RII40720 is the nationally recognised Certificate IV behind building associate work. It has been the current version on the national register since 2021, when it replaced RII40615 and RII40715. About 2,193 building associate jobs were advertised in June 2026, up 10.4% on a year earlier.
Often searched as Cert 4 in Civil Construction · Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au
Online job ads · June 2026
2,193last month
Building associate roles advertised across Australia
Up on a year earlier
Long-term outlook
Mixed
Two structural signals up; enrolments falling
Register status
Current
Replaced RII40615, RII40715 in 2021
Enrolments
Falling
Down 12.6% in a year
Funding status
Verification pending
Checked against official state program lists
The short answer
The signals behind the Certificate IV in Civil Construction are mixed, and both sides are worth weighing. Building associates are in national shortage, employment is projected to grow through 2035 and job ads in June 2026 were up 10.4% on a year earlier. Enrolments are falling. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.
Jobs and Skills Australia
Is the work there?
Employers are posting more building associate jobs than a year ago. About 2,193 building associate jobs were advertised online in June 2026, up 10.4% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months there were about 25,000 job ads, while 1,520 people were training in the qualification nationally (2025). Ads show the market. Enrolments show the pipeline. Neither is a job promise.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Internet Vacancy Index · latest month June 2026 · ANZSCO 3121
Combined monthly online job ads across Building Associate, to June 2026
Official shortage list
Australia's official shortage list rates building inspectors and surveying or spatial science technicians as in shortage. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates Building Inspector and Surveying or Spatial Science Technician as in national shortage; Construction Estimator as in shortage in regional areas; Architectural Draftsperson, Building Associate, Plumbing Inspector and Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians nec as not in shortage.
Jobs and Skills Australia, Occupation Shortage List · 2025 assessment
Ten year outlook
Building associate jobs are projected to grow. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 84,203 workers in May 2025, 91,155 by May 2030 (up 8.3%) and 96,143 by May 2035 (up 14.2%).
84,203
workers, May 2025
91,155
workers, May 2030
96,143
workers, May 2035
Jobs and Skills Australia employment projections · May 2025 to May 2035
Occupation mapping by Get Course, shown with ANZSCO codes so it can be checked.
NCVER Student Outcomes
How graduates do
Certificate IV in Civil Construction graduates do better than is typical at Certificate IV level. In the 2025 NCVER Student Outcomes survey, 97.8% were employed or in further study after training. The typical Certificate IV result is 89.9%, across 71 qualifications. 88.9% were satisfied with the training, against 87.8% typical.
97.8%
employed or in further study after training (2025)
typical 89.9% across 71 Certificate IVs
88.9%
satisfied with the training (2025)
typical 87.8% across 71 Certificate IVs
Level benchmarks are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IVs in the same collection, not official NCVER benchmarks.
NCVER Student Outcomes · 2025 survey
NCVER Total VET Activity
Who is training
Fewer people are enrolling in the Certificate IV in Civil Construction than a year ago. Across Australia, 1,740 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 1,520, down 12.6% in a year. National data for RII40720 starts in 2021.
2019
not yet introduced
2020
not yet introduced
190
2021
2,200
2022
2,050
2023
1,740
2024
1,520
2025
NCVER Total VET Activity · 2025 collection
training.gov.au · Australian Qualifications Framework
What does studying it involve?
The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.
How long it takes
A Certificate IV is typically 0.5 to 2 years of full-time study under the Australian Qualifications Framework. Providers set the exact length and pace.
Delivery
Providers set the delivery mode.
Credit for experience
Recognition of prior learning applies to RII40720 like any qualification on the national register: an approved provider assesses your evidence against each unit.
training.gov.au national register; Australian Qualifications Framework.
State subsidised training lists
What does it cost, and who funds it?
State funding for RII40720 is being verified against official program lists.
Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.
Official state subsidised training program lists, verified per state. Full-fee prices will appear here as partner courses are listed.
training.gov.au · unit packaging
What is in the qualification
The register lists 5 core units for the Certificate IV in Civil Construction, plus 91 elective options. Prerequisites apply to Four of them, marked below.
