Do carpenters need a licence in Australia?
NSW, VIC and QLD need a carpentry or joinery licence or registration over a set job value, and SA needs a building work licence at any value. WA, TAS, ACT and NT have no carpentry licence, but bigger structural jobs need a registered or licensed builder.
Licence by state
| State | Licence needed? | Licence and who issues it | Check a licence |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSWNew South Wales | Over a job value $5,000 incl GST (labour and materials) |
Contractor licence - carpentry (or joinery) Building Commission NSW Carpentry covers framing, stairs, doors, windows, floors, decks, pergolas and timber fences. Plasterboard is a separate licence. |
Verify Licence - home building licence check |
| VICVictoria | Over a job value $10,000 incl GST (labour and materials) |
Domestic Builder (limited to carpentry) Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) The carpentry class also covers joinery, stairs, doors and windows, fences and non-habitable structures. |
BPC Find and check a practitioner |
| QLDQueensland | Over a job value $3,300 incl GST (labour and materials) |
QBCC Carpentry licence (or Joinery licence) Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Carpentry covers framing, stairs, doors, windows, flooring, cladding and fitments. |
QBCC licensee register |
| WAWestern Australia | No | Building and Energy (WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) No carpentry licence. Joinery, cabinet making and timber decking are exempt; a registered builder is needed for permit work of $20,000 or more. |
WA Online Licence Search |
| SASouth Australia | Yes | Building work contractor's licence (plus building work supervisor registration) Consumer and Business Services (CBS) Carpenters run a business doing building work, so they need a licence at any job value. |
Check occupational licence holders |
| TASTasmania | No | No carpentry licence. Houses, extensions and other notifiable work must be done by a licensed builder. |
Find a licensed tradesperson |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory | No | Carpenters are not licensed now. The ACT is looking at licensing carpentry, but not before 2027. |
Access Canberra public registers |
| NTNorthern Territory | No | Renovations with no structural change and no added floor area do not need a registered builder. |
Public Register of Building Practitioners |
Jobs that need an extra licence
Doors, windows, stairs and built-in cupboards made off siteJoinery licence (VIC: cabinet making, joinery and stair construction class)
NSW, VIC, QLD
Door and window replacement onlyDomestic Builder (limited to door and window replacement and installation)
VIC
Cabinet makingQBCC Cabinet making licence
QLD
Extensions and structural work that needs a permitBuilder licence or registration
All states and territories (see the builders page)
Plasterboard walls and ceilingsDry plastering licence
NSW
Hiring? How to check a licence
- Ask for the licence or registration number and the name on it.
- Check the number on the official register for your state (links below).
- Make sure the name, licence class and expiry date match the person or company you are hiring.
- Check the licence covers the exact work, not just a related trade.
- For structural work, such as removing a wall or adding a room, check the builder licence and building permit too.
- In WA, TAS, ACT and NT, ask for trade papers, insurance and photos of past work.
- Get a written quote and contract that shows the licence number.
- For electrical, plumbing or gas parts of the job, check that tradie's own licence too.
Find local businesses: CarpentersDoors InstallationStaircase Builder
On ServiceTasker, a business uploads its licence and our team checks it before a licence badge shows on its profile. You see what it holds, never the number or the document.
For businesses: how to get this licence
- Qualify: finish a Certificate III in Carpentry (CPC30220 or an earlier version), or a Certificate III in Joinery for joinery work.
- Experience: get supervised, paid carpentry work. VIC asks for at least 3 years for the carpentry class and 2 years for joinery or doors and windows.
- Documents: have your ID, qualification copies, a police check (NSW asks for one no older than 4 months) and business details ready.
- Apply to your state (links below). QLD also needs the business unit BSBESB402 and financial checks.
- Licensed in another state? You may be able to work under mutual recognition. Check the state page first.
| State | Who issues it | Apply here (official) | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | Building Commission NSW | How to apply | Requirements |
| VIC | Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) | How to apply | Requirements |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) | How to apply | Requirements |
| WA | Building and Energy (WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) | Ask the regulator | Requirements |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services (CBS) | How to apply | Requirements |
| TAS | Ask the regulator | Requirements | |
| ACT | Ask the regulator | Requirements | |
| NT | Ask the regulator | Requirements |
Last checked: 12 November 2026. General information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees and forms change: always check with the regulator in your state before you hire or apply. Some details could not be confirmed online and are left out; the regulator can confirm them.
Official sources (32)
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/carpentry
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/joinery
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- verify.licence.nsw.gov.au /home/Trades
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- bpc.vic.gov.au /resource-hub/info-sheets/What-is-domestic-building-work
- consumer.vic.gov.au /housing/building-and-renovating/plan-and-manage-your-building-project...
- bpc.vic.gov.au /home-owners/before-you-start-building/engaging-a-builder
- bpc.vic.gov.au /find-and-check-a-practitioner
- bpc.vic.gov.au /builders/registration/how-to-complete-your-builder-application
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/start-your-career/when-you-need-licence
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence
- my.qbcc.qld.gov.au /myQBCC/s/qbcc-licensee-register
- wa.gov.au /government/publications/do-i-need-be-registered-building-contractor
- wa.gov.au /government/multi-step-guides/builders-registration
- ols.demirs.wa.gov.au /search
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/building-and-trades/building-work...
- legislation.sa.gov.au /_legislation-documents/lz/c/r/building-work-contractors-regulations-2...
- sa.gov.au /topics/business-and-trade/licensing/licence-check
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/technical-regulation/building-standards/permit-authorities/cat...
- consumeraffairs.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/licensed-occupations/building-provi...
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/resources-tools/apply-for-a-licence
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/search-licensed-occupations/find-a-...
- planning.act.gov.au /professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/construction-licences
- planning.act.gov.au /professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/extension-of-trade-lice...
- services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au /s/public-registers
- bpb.nt.gov.au /
- bpb.nt.gov.au /practitioners
- ntlis.nt.gov.au /building-practitioners/
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