How to check a tradie's licence in Australia

A licence is the cheapest check you will ever do before letting someone into your house. It takes a couple of minutes online, it is free, and it answers the question that matters most when a job goes wrong: is this person allowed to do this work, and is there anyone you can complain to if they don't do it properly?

This guide is for anyone hiring a tradie in Australia. It covers which work needs a licence, where to check one, what the result should show, and what a licence does not tell you.

Which work needs a licence

Rules are set by each state and territory, and they differ in the detail. The broad picture is the same everywhere:

• Electrical work needs a licensed electrician in every state and territory. Changing a light bulb doesn't; adding a power point does.
• Plumbing and gas fitting need a licensed or registered plumber or gas fitter everywhere.
• Building work needs a licensed or registered builder once the job passes a value threshold, and the threshold depends on the state. In New South Wales it applies to residential building work over $5,000 including labour and materials. In Victoria, domestic building work over $10,000 needs a registered builder.
• Other trades are licensed in some states and not others. Air conditioning and refrigeration work needs a refrigerant handling licence nationally; security system installers, pest controllers and some specialist trades are licensed by state.

If you're not sure, ask the tradie which licence covers the job and then check that the licence class on the register matches what they told you. A licence for one kind of work doesn't cover another.

For the rule in each state for a particular trade, see our licence guides for electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, builders and carpenters.

Where to check

Every regulator runs a free public register. The ones below were checked when this guide was written; if a link has moved, search the regulator's name and "licence check".

• New South Wales: the Service NSW licence check covers builders and tradespeople, including electricians and plumbers. You can search by name, licence number, ABN or location.
• Victoria: builders and plumbers are on the register of the Building and Plumbing Commission (it replaced the Victorian Building Authority in July 2025). Electricians and electrical contractors are on Energy Safe Victoria's public registers.
• Queensland: the QBCC licensee register gives a full licence history for building and plumbing contractors. Electrical licences are held by the Electrical Safety Office.
• Other states and territories: search for your state's building regulator and its electrical safety regulator. Each publishes a free register of who holds a licence.

What the result should show

A good result answers four questions. If any of them isn't clear, ask the tradie before they start, not after.

1. Is the name right? The licence should be in the name of the person or company you are dealing with, or a company they work for. A licence number that belongs to someone else is a red flag.
2. Is it current? Check the expiry date and the status. Suspended, cancelled or expired means no.
3. Does the class cover the job? A plumbing licence that covers drainage may not cover gas. A builder's licence class may be limited to certain kinds of work.
4. Are there conditions or warnings? Some registers list conditions on a licence, public warnings and disciplinary action. Victoria keeps a separate disciplinary register.

What a licence doesn't tell you

A licence means the person is qualified and accountable. It doesn't tell you whether they turn up on time, whether their price is fair, or whether they are the right fit for your job. For that you still need the things you would ask any business:

• Insurance. Ask about public liability insurance, and for building work above the threshold, home warranty or home building insurance where your state requires it.
• A written quote. Scope, exclusions, price including GST, and how long it stands. Our guide to comparing quotes from tradies goes through what to look for.
• Recent work. Photos of similar jobs, or a past customer you can talk to.
• Who to call. A business name, ABN, phone and email that someone answers.

How to complain about a tradie

A licence matters most when something goes wrong, because it means there is a regulator who can act. Start by raising the problem with the tradie, in writing, listing what is wrong and giving them a reasonable time to fix it: the regulators below expect you to have tried. Keep copies, photos and the quote. If that doesn't work:

• New South Wales: complaints about residential building, renovation and trade work go to Building Commission NSW. Other consumer problems go to NSW Fair Trading through Service NSW.
• Victoria: domestic building disputes go to Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria, now part of the Building and Plumbing Commission, which can make dispute resolution orders.
• Queensland: the QBCC asks you to give the contractor written notice of each defective or unfinished item with a timeframe, such as 14 days, then lodge a complaint. It starts with early dispute resolution and can lead to an inspection.
• Other states and territories: start with your state's fair trading or consumer affairs office, which will point you to the building or electrical regulator if the complaint is about licensed work.

A tradie without the licence the work needed is a complaint in itself, and one more reason to check the register before they start.

How BizzMate shows licences

Businesses on the BizzMate Marketplace list their own licences on their page. A licence badge says "number provided" when the business has given us a number and state, and changes only once it has been checked against the regulator's register. Jobs in regulated trades such as electrical, plumbing and gas only go to businesses that have entered a licence for that work. You should still check the register yourself before they start: it is free, and it is your house.

When you're ready, post your job for free and businesses near you that do the work can send you offers.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Licence rules change and differ between states, so check with your state's regulator for the work you're planning.