How to check a tradie licence in Tasmania

Hiring a tradie in Tasmania? A quick licence check before you sign anything is one of the easiest ways to protect your home and your money. Tasmania keeps a free online register of licensed builders, plumbers, electricians, gas fitters and other building practitioners, and it only takes a few minutes to search.

This guide explains who regulates tradies in Tasmania, how to use the register, what to look for on a record, and the other checks worth doing.

Who licences tradies in Tasmania?

For years, building and trade licensing in Tasmania sat with Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS). The CBOS website now explains that from 1 October 2026, CBOS transitioned to Consumer Affairs Tasmania and Building Standards Tasmania, and that older references to CBOS should be read as the relevant function within those new agencies.

You'll still see the CBOS name on plenty of pages, licence cards and paperwork while the websites are updated. That's expected. What matters is that the licence is current on the official register.

Which tradies need a licence?

The official Find a licensed tradesperson page lets you search these categories:

• builders
• plumbers
• electricians
• gas fitters and auto gas fitters
• building surveyors, building designers and building services designers
• engineers and architects

Plumbing

The plumbing guide for consumers lists a small set of simple jobs an owner can do on their own home, such as unblocking a toilet with a plunger or replacing tapware like for like. It says plumbing work not on that list must be done by a licensed plumber, and that penalties apply for unlicensed work.

Electrical

The electrical guide for owners and occupiers says to always make sure the person doing electrical work holds an electrical licence. Electrical practitioners and contractors are issued a licence card and should be able to show it on request.

Building

Builders are licensed in classes. According to the official builder licence page, the main classes are:

• Builder (General Construction): construction, alteration, additions, repairs and similar work
• Fire protection services builder: a specialist class for fire protection work
• Demolisher: demolition only, with no new building work

Each class is split into sub-classes such as Low Rise, Medium Rise and Open, and General Construction also has a Domestic sub-class. The sub-class sets the scope of work the builder is allowed to take on.

Step 1: Ask for the licence details

Before you accept a quote, ask for:

• the licence number
• the exact name the licence is held in, whether a person or a company
• the licence card, especially for electrical work

A genuine tradie won't mind being asked. If someone gets vague or won't give you a number for work that needs a licence, treat that as a red flag.

Step 2: Search the register

Go to the Find a licensed tradesperson page and choose the right category, such as Builder, Plumber or Electrician. Search by licence number if you have it, as that's usually the most reliable way to land on the right record. Otherwise, search by name.

Keep in mind what the register does and doesn't show. The official page says it only displays current licence holders, and it doesn't show the status of a licence application. So if someone tells you their licence is "being processed", the register can't confirm that.

Step 3: Read the record carefully

When you find a match, check:

• Name: Does it match the person or business on your quote and invoice?
• Category: Is it the right trade for the job? A plumber's licence doesn't cover electrical work, and a demolisher can't do new building work.
• Class and sub-class: For builders, make sure the scope fits your project. Ask the builder to explain if you're unsure.
• Conditions: Note any conditions or restrictions on the licence.

Step 4: Do the other checks

A current licence is a great start, but it's not the whole picture:

• ABN: Look up the business on ABN Lookup and check the name matches your quote.
• Insurance: The builder licence page notes that general construction builders need public liability and contract works insurance. For any trade, ask for a certificate of currency and check the dates and business name.
• Written quote: Get the scope, materials, labour, GST and timing in writing. Prices vary with the job, location and materials, so it's worth getting two or three written quotes to compare.
• Contract: For bigger residential building jobs, ask for a written contract and read the payment schedule, warranties and variation terms before signing.
• Paperwork at the end: The electrical guide says the electrical contractor must give you a record of electrical work when the job is finished. For work beyond basic repairs or like-for-like replacements, the contractor also lodges a Certificate of Electrical Compliance, and an inspector may contact you to check the work.

What if the licence doesn't check out?

If you can't find the person or business, the details don't match, or the category doesn't fit the job, don't sign or pay yet. Ask them to explain and show you their licence card. If you're still not comfortable, find someone else. You can also contact Consumer Affairs Tasmania or Building Standards Tasmania for guidance, depending on whether your question is about consumer rights or building standards.

Keep good records

Keep a folder for every job: the quote or contract, your licence screenshot, invoices, before and after photos, and any certificates or records of work. If a problem pops up later, these make it much easier to sort out with the business, your insurer or the regulator.

Find a tradie in Tasmania

Browse builders in Hobart, builders in Launceston, electricians in Hobart or plumbers in Hobart, or search builders, plumbers and electricians across Australia. For other states and territories, see our guide to checking a tradie's licence across Australia.

Find builders in your area

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information only, not legal or financial advice. Rules change, so check the official sources linked above for your state.