Tradie Licensing Guide

Before you hire a builder contractor or tradesperson, it’s important to know whether your job requires a particular kind of licence. Industry licence requirements can vary from state to state, so use the guide below to learn about the different regulations in place. 

This blog tackles tradie licences, but there's so much more to consider! Our ultimate guide provides a roadmap to help you find a tradesman for any job.

In some states and territories, tradespeople can perform general building work under a certain value (e.g. $1,000 including labour and materials) without requiring a licence.

If a licence is required, use these online licence checks to find their name.

In the case unable to find their name in the relevant database, please report their name and business name back to us via support@serviceseeking.com.au.

What kind of work are you getting done?

Residential Building 

Plumbing, Draining & Gasfitting

Electrical Wiring

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

Pest & Termite Management

Residential Building

• NSW
  • In NSW, any of the following jobs must be carried out by the holder of an endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in the relevant category of specialist work:
    • • garage, carport and shed construction/erection (including kits)
      • bathroom, kitchen or laundry renovations
      • swimming pool building and structural landscaping
      • screened, glass or pool enclosures
      • atriums, conservatories
      • house lifting (ie. permanently raising the height of an existing structure)
      • removal and resiting of dwellings
      • saunas and steam rooms
    • Licences are issued by Fair Trading

• QLD

• • In QLD, Individuals and companies must hold a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licence to carry out:
    • • Any building work valued over $3,3000
      • Building work valued over $1,100 where it involves Hydraulic Services Design
    • of any value where it involves:
      • drainage
      • plumbing and drainage
      • gas fitting
      • termite management – chemical
      • fire protection
      • completed residential building inspection
      • building design – low rise, medium rise and open
      • site classification
      • mechanical services
    • Registered architects are able to carry out building design work and perform building inspections on all types of buildings
    • Licences are issued by QBCC
      
      

• VIC

• • • You must register with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) if you work in domestic building in Victoria and either:
      • handle a contract worth more than $10,000
      • reblock, restump, demolish or remove a home, regardless of the value of this work.
    • Licences are issued by VBA

• WA

• • The Building Services (Registration) Act 2011 requires that an individual, partnership or company that carries out, or contracts to carry out, ‘builder-work’ valued over $20,000 must be a registered building service ‘contractor’ and named as a builder on the building licence or permit.
    • Licences are issued by WA Department of Commerce

• SA

• • A person must be licensed as a building contractor to carry on the business of either:
    • • performing building work for others
      • being performed with a view to sell or lease the land or buildings improved as a result of the building work
    • Licences are issued by SA Consumer and Business Services

• NT

• • In the NT, the following residential building work requires a registered building contractor:
    • • new single houses, townhouses, duplexes, and new residential units to any height;
      • verandas, garages and carports built as part of new single dwellings and residential units;
      • extensions such as livings areas, bedrooms and enclosed attached garages to existing single houses and residential units; and
      • retaining walls associated with the actual structure of a single house or residential unit;
      • where the cost is above $12,000
    • Licences are issued by the NT Building Practitioners Board

• TAS

• • A Building practitioner in TAS requires accreditation for the following classes:
  • Builder classes:
    • • Builder (General Construction) - a general builder responsible for managing or carrying out construction, demolition, alteration, addition, relocation or repair of any building or structure
      • Fire protection services builder - a specialist builder responsible for managing or carrying out fire protection services work in a building
      • Demolisher - a specialist builder responsible for managing or carrying out demolition of existing buildings, structures and building work. A demolisher cannot perform any new building work.
    • Licences are issued by TAS Consumer, Building and Occupational Services

Plumbing, Draining & Gasfitting

• NSW

• • A licence is required before any plumbing, draining or gasfitting (including LP gasfitting) work can be undertaken in NSW, regardless of the cost of the work and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial.
  • Licences are issued by Fair Trading

• QLD

• • Individuals and companies must have a licence to carry out any work involving plumbing, drainage and gasfitting.
  • Licences are issued by Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)

• VIC

• • You will need to be licensed or registered if you intend to undertake plumbing work. Plumbing work may only be carried out by plumbers who are licensed or registered to carry out that type of plumbing work.
  • For all work valued over $750, the plumber must give you a compliance certificate which certifies that the work complies with the law.
  • Licences are issued by Victorian Building Authority (VBA)

• WA
  • In WA, all tradespeople require a licence to carry out plumbing, drainage and gasfitting. Six licence categories exist and licence holders are only authorised to undertake plumbing work within the scope of their licence.
  • Licences are issued by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) 

• SA

• • In SA, any person, business or company offering services as a plumber or gas fitter must be licensed as a contractor. Any person, including builders, who personally carries out plumbing or must also hold a worker’s registration.
  • Licences are issued by SA Consumer and Business Services Licences are issued by SA Consumer and Business Services

• NT

• • In the NT, only a plumber who holds an advanced tradesman licence issued by the Board may contract for and carry out plumbing and draining work. They may also supervise the work of apprentices, registered journeymen and trades assistants. However, an advanced tradesman cannot certify plumbing work.
  • To certify plumbing work, they must also be registered as a Certifying Plumber and Drainer with the Building Practitioners Board
  • Licences are issued by the NT Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board

• TAS

• • In TAS, a practitioner licence is required to undertake plumbing work. This includes if the tradesperson is an employee of a business engaging in plumbing work.
    Licences fall under three categories: practitioner, contractor and provisional.
    • Practitioner - you need a practitioner licence (WSDR) if you wish to undertake plumbing work.
    • Contractor - you need a contractor licence if you intend to sell plumbing services to the public, business or government.
    • Provisional – A provisional plumbing licence is granted to overseas people only.
  • Licences are issued by TAS Consumer, Building and Occupational Services.

