NSW builder licence types: which one can sign your contract?

By BuilderVet team. Last reviewed 2 November 2026.

Only a contractor licence lets a builder contract with you and advertise for work in NSW. A qualified supervisor certificate or tradesperson certificate lets a person do the work, but neither one allows them to sign a contract with you, so the party named on your contract must hold a contractor licence in its own name.

NSW issues several licence and certificate types for building and trade work, and they look similar on the register. This guide explains what each one allows, how company licences and nominated supervisors work, and how to match the licence to the party on your contract. For the step-by-step register search, see how to check if a builder is licensed in NSW. You can also run a free BuilderVet check to see the NSW licence record next to the company’s ASIC and ABN details.

What licence types does NSW issue?

NSW Government licensing guidance describes these types for building, trade and specialist work.

Contractor licences, qualified supervisor certificates and tradesperson certificates can be issued for 1, 3 or 5 years. A provisional tradesperson certificate is issued for 3 years only and cannot be renewed.

When does a builder need a contractor licence?

A contractor licence is needed to carry out, advertise or contract for residential building work or trade work valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials, including GST. Specialist work, which covers electrical, plumbing, draining, gasfitting, and air conditioning and refrigeration, needs a licence or certificate regardless of the cost of the job.

The rule also applies to subcontractors. NSW Government gives this example: a plasterer subcontracting $3,000 of dry plastering on a $30,000 kitchen renovation still needs a dry plastering contractor licence, because the overall contract is over $5,000.

Can a director’s personal licence cover their company?

No. NSW Government guidance on home building contracts says a licence in an individual’s name does not let that individual’s company or partnership make the contract, even if the individual is a director or partner. If a company is the party on your contract, the company needs a contractor licence in the company’s name.

This is the single most useful thing to check on a quote. Builders often trade through a company. The person you met may hold a perfectly good individual licence. If the contract is in the company’s name, look up the company’s licence too.

The reverse also applies. If an individual signs in their own name, their individual contractor licence is the one that counts.

How do company and partnership licences work?

A company or partnership must hold a contractor licence before it contracts, subcontracts or advertises to do residential building work over $5,000, any electrical wiring work, any plumbing, drainage and gasfitting work, or air conditioning and refrigeration work (other than plug-in appliances).

A licensed company or partnership must also have a nominated qualified supervisor. That is an individual who:

• holds an individual contractor licence and/or qualified supervisor certificate in the same categories of work as the company, and
• is recorded by Building Commission NSW as the person responsible for supervising the company’s residential building or specialist work.

The categories on the company licence come from the categories its nominated supervisors hold. If the supervisor’s licence has conditions or restrictions, the same conditions may apply to the company licence.

The rules on who can be a nominated supervisor are specific. It must be a director, a partner, or a full-time or part-time employee. It cannot be a casual or temporary employee or a subcontractor. A person generally cannot be the nominated supervisor for more than one contractor licence unless Building Commission NSW agrees special circumstances exist.

What happens if the nominated supervisor leaves?

Companies must tell Building Commission NSW within 7 days if they no longer have a nominated qualified supervisor, and the supervisor must also notify within 7 days of leaving. If a company goes more than 30 days without an acceptable nominated supervisor and without prior consent, its licence may be cancelled.

For you, this means the supervisor named on the company’s record is worth searching separately. The register’s own search tips recommend separate searches for directors, partners and nominated supervisors when you check a company licence.

What does a tradesperson certificate allow?

A tradesperson certificate lets a person do the work described on it under the general supervision of someone holding a current contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate. They cannot sign off on work. Their work must be signed off by a contractor licence holder or qualified supervisor.

If a person offering to do your job directly holds only a tradesperson certificate, they cannot contract with you for work that needs a contractor licence. They can work on your job as an employee or under a licensed contractor’s supervision.

Worked example: matching the licence to the contract

Say you receive a quote for a $60,000 bathroom and laundry renovation. The quote is on letterhead for “Example Renovations Pty Ltd” and signed by a director, Sam.

1. Search the register for the company name and the ACN on the quote. You need a current company contractor licence.
2. Check the company’s categories cover the job, for example general building work or kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation.
3. Note the nominated supervisor and search their name. Their categories should cover the work.
4. Search Sam’s name too. Sam may hold an endorsed licence, but that does not replace the company’s licence.
5. Check that the plumbing and electrical work will be done by licensed plumbers and electricians.
6. Because the job is over $20,000, the company must give you a Home Building Compensation certificate in the company’s name before taking a deposit. See verifying HBC insurance in NSW.

If any step fails, ask the builder to explain before you sign.

A checklist before you sign

1. Is the party on the contract a contractor licence holder, not only a supervisor or tradesperson certificate holder?
2. Is the licence in exactly the same name as the contracting party?
3. Is the licence current, and does it run past your expected finish date?
4. Do the categories cover every part of the job?
5. For a company, does it have a nominated supervisor whose categories cover the job?
6. Are any conditions listed, and do they limit your job?
7. Will specialist work be done by licensed electricians, plumbers or gasfitters?

QLD note

Queensland uses a different licensing system run by the QBCC, with its own licence classes and grades. See how to check if a builder is licensed in QLD.

How BuilderVet helps

The free BuilderVet check shows the NSW licence holder, licence type, status and categories alongside the company’s ASIC and ABN records, with the date we last checked each source. We report records only. Build Watch (A$79, NSW only) sends change notices for 24 months if the records change during your build. See pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Can a qualified supervisor sign a building contract with me?

Not on the strength of the certificate alone. A qualified supervisor certificate lets a person do and supervise the work, but it does not allow them to contract or advertise for work.

What does “contractor licence (Q)” mean on a NSW licence?

It is an endorsed contractor licence. It is issued to individuals who also have the qualifications and experience of a qualified supervisor, so it works as both a contractor licence and a supervisor certificate.

My builder’s company isn’t licensed but the director is. Is that OK?

No, if the company is the party on the contract. NSW Government guidance says an individual’s licence does not let their company make the contract. The company needs its own licence.

What is a nominated qualified supervisor?

The individual Building Commission NSW records as responsible for supervising a licensed company’s or partnership’s work. They must hold a contractor licence or supervisor certificate in the same categories.

Can a subcontractor be a company’s nominated supervisor?

No. The nominated supervisor must be a director, partner, or full-time or part-time employee. Casual or temporary employees and subcontractors cannot be nominated.

Does a small subcontract job need a licence?

It can. If the subcontract is part of an overall job over $5,000 in labour and materials, the subcontractor needs a contractor licence for their category, even if their part is under $5,000.

Do electricians and plumbers need a licence for small jobs?

Yes. Specialist work, including electrical, plumbing, draining and gasfitting, needs a licence or certificate regardless of the cost.

Sources

• NSW Government, Apply for a new trade or building licence or certificate, https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/apply (checked 2026-11-02)
• NSW Government, Company and partnership licences, https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/company-and-partnership-licences (checked 2026-11-02)
• NSW Government, Categories and classes of building and trade work, https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/categories-of-work (checked 2026-11-02)
• NSW Government, General building work, https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/licences-and-credentials/building-and-trade-licences-and-registrations/general-building-work (checked 2026-11-02)
• NSW Government, Contracts for residential building work, https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/preparing/contracts (checked 2026-11-02)
• NSW Fair Trading public register, Facts about the register, https://www.onegov.nsw.gov.au/publicregister/static/facts.html (checked 2026-11-02)

Last reviewed 2 Nov 2026