Key Takeaways
The core checks before hiring a tradie anywhere in Australia.
Scope your job in writing first
A one-page written scope makes every later step - quotes, contracts, variations - comparable and enforceable.
Check the licence on the official register
Every state and territory runs a free public register. Verify the licence yourself - it takes about two minutes.
Match the licence class to the work
A current licence in the wrong class does not cover your job. Registers show the class and expiry.
Ask for a certificate of currency
Evidence of public liability insurance should name the business, be current, and cover your type of work.
Compare up to 3 itemised written quotes
Same scope, same materials, same timeline - otherwise you are comparing different jobs, not different prices.
Use a written contract with staged payments
States cap deposits on home building work - check your state's fair trading guidance for the current rules.
Quick Answer: How to Hire a Tradie in Australia
Put your job scope in writing, then check the licence on your state or territory's official register (free, about two minutes - all eight registers are linked below). Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance, compare up to 3 itemised written quotes covering the same scope, and use a written contract with staged payments. Electrical, plumbing, gasfitting and refrigerant work always need a licensed person; rules for general building work vary by state, so check your local register rather than assuming.
Hiring a tradie works the same way everywhere in Australia: the checks that protect you are national, even though the regulators and the fine print are state-based. This guide walks through the five-step workflow, links the official licence register for every state and territory, and shows you exactly what to ask for before any work starts.
The Five-Step Hiring Workflow
Whatever the trade and whatever the state, the same five steps apply. Do them in order - each one makes the next easier.
1. Scope your job in writing
Before you contact anyone, write down what you want done, where, with what materials, and by roughly when. A one-page written scope is what makes quotes comparable and contracts enforceable. Vague briefs get vague quotes.
2. Check the licence on your state's register
Every state and territory runs a free public register - the table below links all eight. Check the licence is current, the class covers your type of work, and the registered name matches the business quoting. Always verify a licence yourself on the official register - it takes two minutes and is free.
3. Ask for insurance evidence
Request a certificate of currency for public liability insurance and check it is current, names the right business, and covers your job type. If the tradie has employees, ask about workers compensation cover too.
4. Compare up to 3 itemised written quotes
Give each tradie the same written scope and ask for an itemised quote against it. Comparing quotes built on different assumptions tells you nothing about price or quality.
5. Get a written contract with staged payments
Scope, price, payment schedule, dates, variations and warranty all go in writing before work starts. States cap deposits on home building work - check your state's fair trading guidance for the current rules.
What Varies by State and Territory
Licensing is state and territory law, so the regulator, the register and the thresholds differ depending on where the work happens. Most states require a licence or registration for building work above a value threshold, and always for electrical, plumbing, gasfitting and refrigerant work - the thresholds change, so check the register for where you live rather than relying on a number you read somewhere.
| State | Regulator and register | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Fair Trading verify.licence.nsw.gov.au | One online licence check covers building and trade licences; it shows status, class and expiry. |
| VIC | Building and Plumbing Commission Find and check a practitioner | The Building and Plumbing Commission replaced the Victorian Building Authority on 1 July 2025 - older paperwork may still carry the VBA name. |
| QLD | Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Search the QBCC register | QBCC also publishes step-by-step guidance on finding a licensed contractor and getting quotes. |
| WA | Building and Energy Licence and registration search | One search covers builders, electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and painters registered with Building and Energy. |
| SA | Consumer and Business Services SA licence check | A single licence-check service covers building work contractors and trade licences. |
| ACT | Access Canberra Choosing a tradesperson | The ACT has no local councils - Access Canberra handles licensing and building approvals, and its public registers list licensees. |
| TAS | Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) Search licensed occupations | CBOS covers building practitioners and licensed occupations in one search. |
| NT | NT Government building regulator Check if your builder is registered | NT guidance explains when a builder must be registered and how to check before you sign anything. |
Two extras worth bookmarking: Queensland's QBCC publishes plain-language guidance on finding a licensed contractor and getting quotes, and the ACT lists its licensing and occupational registers on the Access Canberra public registers page.
