Do tilers need a licence in Australia?
NSW 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 have no licence for tiling on its own.
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 - wall and floor tiling Building Commission NSW The tiling licence includes waterproofing wet areas to get them ready for tiling. |
Verify Licence - home building licence check |
| VICVictoria | No | Domestic builder (limited to wall and floor tiling work) - only needed when tiling is mixed with other trades Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) Tiling alone needs no registration at any value. Tiling mixed with other trades on a job over $10,000 (incl GST) needs registration. |
BPC Find and check a practitioner |
| QLDQueensland | Over a job value $3,300 incl GST (labour and materials) |
QBCC Wall and floor tiling licence Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) The licence includes applying waterproofing for wall and floor tiling. |
QBCC licensee register |
| WAWestern Australia | No | Building and Energy (WA Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety) No tiling licence. A registered builder is only 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) Tiling is building work in SA, so a licence is needed to run a tiling business at any job value. |
Check occupational licence holders |
| TASTasmania | No | Tilers are not on Tasmania's list of licensed occupations. |
Find a licensed tradesperson |
| ACTAustralian Capital Territory | No | Tilers are not licensed now. The ACT is looking at licensing tiling and waterproofing, but not before 2027. |
Access Canberra public registers |
| NTNorthern Territory | No | Renovations with no structural change do not need a registered builder in the NT. |
Public Register of Building Practitioners |
Jobs that need an extra licence
Waterproofing a shower or wet area before tilingIncluded in the tiling licence or class; otherwise a waterproofing licence
NSW, QLD, VIC
Full bathroom or kitchen renovation (several trades)Kitchen, bathroom and laundry licence, or a builder licence
NSW, VIC, QLD and others (see the bathroom and kitchen page)
Moving taps, drains or wiringLicensed plumber or electrician
All states and territories
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.
- Ask who will do the waterproofing and whether their licence covers it.
- In VIC, WA, TAS, ACT and NT, ask for trade papers, insurance and photos of past wet area 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: RegroutersTilers
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 Wall and Floor Tiling (CPC31320 or an earlier version).
- Experience: get supervised, paid tiling work, including wet area waterproofing.
- 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 | - | |
| ACT | Ask the regulator | - | |
| NT | Ask the regulator | - |
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 (29)
- 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...
- nsw.gov.au /housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/preparing/chec...
- verify.licence.nsw.gov.au /home/Trades
- nsw.gov.au /business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-lice...
- consumer.vic.gov.au /housing/building-and-renovating/plan-and-manage-your-building-project...
- bpc.vic.gov.au /resource-hub/info-sheets/What-is-domestic-building-work
- 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/apply-licence/available-licences/other-trade/wall-floor-tili...
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/start-your-career/when-you-need-licence
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /resources/glossary
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /about-us/our-lists-registers
- my.qbcc.qld.gov.au /myQBCC/s/qbcc-licensee-register
- qbcc.qld.gov.au /licences/apply-licence
- wa.gov.au /government/publications/do-i-need-be-registered-building-contractor
- wa.gov.au /organisation/building-and-energy/building-and-energy-licence-and-regi...
- 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
- consumeraffairs.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/search-licensed-occupations
- buildingstandards.tas.gov.au /topics/licensing-and-registration/search-licensed-occupations/find-a-...
- planning.act.gov.au /community/build-or-renovate/before-you-start/find-a-professional
- planning.act.gov.au /professionals/regulation-and-responsibilities/extension-of-trade-lice...
- services.accesscanberra.act.gov.au /s/public-registers
- bpb.nt.gov.au /
- nt.gov.au /property/building/build-or-renovate-your-home/check-if-your-builder-i...
- ntlis.nt.gov.au /building-practitioners/
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