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Short answer: search the licence number or the person's or business's name on the NSW Government licence register (Verify NSW, at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au, or the Service NSW "check a builder or tradesperson licence" tool). Confirm that the licence is current, that its class covers the work, that the name matches who you're contracting with, and that there are no conditions or disciplinary actions that matter for the job. It takes about two minutes.

Facts checked against NSW Government sources on 13 October 2026.

Step by step

1. Get the licence number from the quote, contract or the tradesperson. If it isn't on the paperwork, ask for it.
2. Search the register: Verify NSW (verify.licence.nsw.gov.au) or the Service NSW licence check. Searching the number gives the most precise result; a name or business search works too.
3. Read the result, using the table below.
4. Keep a record of the check (a screenshot or note with the date), especially for subcontractors.

What to check on the result

When a licence is legally required in NSW

• Residential building work and trade work over $5,000 (labour and materials, including GST) needs a contractor licence. That covers doing, advertising or contracting for the work.
• Specialist work needs a licence or certificate regardless of cost, and whether it's residential, commercial or industrial: plumbing, drainage, gasfitting, electrical work, and air conditioning and refrigeration.
• Written contracts are required for residential jobs over $5,000 (a small-job contract) and a more detailed large-job contract over $20,000.

Don't forget insurance

• Home building compensation (HBC) insurance is required for residential jobs over $20,000. Ask for the certificate and check it's valid before paying a deposit.
• Public liability and workers compensation aren't on a public register. Ask for the certificate of currency and note its expiry date.

For builders: licences change during a job

A licence that was current when you engaged a subcontractor can be suspended or cancelled mid-term, and expiry dates creep up. One check at onboarding isn't enough. Re-check:

• whenever a subcontractor starts a new job
• before each licence's expiry date
• periodically for everyone, to catch mid-term cancellations

How OpSpot does this automatically: when you add a subcontractor's licence, OpSpot checks it against the NSW register on the spot, then re-checks every week: licences expiring soon, plus everyone not checked in the last 90 days. Each licence shows a badge (Verified, Check details, Not verified, Couldn't check), and people are emailed before their licence or insurance expires. Insurance can't be verified against a register, so OpSpot tracks its expiry and keeps the certificate on file. See Subcontractor licence and insurance tracking.

FAQ

Is checking a licence free? Yes. The NSW Government register and the Service NSW check are free to use.

What if the name on the register is different from the company on the quote? Ask why before you sign. The licence must belong to the person or company doing the work or contracting for it.

Do commercial projects need licensed trades? Specialist work (plumbing, drainage, gasfitting, electrical, air conditioning and refrigeration) needs a licence or certificate whether the job is residential, commercial or industrial.

Can I check licences from other states on the NSW register? No. Each state has its own register. Check the licence in the state that issued it.

Sources

• NSW Government: Categories and classes of building and trade work
• NSW Government: Contracts for residential building work
• Verify NSW · Service NSW