Trades That Are Licensed Everywhere
Some trades are licensed in every Australian state and territory, with no exceptions for small jobs:
- Electrical work - always requires a licensed electrician, in every jurisdiction.
- Plumbing and gasfitting - always licensed work; gasfitting in particular is never a DIY or handyman job.
- Refrigerant handling - air conditioning and refrigeration work involving refrigerant gas requires a national licence issued through the Australian Refrigeration Council. You can check an ARC licence online - this applies on top of any state licence.
General building work is where the rules vary. Most states require a licence or registration above a value threshold, and some regulate specific trades (painting, tiling, fencing near pools) differently. The safe habit is the same everywhere: search the register for your state before you shortlist anyone, and check the licence class - a registered builder is not automatically licensed for electrical work, and vice versa.
Insurance Evidence to Ask For
"Are you insured?" is not a check - a document is. Ask every shortlisted tradie for a certificate of currency for their public liability insurance and read it before work starts:
- The insured name matches the business on the quote and on the licence register - not a different entity or a mate's policy.
- The policy period is current and will still be current while your job runs.
- The described business activity covers your job type - a policy written for handyman work may not respond to roofing or demolition.
- Workers compensation applies if the tradie has employees - ask, rather than assume a sole trader label is accurate.
For larger residential building work, several states also run home building compensation or warranty schemes. Whether they apply, and at what job size, is set by each state - your state's fair trading or building regulator (linked in the table above) explains the current rules.
Compare Up to 3 Written Quotes
Get up to 3 itemised written quotes against the same written scope. An itemised quote should include:
- Scope of work - what will be done, described specifically enough that a stranger could check it was done.
- Materials - brands, grades or specifications, and who supplies them.
- Labour and any subcontracted work - who is actually doing the job.
- Timeline - start date, expected duration and anything that could move it.
- Payment schedule - deposit and stages, tied to completed work.
- Exclusions - what is not included, so a variation later is not a surprise.
- Licence number and ABN - so you can verify both before accepting.
Judge quotes on completeness first, price second. A quote that is far below the others usually reflects a thinner scope, cheaper materials or missing items rather than generosity - ask what has been left out before you get excited. Under the Australian Consumer Law, services must be delivered with due care and skill; the ACCC's consumer rights and guarantees guidance explains what you are entitled to regardless of what a quote says.
Contracts and Staged Payments
For anything beyond a trivial job, put the agreement in a written contract before work starts. The contract should carry over everything from the accepted quote - scope, materials, price, dates - plus how variations will be agreed (in writing, priced before the work is done), warranty terms, and how disputes will be handled.
On payments, the national principles are simple: never pay the full amount upfront, tie each payment to a defined stage of completed work, and keep the final payment until the job is finished to the contracted scope. States cap deposits on home building work and set rules for when a written contract is mandatory - the thresholds and percentages differ and change, so check your state's fair trading or building regulator guidance (linked in the table above) for the current rules. NSW's Preparing to build or renovate guidance is a good example of what state regulators publish before you sign.
Red Flags to Walk Away From
Most bad hiring outcomes announce themselves early. Walk away if you see:
- • Cash-only payment, or a discount for paying cash and skipping paperwork
- • Pressure to pay a large deposit before any work starts
- • No licence number, or excuses instead of one
- • No written quote or contract offered
- • Pressure to sign on the spot or "today-only" pricing
- • Pricing far below every other quote with no explanation
- • No ABN or verifiable business identity
- • Door-knocking with "leftover materials" stories
Beyond the licence register, the ACCC publishes practical steps for checking a business is genuine - ABN lookup, contact details, and how common scams present. Two minutes there plus two minutes on the register filters out most of the operators you would regret hiring.
Pick Your City
This is the national workflow. For local detail - the register walkthrough for your state, plus city-specific hiring notes - pick your city:
Sources and limitations
Licence checks in this guide link the official register or consumer guidance for each state and territory, the Australian Refrigeration Council licence check, and ACCC consumer guidance. Registers move and rules change; all links were verified at publication. This article is general information, not legal advice - for requirements that apply to your specific job, rely on your state regulator's current guidance. Read more about how our content is written.