From 1 December 2010, pool safety certificates are required when selling or leasing a property with a pool. Pool safety inspectors can only issue a certificate when they have placed the certificate details onto the pool safety register. Pool owners and others, such as real estate agents and solicitors, will be able to search the register.

The legislation does not set the amount that pool safety inspectors can charge. This is determined by the market and pool owners are encouraged to shop around for the best deal. Local governments are obliged to provide a pool safety inspection service if asked and it is a matter for individual local governments if they charge and, if so, how much to provide the inspection service.

The main role of pool safety inspectors is to inspect pools to determine whether or not they comply with the pool safety standards. Upon inspection, the inspector must issue a pool safety certificate or nonconformity notice, depending on the outcome of the inspection. The nonconformity notice must state how the pool doesn't comply and what needs to be done to make it comply. The inspector can also, if agreed with the pool owner, carry out specified minor repairs (such as adjusting or replacing a latch or striker and removing climbable objects).

If pool owners are in any doubt about their pool safety inspection, they should request further clarification from the pool safety inspector in the first instance. They may also contact the Pool Safety Council for advice and may appeal an inspector's nonconformity notice to the Building and Development Dispute Resolution Committees.

Pool safety certificates must be obtained from a licensed pool safety inspector. Certificates are valid for one year for a shared pool and two years for a non-shared pool.

Licensing of Pool safety inspectors and approved pool safety inspector courses

Under the Building Act 1975, a person who performs pool safety inspection functions must be licensed by the Pool Safety Council (PSC) as a pool safety inspector.

More than 300 licensed building certifiers in Queensland are automatically licensed as pool safety inspectors until 4 November 2011.

Individuals applying to the PSC for a pool safety inspector licence must have a certificate of competency from an eligible course provider. They must also have passed the department's pool safety inspector test and have the required professional indemnity insurance.

Apply to become a licensed pool safety inspector

Course providers

Individuals proposing to enrol in a pool safety inspector's training course, including persons from local governments and the private sector, should contact the below PSC approved course providers for enrolment and other course information:

Accredited Pool Safety Inspector Courses (APSIC)
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
web: www.apsic.com.au

Allens Training Pty Ltd
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web: www.allenstraining.com.au

AssentTECS
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web: www.AssentTECS.com.au

MCIE Queensland
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web: www.mcie.edu.au

NSPI Australia
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web: www.nspi.com.au

Royal Life Saving Society Queensland
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web: www.royallifesavingqueensland.com.au

Training organisations interested in developing pool safety inspector courses should view the Swimming pool safety inspector course guidelines ( 174 KB) and Code of conduct for swimming pool safety inspectors ( 166 KB).

The PSC is now receiving applications for course approvals from eligible course providers.