Electrical Wiring

• NSW

• • In NSW, an electrical licence is required before any electrical wiring work can be undertaken, regardless of the cost and regardless of whether the work is residential, commercial or industrial. 
  • Licences are issued by Fair Trading.

• QLD

• • In QLD, a business that provides electrical work services for others must have an electrical contractor licence.
  • Licences are issued by QLD Electrical Safety Office.

• VIC

• • In VIC, only registered electrical contractors may carry out electrical work.
  • Whenever a licensed electrician completes any electrical installation work, they must also give you a Certificate of Electrical Safety.
  • Licences are issued by Energy Safe Victoria.
    

• WA

• • In WA, Electrical work may only be carried out by persons with the appropriate electrical worker’s licence unless it is a minor type of work that is exempted from regulation.
  • Licences are issued by WA Electrical Licensing Board

• SA

• • In SA, any person, business or company offering services as an electrician, must be licensed as a contractor. Any person, including builders, who personally carries out electrical work must hold a worker’s registration.
  • Licences are issued by SA Consumer and Business Services

• NT

• • Electrical industry workers and contractors in the NT must obtain a licence and meet certain requirements before any electrical work is carried out.
  • Licences are issued by NT Electrical Contractors & Licensing Board

• TAS

• • All practitioners and contractors wishing to undertake electrical work require a licence.
  • Licences are issued by TAS Consumer Building & Occupational Services

Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

Across all states, a Refrigerant and Handling Licence must be held by any individual who carries out work in relation to refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) equipment. Carrying out work in relation to RAC equipment means doing anything with a fluorocarbon refrigerant or a component of RAC equipment that carries the risk of refrigerant being emitted, including:

• Decanting the refrigerant
• Manufacturing, installing, commissioning, servicing or maintaining RAC equipment
• Decommissioning RAC equipment

Licences are issued by the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) on behalf of the Australian Government, to professionals in the refrigeration/air conditioning and auto industry.

Pest & Termite Management 

• NSW
  • If you use pesticides or fumigants in your work, you need a pest management technician licence or fumigator licence.
  • If you are a trainee pest management technician or fumigator you will be required to hold a training permit.
  • If you do termite or other timber pest treatments, a timber pest management technician licence is being phased in.
  • If you are applying for more than one licence type you must meet the training requirements for each.
  • Licences are issued by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority

• QLD
  • You will need this licence to apply pesticides or fumigants on a commercial fee-for-service basis. A pest licence will be issued with endorsements relating to urban pest and timber pest control and/or fumigation.
  • Additional pest management endorsements are available for:
    
    • control of pest birds
    • carrying out pest management activities in sensitive places (e.g. aged care or childcare premises)
    • carrying out pest management activities in high-risk places (e.g. food manufacturing premises, intensive livestock farming).
  • If you are supervising or performing termite management—chemical work, you must also hold a termite management—chemical occupational licence.
    
  • Licences are issued by the Queensland Department of Health

• VIC
  • In VIC, general pest control work requires a full Pest Management Technician licence. The Licence holder must only use the pesticides or classes of pesticides specified on the Licence.
  • A separate licence is required for Fumigation work (also issued by the Victorian Department of Health) and Agricultural Pest & Weed Control (issued by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries)
  • Licences are issued by VIC Department of Health
    

• WA
  • In WA, there are three types of pest technician licences:
    • Full Pest Management Technician Licence (including termite & timber pest management)
    • Pest Management Technician Sales Person Licence
    • Provisional Pest Management Licence (must work under direct supervision of a licensed technician for first 30 working days, after this must work under supervision)
  • Fumigation work requires a separate fumigation licence
  • Licences are issued by the WA Department of Health

• SA
  • In SA, general pest control work requires a full Pest Management Technician licence
  • Termite and timber pest management requires a licence endorsed ‘Timber Pests’
  • Trainees require a Limited Pest Management Licence and must work under the direct supervision of a fully licensed Pest Management Technician
  • Pest & Weed control for Agricultural, Horticulture, Viticulture, Fumigation & Vertebrate Animal Control require specific endorsements to the Pest management Licence
  • Licences are issued by SA Controlled Substances Licensing

• NT
  • To undertake general pest control and also termite and timber pest management, a full Pest Control Operator licence and Senior 1st Aid Certificate is required
  • For training Pest Control technicians, a Provisional Pest Control Licence is required and the trainee must be employed by a fully licensed Pest Control Business and be supervised by a licensed pest control operator
  • Fumigation requires a separate licence
  • Licences are issued by NT Department of Health

• TAS
  • All pest control businesses in TAS must hold a Commercial Operator’s Licence
  • Any Pest Management Technician working under a pest control business must hold a Tasmanian Certificate of Competency for the type of work undertaken
  • Licences are issued by TAS Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment

Ready to take the next step? Check out our comprehensive guide for everything you need to know on how to find a tradesman.