Hi again guys,

My husband is thinking of training to be a building surveyor once we get over to Oz. There seems to be some conflicting information on the net about how in demand this profession is. Do any of you know if this would be a viable career move over there? Any advice much appreciated!

Oh, and we would come over either on a sponsored visa if I get a job or through getting his mechanic skills assessed but he is self taught and has been self employed so I am not sure how easy that is going to be.

Clare

Hi Clare,
I am under the impression that your hubby will first need to complete his cert 4 in building and construction and as he is a mechanic this will involve doing his cert 3 first. Once these are completed he will then need a cert 5 all this should take around 4 - 5 years as he has no building qualifications and can not complete some of the course work on the RPL system. This is what I have been advised by the H.I.A, but as I have my cert 3 & 4 I will only need to complete cert 5 on RPL because of my previous experience.

Hope some of this helps.

No not the case in NSW or hopefully VIC as i've moved, I'm presently doing the Diploma in Building Surveying with OTEN which is the distance learning arm of TAFE NSW. It's probably a 2 year course if done in college but as I have alot of RPL and can go at my pace it will prob be about 18 months for me.

That qualifies you as a certifier (equiv of UK building control inspector) building code (BCA) can then be signed of by you as a certifier as council involvement is not needed for all new building works in oz (some are for instance if in bushfire prone zone.)

Your oh can even sign up with OTEN from UK but unless you have validated perm residence visa then you pay the international fee which can be pricey.

let me know if you need more info.

one thing i would say is there are little number of bld surveyor jobs advertised!

I looked into it a few years ago and I found that TAFE qualifications for surveying are pretty much worthless now. No one will take you on as a grad unless you have a degree in Engineering or Science. Curtin here in Perth has a specialist surveying course. My neighbour started work as a building surveyor but he did 3 years of an Engineering degree at ECU and the company was run by his sisters husband.

Obviously if you have contacts in the sector these avenues can be avoided. I'm pretty sure though that the TAFE diplomas at years 1 and two are equivilant to 1-2 years of University study so it's possible to do two years of tafe then 1 year of Uni and you get the Surveying degree. Great way to save money!

spot on, once the dip is completed I can do one year for degree level at TAFE holmesglen and save $,000's compared to uni track.

But I can be self employed licensed certifier at dip level which fits into my multi discipline building services business plan.

always more than one way to skin a cat!

good luck all!