The short answer
In Victoria, electricians and plumbers must be licensed or registered, and builders must be registered for work over $10,000. Painting, tiling, plastering and fencing do not require registration, so check insurance and past work instead.
This guide covers Victoria. Other states have different rules, so check your state regulator.
Which trades need what
Consumer Affairs Victoria sets out the rules like this:
- BuildersRegistered with the Building and Plumbing Commission for building work over $10,000
- ElectriciansLicensed or registered
- PlumbersLicensed or registered
- Plastering, painting, tiling, fencingRegistration not required
How to check an electrician
Energy Safe Victoria says to always hire a licensed electrician, and that unqualified electrical work is illegal as well as dangerous. Search its public register using the Find a licensed electrician link, and ask to see the electrician's identification card.
How to check a builder
For work over $10,000, search the Building and Plumbing Commission's practitioner register and match the name and registration number to the quote. For smaller jobs, Consumer Affairs Victoria advises asking for licence details if the trade is licensed.
When no licence is needed
A painter or tiler does not need registration in Victoria, so a missing licence is not a red flag on its own. Ask instead for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance, a business name and address you can look up, and photos or references from recent jobs.
Common questions
Do painters need a licence in Victoria?
Consumer Affairs Victoria says painting does not require registration. Ask for insurance and past work instead.
How do I check an electrician's licence?
Search Energy Safe Victoria's public register and ask to see the electrician's identification card.
When does a builder need to be registered?
Consumer Affairs Victoria says builders must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission for building work valued at over $10,000.
Sources
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: protecting homeowners from dodgy builders and tradespeople, checked 11 November 2026
- Consumer Affairs Victoria: getting quotes, checked 11 November 2026
- Energy Safe Victoria: electrical work isn't a DIY job, checked 11 November 2026