based, not federal. NSW references barrier requirements that don’t always align one-to-one with the QLD framework you’ll be trained under.

Different inspection requirements

QLD requires a Pool Safety Certificate for sale or lease. NSW requires a Certificate of Compliance valid for 3 years.

Example compliance difference

In QLD a boundary fence may be as low as 1200mm with NCZ on the neighbour’s property. In NSW, under AS 1926.1-2012, it must be 1800mm with the NCZ measured on the pool owner’s side.

Multiple Standards apply in NSW

NSW inspectors must know 3 Australian Standards (AS 1926-1986, AS 1926.1-2007, AS 1926.1-2012), the one used depends on the age of the pool and any exemptions.

This industry directly contributes to child safety, so understanding those differences matters. If you don’t have a colleague to guide you, you may need further education on NSW-specific legislation and Standards.

Your trainer

Training pool safety inspectors since 2010

Jacqui Murphy
Principal Trainer · APSIC

Jacqui has delivered the 11067NAT Course in Swimming Pool Safety Inspections since the QLD pool safety industry began in December 2010, making her one of Australia’s most experienced trainers for this qualification. Many of her students over the years have been NSW residents using the mutual recognition pathway.

She guides every APSIC student through the QBCC licence application, the NSW mutual recognition application, and the PI Insurance requirements, so you’re never navigating it alone.

What’s included

Everything included in your QLD course enrolment

NSW residents receive every one of these
Plus guidance through the mutual recognition process
2.5 days live face-to-face Zoom with Jacqu
Student Learner’s Guide + Assessment Kit
QLD Pool Safety Standard, QDC MP 3.4
Real live pool inspection videos
All workplace templates
QBCC licence application guidance
NSW mutual recognition process guidance
PI Insurance referral for QLD/NSW accreditation
Common questions

NSW pool safety inspector — frequently asked questions

How do I become a pool safety inspector in NSW?
Complete the QLD 11067NAT course with APSIC (no prerequisites), obtain your QBCC Pool Safety Inspectors Licence, then apply for mutual recognition as a Registered Swimming Pool Inspector with the NSW Office of Fair Trading. APSIC delivers the QLD course live via Zoom, no travel required.
Why can't I just enrol in the NSW course directly?
The NSW course has strict prerequisites, an A4 Certifier accreditation, an endorsed contractor’s licence as a pool builder, or two years of council experience inspecting at least 20 pools. Most people don’t hold these, which is why the QLD pathway exists.
Do I need to travel to Queensland?
No. APSIC delivers the full 2.5-day theory component live via Zoom. The only component outside Zoom is the practical assessment video, filmed at a pool near you within 6 months.
Will I be licensed in both QLD and NSW?
Yes. Complete the pathway and you’ll hold a QBCC Pool Safety Inspectors Licence (QLD) and a Registered Swimming Pool Inspector licence (NSW). Note NSW legislation and standards differ from QLD, so familiarise yourself with NSW-specific requirements first.
What is NSW mutual recognition?
Mutual recognition allows a licensed QLD Pool Safety Inspector to apply for a NSW licence without completing a separate NSW course. You apply to the NSW Office of Fair Trading with your QBCC licence, PI Insurance, and a completed application form.
How much does it cost in total?
The QLD course fee is $1,450 standard ($1,390 early bird within 48 hours of enquiring). The QLD licence fee is approximately $680. The NSW mutual recognition fee is $968. Total approximately $3,100, plus PI Insurance.
Does Jacqui help with the mutual recognition application?
Yes. Jacqui guides every student through the QBCC licence application and the NSW mutual recognition process, and can refer you to a PI Insurance provider. Contact her directly on 0411 461 432.
Is mutual recognition a legitimate pathway, or a loophole?
It’s legitimate, not a loophole. Under the Mutual Recognition Act 1992, if you hold a licence in one State, you may apply to another State for mutual recognition of that licence. You should still educate yourself on any legislative differences between states.

Not sure which applies to you?

Contact Jacqui directly, she can talk through your situation and point you to the right pathway.

Contact Jacqui →