BSBLDR411Demonstrate leadership in the workplace
BSBOPS402Coordinate business operational plans
BSBWHS411Implement and monitor WHS policies, procedures and programs
RIICWM401ESupervise civil works
RIIRIS401EApply site risk management system
View the 91 elective options
BSBESB401Research and develop business plans
BSBESB403Plan finances for new business ventures
BSBESB404Market new business ventures
BSBFIN401Report on financial activity
BSBFIN501Manage budgets and financial plans
BSBHRM413Support the learning and development of teams and individuals
BSBINS402Coordinate workplace information systems
BSBOPS404Implement customer service strategies
BSBPEF402Develop personal work priorities
BSBPMG424Apply project human resources management approaches
BSBPMG427Apply project procurement procedures
BSBPMG430Undertake project work
BSBSTR401Promote innovation in team environments
BSBSTR402Implement continuous improvement
BSBSUS411Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
LGACOM401AAdminister contracts
LGACOM402AArrange contracts
LGACOM409APrepare tender documentation
LGACOM410APrepare response to tenders
LGADMIN417AConduct community consultations
LGAWORK401ADevelop works maintenance schedule
LGAWORK402APrepare for operational works
LGAWORK403AManage civil plant and resources
MSL924003Process and interpret data
MSL953003Receive and prepare samples for testing
MSL954004Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan
MSL973013Perform basic tests
MSL973014Prepare working solutions
MSL973018Prepare trial batches for evaluation
MSL973021Conduct field-based acceptance tests for construction materials
MSL973022Conduct laboratory-based acceptance tests for construction materials
MSL974016Perform physical and mechanical tests
MSL974017Prepare, standardise and use solutions
MSL974019Perform chemical tests and procedures
MSL974026Perform tests to determine the properties of construction materials (has prerequisites)
MSL975031Supervise sampling, inspections and testing at construction sites (has prerequisites)
MSL975044Perform complex tests to measure engineering properties of materials (has prerequisites)
RIIBLA301EConduct surface shotfiring operations
RIIBLA401EManage blasting operations
RIIBLA402EMonitor and control the effects of blasting on the environment
RIICBS401ESupervise asphalt paving and compaction operations
RIICBS402ESupervise the application of bituminous sprayed treatments
RIICBS403ESupervise the application of polymer modified binders
RIICBS404ESupervise the selection and use of bituminous emulsions
RIICBS405ESupervise micro surfacing operations
RIICBS406ESupervise pavement profiling operations using a profiler
RIICBS407ESupervise the manufacture and delivery of hot mix asphalt
RIICBS408ESupervise the manufacture of cold mixes
RIICBS409ESupervise the manufacture of polymer modified binders
RIICBS410ESupervise the manufacture of bituminous emulsions
RIICBS411ESupervise the manufacture of micro surfacing mixes
RIICCR401EDevelop and maintain positive community relations
RIICOM301ECommunicate information
RIICPL401ESupervise the installation of underground services using open excavation
RIICRC401ESupervise flexible pavement construction
RIICRC402ESupervise rigid pavement construction
RIICRC403ESupervise the stabilisation of materials
RIICRC404EInspect and report on pavement condition
RIICRC405ECarry out pavement condition measurement
RIICRC406ESupervise pavement maintenance
RIICSG401ESupervise civil concrete structure construction
RIICSG402ESupervise civil steel structure construction
RIICSG403ESupervise civil timber structure construction
RIICSG404ESupervise civil masonry, crib and gabion structure construction
RIICSG405ECarry out inspections of civil structures
RIICSG406ESupervise maintenance of civil structures
No Get Course partner currently lists this qualification. Check the national register for organisations approved to deliver it, and remember that approval to deliver is a regulatory fact, not a recommendation. You can browse live courses from our partners and enquire today.
Get Course maps RII40720 to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 3121) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Outcome benchmarks marked “typical” are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IVs in the same NCVER collection; they are derived figures, not official NCVER benchmarks. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; NCVER Student Outcomes survey 2025 survey; Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index latest month June 2026; Occupation Shortage List 2025 assessment; employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; register training.gov.au, synced 3 September 2026; register synced 18 Sept 2026. Page last updated 19 Sept 2026.
About this page. Every number on this page shows its source and date. Register data synced 18 Sept 2026 from training.gov.au. Compiled by Get Course from public data sources. It is not provided or endorsed by any training organisation, and nothing here is advice about your individual situation. Statistics describe groups; your result depends on you. If you represent a training organisation and want to correct or add to this page, contact hello@getcourse.com.au.