The Builder Licence Check Checklist

A current builder licence is the right first step before you sign or pay a deposit. It is not the last one. This checklist covers what to confirm on any Australian builder's licence, wherever you are building, plus what to check once the licence itself comes back clean.

Before you start

Have these ready: the builder's name (individual or company), their licence number if you have it, the ABN or ACN from your quote, and the type of work you're planning. You'll be checking these against the official licence register for your state or territory.

Don't know which register to use? See How to Check a Builder Licence in Australia Before You Sign for the right tool in your state, NSW Builder Licence Check if you're in NSW, or QLD Builder Licence Check if you're in Queensland.

The licence register for your state or territory

• NSW: Service NSW "Check a builder or tradesperson licence", powered by Verify NSW. Administered by Building Commission NSW.
• VIC: Find a Practitioner. Administered by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), formerly the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), the regulator changed name on 1 July 2025.
• QLD: QBCC Licensee Register. Administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
• WA: Building and Energy Online Licence Search. Trading names are not published on this register, search the legal entity name.
• SA: Find a Licence Holder, Consumer and Business Services.
• TAS: Search licensed occupations, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services.
• ACT: Find a licensed design and construction professional, Access Canberra.
• NT: Building Practitioners Board Register.

The checklist

• Licence status: Is it current? Treat expired, suspended or cancelled as a reason to stop and ask questions before going further.
• Licence category or class: Does it actually cover the work you need done? A licence limited to a single trade does not cover managing a full build.
• Name match: Does the name on the licence match the name on your quote and contract, individual or company, including the trading name if one is used?
• ABN and ACN match: Do the numbers on your contract match the entity on the licence?
• Conditions or restrictions: Are there any limits on what the licence holder can do?
• Disciplinary record: Are there any cautions, public warnings or sanctions shown on the register?
• Supervisor details: If a nominated supervisor or qualified supervisor is involved, is their credential also current?
• Expiry date: Is the licence close to expiry? If time has passed since you checked, check again before you sign.
• Save your result: Keep a screenshot or copy of the search result for your records.

What this checklist does not cover

A licence check confirms one thing: whether the builder appears licensed to contract for the work. It does not cover insurance status for your specific project, the company's financial history, director history, court or tribunal matters, or credit-risk signals. A valid licence does not mean there are no other issues worth knowing about.

If the licence comes back clean, that's the right time to look at the rest: insurance, company and director history, disputes, and payment behaviour. A TrustSignal Builder Report brings all of this together in one plain-English view. You can view a sample report or search your builder before you sign.

For the full process in NSW specifically, see How to Check a Builder in NSW: The Complete Verification Guide. For Queensland, see QLD Builder Licence Check, which covers QBCC licence classes, the Queensland Home Warranty Scheme and Queensland's deposit caps.

This checklist is a decision aid, not legal or financial advice. Register coverage and search tools vary by state and territory and may change over time. Always verify current status directly with the relevant regulator before signing a contract.