How to Check a Tradesperson Is Licensed and Insured Before You Book

5 min read

Booking a tradesperson for anything involving electrical, gas, plumbing or building work isn't like booking a lawn mow. Get it wrong and you can end up with unsafe work, no recourse if something goes wrong, and in some cases legal exposure yourself for engaging unlicensed work. It takes a few minutes to check properly. Here's how.

Which trades actually need to be licensed

Licensing requirements vary by state and territory, but as a general rule across Australia, the following work must be carried out by a licensed practitioner:

Electrical work of almost any kind, from installing power points to wiring a switchboard
Plumbing and drainage work, including anything connected to water supply or sewerage
Gas fitting work, including installing or reconnecting any gas appliance
Building work above a certain value or scope, which varies by state, generally covering structural work, renovations and anything requiring a building permit

Some smaller jobs, like minor repairs by a handyman, may not require a specific trade licence depending on the state and the nature of the work. But anything touching electrical wiring, gas, plumbing or structural building work should be treated as licensed work by default. If you're not sure whether a job falls into a licensed category, that's worth asking the tradesperson directly, and checking with your state or territory's regulator if the answer isn't clear.

Licensing is state based, not national

This is the detail people most often get wrong: there is no single national trade licence in Australia. Each state and territory runs its own licensing system, with its own regulator, its own licence classes, and its own public register. A licence issued in one state does not automatically apply in another, and the names of the regulators and how their registers work differ from state to state.

Practically, this means:

Always check the register for the state or territory the work is actually being carried out in, not where the tradesperson happens to live
Don't assume a licence number "looks right" based on a format you've seen elsewhere; formats differ between states
If a tradesperson is travelling from interstate for a job, confirm they hold a licence valid for work in your state, not just their home state

Search "[your state] licensed tradesperson public register" or "[your state] fair trading trade licence check" to find the right regulator for your state or territory. Most publish a free, searchable public register online.

Ask for the licence number, then actually check it

Before you book, ask the tradesperson for their licence number and the name the licence is registered under. A legitimate operator will give you this without hesitation, and many list it on their invoices, quotes or vehicle signage already.

Once you have the number, look it up on your state or territory's public licensing register yourself. Don't just take the number at face value. The register will typically show you:

Whether the licence is current or has expired, been suspended or cancelled
What class or scope of work the licence actually covers (a licence for one type of electrical work doesn't necessarily cover another)
The legal name the licence is registered to, so you can confirm it matches who you're dealing with

This check takes a couple of minutes and is free. It's the single most useful thing you can do before booking.

Ask about public liability insurance

A current trade licence doesn't automatically mean the tradesperson carries public liability insurance, and it's a separate thing worth asking about directly, especially for anything involving work on your property that carries a risk of damage. Ask whether they hold public liability insurance and, for larger jobs, ask to see a certificate of currency. A tradesperson who is properly set up as a business will have this ready to go.

For building work, some states also require additional insurance for residential work above a certain value, sometimes called home warranty or home building compensation insurance, depending on the state. If you're having significant building or renovation work done, ask whether this applies to your job and check with your state regulator if you're unsure.

"Cash only, no paperwork" is a red flag

A tradesperson who insists on cash payment only, won't provide a written quote or invoice, or is reluctant to put anything in writing, should raise your guard. This isn't about cash itself, plenty of legitimate tradies are happy to take cash. It's the combination of cash-only and no paperwork that matters, because it often means:

There's no invoice trail if something goes wrong and you need to make a claim
You have nothing showing what was agreed, if a dispute arises over scope or cost
In some cases, it can indicate the work isn't going through proper channels at all

A legitimate, licensed tradesperson has no reason to avoid giving you a written quote and an invoice for the work.

Always get a written quote

Before work starts, get a written quote covering the scope of work, materials, cost and rough timeframe. This protects you if there's a disagreement later about what was agreed, and a professional operator will expect to provide one. For anything beyond a small, simple job, be cautious of a tradesperson who only ever quotes verbally or over text with no detail.

Putting it together before you book

Before confirming any booking for electrical, plumbing, gas or building work:

Confirm the trade actually requires a licence for the work involved
Ask for the licence number and check it on your state or territory's public register
Ask about public liability insurance, and request a certificate of currency for larger jobs
Get a written quote before work begins
Be wary of anyone insisting on cash with no paperwork at all

A few minutes of checking up front is a lot cheaper than fixing unlicensed work later. Browse tradespeople and services on /listings, and see /safety and /rules for more on booking safely through the site.

For a current look at this, see our guide on Spring 2026: Key Home Jobs to Book Now.

For a current look at this, see our guide on How to Spot Rogue Tradespeople Before Hiring.