Before an electrician starts work on your home in Queensland, take a few minutes to check their electrical contractor licence. The Electrical Safety Office (part of WorkSafe Queensland) licences electrical workers and contractors, and it publishes a free online search you can use before you agree to any work.
This guide covers who needs what, how to search, what to look for and what paperwork you should get when the job is done.
Who licences electricians in Queensland?
In Queensland, electrical licensing sits with the Electrical Safety Office / WorkSafe Queensland — not the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). QBCC covers builders, plumbers and many other building trades. Electrical contractor and electrical work licences are a separate system.
WorkSafe Queensland states that it is illegal to do electrical work in Queensland without a licence, and that only an electrical contractor can do electrical work in your home. For homeowners, that means the business you hire should hold a current electrical contractor licence.
Worker licence vs contractor licence
Queensland splits electrical licensing into two main pieces, and you should understand both:
- Electrical work licence: the individual doing the work. Classes include electrical mechanic (an open licence that can cover all electrical work), linesperson, fitter, jointer, restricted electrical work licences, and training permits, as listed on WorkSafe's classes of licences page.
- Electrical contractor licence: the business (sole trader, partnership or company) that contracts to do electrical work for others. WorkSafe says you must hold an electrical contractor licence to perform electrical work for others.
In short: the business quoting you should hold a current electrical contractor licence, and the person on site should hold a current electrical work licence that covers the job. A sole trader may hold both.
Step 1: Get the contractor licence number
Ask for the electrical contractor licence number for the business on the quote, plus the name of the electrician who will do the work.
The Electrical Safety Office says you should always look for the electrical contractor licence number and confirm it is current before agreeing to any work. Many electrical businesses show the number on quotes, invoices, vans and websites.
If someone won't give you a contractor licence number for electrical work on your home, treat that as a red flag and don't let work start.
Step 2: Search the Electrical Safety Office licence search
Go to the Electrical Safety Office electrical licence search. Use the contractor licence number (or the search options available on the page) and open the matching record.
If you can't find the electrician in the database, the Electrical Safety Office says to call 1300 362 128.
Step 3: Read the results carefully
On the record, check:
- Status: Is the contractor licence current? Expired, suspended or cancelled records mean that business shouldn't be contracting for that work.
- Name: Does it match the person or business on your quote?
- Licence type: Are you looking at an electrical contractor licence for the business you're hiring?
- Conditions: Are there any conditions that limit what they can do?
Step 4: Do the other checks
A licence check is essential, but it's not the only step:
- ABN: Look up the business on ABN Lookup and make sure it matches the quote.
- Insurance: Licensed electrical contractors must meet insurance requirements. The Electrical Safety Office notes that this includes a minimum of $5 million public liability insurance with a $50,000 consumer protection component, on its Don't DIY page. Ask to see evidence of cover.
- Written quote: Get the scope, materials, labour, GST and any certificate fees in writing.
- Reviews: Look for genuine reviews across more than one place, and ask about recent similar jobs.
After the work: certificates of compliance
When electrical work is finished, Queensland electrical contractors (and workers completing work on their behalf) must give you the right certificate. WorkSafe Queensland explains the rules on its issuing certificates of compliance page:
- Certificate of testing and compliance for electrical installation work (when the installation is connected to a source of electricity)
- Certificate of testing and safety for work on electrical equipment
The certificate must be given as soon as possible after the work, and the contractor must keep a copy for five years. It must include the customer's name and address, details of the installation or equipment, the test day, the electrical contractor licence number, and a certification statement that the work has been tested to ensure it is electrically safe (and, for installations, that it meets the wiring rules and other applicable standards).
Ask for the certificate when the job is booked, and keep it with your home records. It can matter for insurance, future work or when you sell.
What if the licence doesn't check out?
If you can't find the contractor, the names don't match or the status isn't current, don't go ahead. Ask them to explain. If you're still not satisfied, find someone else.
Unlicensed electrical work is illegal and dangerous. The Electrical Safety Office asks the public to report non-compliant or unlicensed electrical work. If something is unsafe right now, stop using the affected circuit or appliance and call a licensed electrical contractor.
Keep good records
Keep a simple folder for every electrical job: the quote, the licence search screenshot, invoices, photos before and after, and the certificate of testing and compliance or testing and safety. Note key dates. If a problem comes up later, good records make it much easier to sort out with the business, your insurer or the regulator.
Find an electrician
Browse electricians near you, or see electricians in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast or on the Sunshine Coast. For builders and other QBCC trades in Queensland, see our guide to checking a QBCC licence. For other states and territories, see checking a tradie's licence across Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Who licences electricians in Queensland?
The Electrical Safety Office / WorkSafe Queensland issues electrical work licences and electrical contractor licences. QBCC is a separate system for builders, plumbers and many other building trades — not electrical contractor licences.
What's the difference between a worker licence and a contractor licence?
An electrical work licence covers the person doing the work. An electrical contractor licence is held by the business that contracts to do electrical work for others. For work in your home, you should hire a current electrical contractor, and the person on site should hold a current work licence that covers the job.
Where do I check a Queensland electrical contractor online?
Use the Electrical Safety Office electrical licence search. Always confirm the contractor licence number is current before agreeing to work. If you can't find them, call 1300 362 128.
Do I get a certificate after the work?
Yes. WorkSafe Queensland says electrical contractors must give customers a certificate of testing and compliance for electrical installation work connected to power, or a certificate of testing and safety for work on electrical equipment, as soon as possible after the work. Keep your copy with your home records.
Can I do my own electrical work in Queensland?
Generally no. WorkSafe Queensland says it is illegal to do electrical work without a licence, and that only an electrical contractor can do electrical work in your home. The Electrical Safety Office's Don't DIY campaign warns against DIY electrical work because it is illegal and dangerous.
This guide is general information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above for your state.