Frequently Asked Questions

The Combined Pre-Purchase Residential Building and Pest Inspector QLD course bundles three AIT courses so you can offer combined building and timber pest inspections in Queensland:

• Pre-Purchase Residential Building Inspector QLD, the QBCC-approved course for the Completed Residential Building Inspection licence, which trains you to inspect completed homes and write reports that meet AS 4349.1;
• General Pest Management: CPPUPM3005 Manage pests without applying pesticides, CPPUPM3006 Manage pests by applying pesticides, and CPPUPM3018 Maintain equipment and pesticide storage area in pest management vehicles; and
• Timber Pest Management: CPPUPM3008 Inspect for and report on timber pests, and CPPUPM3010 Control timber pests.

The five pest units are nationally accredited units from the Certificate III in Urban Pest Management.

In Queensland, a licence for timber pest work requires the three general pest units (CPPUPM3005, CPPUPM3006 and CPPUPM3018) as well as CPPUPM3008 and CPPUPM3010. This bundle gives you all five, plus the QBCC-approved building inspection course.

Experienced Queensland builders who want to work as licensed pre-purchase building and timber pest inspectors, the combined service most home buyers ask for. The course is not designed for beginners.

You need:

• a Certificate IV, Diploma or Degree in Building and Construction;
• a QBCC builder's licence with at least five years' experience as a licensed builder;
• to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident; and
• a work placement with a licensed pest management business, arranged before you enrol.

Yes. If you plan to work only outside Queensland, the Combined Pre-Purchase Residential Building and Pest Inspector (National) course is designed for you. It doesn't meet the QBCC licence requirements, so choose this course if you want to work in Queensland.

Building inspection (9 modules):

1. Introduction
2. Customer Service Skills
3. Effective Communication
4. Australian Standard AS 4349
5. Pre-Engagement Agreement
6. Pre-Inspection Considerations
7. Site Inspection Procedures and Techniques
8. Report Writing
9. Insurance and Legal Implications

General pest management: inspecting for, identifying and managing pests with and without pesticides, integrated pest management, pesticide selection, labels and safety data sheets, calculating and mixing, sprayer calibration, and setting up a safe, legal storage area in your vehicle.

Timber pest management: inspecting buildings and sites for timber pests, identifying them and the damage they cause, writing inspection reports, and planning and carrying out treatments, including termite management systems, baiting, dusting, foaming and soil treatments.

• QBCC Completed Residential Building Inspection licence;
• Queensland Health Pest Management Licence – Timber Pests; and
• QBCC Termite Management – Chemical licence.

The course doesn't issue these licences. It helps you meet the training requirements, and you apply to each authority separately once you meet all their requirements.

The QBCC sets minimum net tangible assets (NTA) based on your expected maximum annual revenue. For example, category SC1 (up to $200,000) requires $12,000 NTA, and SC2 (up to $800,000) requires $46,000. If you already hold a QBCC builder contractor licence, you can't be in SC1. Check current requirements with the QBCC before you apply.

Professional indemnity insurance is required for both the QBCC building inspection licence (at least $1 million) and the termite management licence. You should also carry public liability insurance ($10–20 million). Make sure your policies cover both building and timber pest work.

Online and self-paced through AIT's Learning Management System (LMS). You can study at any time, and each module saves your place so you can stop and come back. There are no live tutorials or set online times, and you don't need advanced computer skills.

About 240 hours in total: about 160 hours of online learning and 80 hours of supervised work placement. Most students finish in 10 to 12 weeks.

You have 9 months from the date of enrolment to complete all three courses.

No. All study is online. Your practical work is done away from your computer: one building inspection that you arrange yourself, and your general and timber pest jobs with your supervising business.

Yes. You can download the building module notes, and each pest unit has a downloadable learner guide with the same content as the online modules.

Yes. Trainer support is available by email or phone. Call 1800 248 249 or email trainer@australianinspectortraining.com.au.

