Which trades need a licence in Australia?
A quick guide by trade and state: who needs a licence, who issues it, how to check it before you hire, and how a business gets one. Official links only.
By trade and state
"Over $" = a licence is needed when the job is worth more than the state's limit (see the trade page). Tap a trade for the details and the official links.
| Trade | NSW | VIC | QLD | WA | SA | TAS | ACT | NT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Gas fitters | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Electricians | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Air conditioning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Security, CCTV and locksmiths | Yes | Varies | Yes | Yes | Varies | No | Yes | No |
| Pest control (incl. possums, snakes, bees) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Termite inspection and treatment | Varies | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Asbestos removal and demolition | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Yes | Over $ |
| Builders and extensions | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Yes | Varies | Varies | Over $ |
| Bathroom and kitchen renovation | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Varies | Yes | Varies | Varies | No |
| Painters | Over $ | No | Over $ | Over $ | Yes | No | No | No |
| Tilers | Over $ | No | Over $ | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Roofers and gutters | Over $ | Yes | Over $ | Over $ | Yes | Yes | Varies | Over $ |
| Pools and spas | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Handyman: what needs a licence | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Over $ | Yes | Varies | Varies | Over $ |
Licence guides
PlumbersYes. Every state and territory needs a licence or registration for plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work, whatever the job costs.
Gas fittersYes. All gas work in every state and territory must be done by a licensed gasfitter. In QLD the licence comes from Resources Safety and Health Queensl...
ElectriciansYes. Fixed electrical wiring work needs a licensed electrician in every state and territory. To do the work for customers, the business usually also n...
Air conditioningYes. Anyone who handles refrigerant needs a national ARCtick refrigerant handling licence. The electrical side also needs a state electrical licence,...
Security, CCTV and locksmithsIt depends on the state. Most states license people who install CCTV, alarms and access control, but only some license locksmiths. Tasmania and the NT...
Pest control (incl. possums, snakes, bees)Yes. In every state and territory, anyone who applies pesticides for pay needs a pest management licence from the state health department, EPA or agri...
Termite inspection and treatmentYes. Anyone who uses pesticides to treat termites for pay needs a state or territory pest licence that covers timber pests, and in Queensland termite...
Asbestos removal and demolitionYes. Removing any friable asbestos needs a Class A licence, and removing more than 10 m2 of non-friable asbestos needs a Class B licence; in the ACT a...
Builders and extensionsYes. Every state and territory licenses or registers builders, but the trigger differs: a job value in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA and NT, any value in SA, and...
Bathroom and kitchen renovationIn most states, yes once the job goes over a value limit, and SA needs a licence at any value. Plumbing and electrical parts always need licensed trad...
PaintersIt depends on the state. NSW, QLD and WA need a licence or registration over a set job value, and SA needs a licence at any value. VIC, TAS, ACT and N...
TilersNSW and QLD need a wall and floor tiling licence over a set job value, and SA needs a building work licence at any value. VIC, WA, TAS, ACT and NT hav...
Roofers and guttersIn most states, yes. Metal roofing, gutters and downpipes need a licence in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA and TAS, and bigger jobs need a builder registration in...
Pools and spasIn most states, yes. Pool builders need a state licence or registration (NSW over $5,000, VIC over $10,000, QLD $3,300 or more, and SA, TAS and ACT fo...
Handyman: what needs a licenceSmall jobs under a state value limit usually need no licence, but SA needs a licence for building work at any value. Electrical, plumbing and gas work...
How to check any licence
- Ask the business for its licence number and the name on the licence.
- Search the number on the official register of your state (each trade page links it).
- Check the name, the licence class (the work it covers) and the expiry date.
All official registers by state
General information only, not legal advice. Checked 12 November 2026; we check each page again every 6 months.