Checking a tradie's licence anywhere in Australia

Licences are state by state

Each state and territory licenses its own builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians, keeps its own register, and sets its own rules about which work needs a licence. So wherever you're finding a tradie in Australia, check them with the regulator in the state where the work is.

One check is the same everywhere: ABN Lookup, which is free and shows whether a business's ABN is current and whether it's registered for GST.

Victoria

• Builders, plumbers and gasfitters: the Building and Plumbing Commission, whose practitioner search covers builders, plumbers and building companies
• Domestic building work worth more than $10,000, counting labour, materials and GST, needs a registered builder
• Electricians: Energy Safe Victoria, with separate registers for licensed electrical workers and Registered Electrical Contractors
• Step by step for Victoria: how to check a tradie's licence in Victoria

New South Wales

• Builders and trades: licensed by Building Commission NSW, which keeps the public register. Check a licence with the NSW Government's licence check, linked from Service NSW
• A licence is needed for residential building work valued at more than $5,000 including GST, in labour and materials
• Specialist work, such as plumbing, gasfitting and electrical work, needs a licence whatever it costs

Queensland

• Builders: the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), which licenses building work valued over $3,300
• Plumbers and drainers: licensed by the QBCC, for regulated plumbing and drainage work whatever its value
• Gasfitters: the QBCC issues a gasfitting licence class, and Resources Safety and Health Queensland keeps the register of gas work licences
• Electricians: the Electrical Safety Office, which has an electrical licence search

Western Australia

• Builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians: Building and Energy, part of the Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety since 1 July 2025
• One Online Licence Search covers all four, and there's a register of builders
• Building and Energy's guidance says a registered builder is needed for work of $20,000 or more that needs a building permit, in the prescribed area of the state

South Australia

• Builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians: Consumer and Business Services (CBS), on one licensing register
• Anyone carrying on business as a building work contractor must hold the right licence
• Domestic building work costing over $20,000 that needs council approval must be covered by building indemnity insurance

Tasmania

• Builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS), with one occupational licensing search
• CBOS says some larger projects can only be done by a licensed builder: ask CBOS if you're not sure whether yours is one

Australian Capital Territory

• Builders, plumbers, gasfitters and electricians: the Construction Occupations Registrar in Access Canberra
• Access Canberra's public registers include licensed builders, electricians, gasfitters and plumbers

Northern Territory

• Builders: the Building Practitioners Board, with a register of building practitioners. Prescribed residential building work above a set value needs a builder registered with the Board as a building contractor: check the current figure with the Board
• Plumbers and drainers: the Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board, which lists currently licensed plumbers and drainers and takes enquiries on 1800 193 111
• Gasfitters: gasfitting work needs a licence
• Electricians: the Electrical Safety Regulator within NT WorkSafe, which lists licensed electrical workers and contractors

Whichever state you're in

A licence number on a quote or a logo on a van isn't proof: look the person or business up on the register yourself. Check that the name matches the quote, the licence is current, and its class covers the work you want done. Then check the ABN on ABN Lookup.

Finding someone in the first place? Find a tradie covers where to look, and tradie websites explains how the different sites work.

Before you agree to the job

• The regulator in the state where the work is
• The name on the register matches the quote
• The licence is current and covers the work
• An active ABN on ABN Lookup

In Melbourne? Describe your job so local tradies can respond, then check them with how to check a tradie's licence in Victoria. TradieToday covers metropolitan Melbourne only for now.