You will need:

• a desktop computer or laptop to complete the online learning modules;
• a smartphone to download the Formitize app and complete the building inspection report, and for photo evidence;
• safety boots, protective clothing, a ladder, a torch or headlamp, a tape measure and a spirit level for the building inspection; and
• access to pest inspection and treatment equipment, pesticides, termiticides and PPE through your supervising business, plus the Australian Standards AS 3660 and AS 4349.3 and the industry codes of practice for termite management and pre-purchase timber pest inspections.

Yes. You need Personal Accident Insurance cover for the practical building inspection. Many Australian insurers and brokers sell it as a standalone policy, and some offer short-term or activity-based versions. You should also obtain Public Liability Insurance, which covers injury you cause to other people or damage to their property.

There are three parts:

• Building: one unsupervised pre-purchase building inspection and report, completed in AIT's inspection app.
• General pest: 20 supervised general pest jobs at separate residential or commercial properties: 10 managing pests without pesticides (CPPUPM3005) and 10 managing pests with pesticides (CPPUPM3006), plus an evidence workbook for setting up and managing the pesticide storage area in a pest management vehicle (CPPUPM3018).
• Timber pest: 20 supervised jobs at different premises: 10 timber pest inspections with reports (CPPUPM3008) and 10 timber pest treatments with management plans (CPPUPM3010). Across each set of 10, at least 5 involve subterranean termites, and your treatments must include both slab-on-ground and suspended floor buildings.

Your own home, or a family member's or friend's, with the owner's written permission if it isn't yours. The property must be a detached house at least 5 years old. Don't use a newly built home: a pre-purchase inspection assesses wear, maintenance and the effects of ageing, which a new home rarely shows, and your trainer won't accept a report on a property less than 5 years old.

For the building inspection, no. It is unsupervised.

For the pest work, yes. You must complete your general pest jobs under the supervision of a licensed general pest technician, and your timber pest jobs under a licensed timber pest technician. You need to arrange your supervision before enrolling. If you don't have a supervisor, we can refer you to affiliated pest companies in capital cities. Supervision through an affiliated company costs $1,200 + GST per pest course, paid directly to the pest company. This isn't included in the course fee.

For each unit, you record 7 premises in your logbook with documents and photos, and your supervisor validates them. Your assessor observes the other 3, in person or by live video. For CPPUPM3018, your supervisor validates your evidence workbook and your assessor has a short interview with you about your spill kit and equipment.

Don't go there. Record it as a limitation in your report. Your trainer is assessing your judgement, not how much of the house you reached.

Building: a scored multiple-choice quiz at the end of each of the 9 modules (9 to 13 questions, 80% to pass), plus your practical inspection report, which a trainer assesses against AS 4349.1.

General and timber pest: an online multiple-choice knowledge assessment for each unit (80% to pass), plus the workplace evidence described above. Your assessor reviews everything and makes the final competency decision.

You can try again. For the building quizzes, the questions are shuffled on each attempt and the LMS records your best score. After a failed attempt you can see which questions or topics to review.

Your trainer will give you feedback and may ask you to revise and resubmit it.

It depends on your volume, prices and costs. As a guide, 2026 market surveys put a combined building and pest inspection at roughly $500–$800 or more in Brisbane, compared with $350–$700 for a building-only inspection. Prices vary with the size, age, access and location of the property. These figures are general market information, not a promise of earnings.

Besides pre-purchase building and pest inspections, you can offer pre-sale reports, strata and unit inspections, dilapidation reports, new-home stage and handover inspections, defect reports, general pest treatments, and termite treatments and management systems. Check that each service is within your licence scope and covered by your insurance.

Two options are available:

1. Pay upfront: $3,685 (includes a $500 bundle discount)
2. Payment plan: $985 on enrolment, then six weekly payments of $475

The discount is only available with the upfront payment option. Supervision costs for the pest work are separate (see above).

Payment terms and our refund policy are in our Student Handbook.

Yes. The General and Timber Pest Management units are nationally recognised, so you need a USI before we can issue your Statements of Attainment. You can create one free at usi.gov.au.

AIT will ensure that it handles complaints and appeals fairly and without bias. You can email complaints to info@australianinspectortraining.com.au. We will attempt to resolve the complaint within 5 working days.

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St Patrick Institute of Technology Pty Ltd trading as Australian Inspector Training