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Advanced Diploma · national qualification
Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
This is the study path for people who want to work as building surveyors or certifiers, the professionals who check that homes and commercial buildings meet the National Construction Code.
- How long it takes
- 18 to 24 months
- typical for this level
- Main job
- Building Inspector
- $118,600 median pay
- Taught by
- 6 providers
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how buildings are put together
- care in reading plans and specifications closely
- patience for checking details against the code
- comfort with legal and ethical responsibility
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Building Inspector
Building inspectors check construction work and finished buildings against the Building Code of Australia, so problems get fixed before a building is signed off.
What else you need
An approved Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying is an accepted qualification pathway for building inspectors and surveyors. The award alone does not confer registration or accreditation, and requirements differ by state. Check the relevant licensing authority and that your course meets its approved list.
Median pay$118,600
If you study further
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 6 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Federation University Australia (opens in a new tab)
Federation University Australia
23 campuses, NSW, VIC
4.2from 562 Google reviews
What students like
- Teaching and resources are high quality
- Friendships and classmates make study memorable
What to weigh up
- Admissions can be slow
- Poor communication with students
- Learning support can be slow to follow through
- Website for TasTAFE (opens in a new tab)
TasTAFE
12 campuses, TAS
4.3from 167 Google reviews
- Website for National Skills Pty Ltd (opens in a new tab)
National Skills Pty Ltd
National Skills Pty Ltd, QLD
5.0from 374 Google reviews
What students like
- Staff are friendly and easy to deal with
- Staff respond quickly and communicate clearly
What you’ll learn
22 units: 19 that everyone takes and 3 you choose.
- Building codes and standards
- Reading plans and specifications
- Structural principles
- Assessing design compliance
- Construction inspections and audits
- Building and planning applications
See all 19 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares people to work as building surveyors or certifiers, who check that homes and commercial buildings meet the National Construction Code. The roles it leads to include architectural drafter, building designer, building inspector, construction estimator, plumbing inspector and surveying technician. The work is highly regulated and involves reading plans, applying structural principles, assessing designs, and doing on site inspections.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. Individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?
Licensing or registration applies to building surveying in some states and territories. It is worth checking with the relevant regulator before you enrol.