NSW plumbers and gas fitters · licence lookup

Check a NSW plumber or gas fitter licence and find renewal information

Use the official lookup to find a licence record, then match the renewal steps to the individual, business or certificate named on that record.[1][6][11]

This is practical general information, not legal advice or a licence decision. Use official sources for authoritative licence status, eligibility, fees, timelines and decisions.

Check a licence on Service NSW

At a glance

  • The Service NSW lookup accepts a name, licence number or type, ABN, ACN, suburb, postcode or local government area.[1]
  • Renewal routes are separate for individual contractors, companies or partnerships, qualified supervisors and tradespeople.[6][7][8][9][10][3]
  • Renew by the expiry date where possible. Restoration windows and application routes depend on the credential type.[7][8][9][10][3]
  • If a tradesperson certificate expires in less than six weeks, renew it before changing classes.[2]
  • A provisional tradesperson certificate is issued for three years and cannot be renewed; its next step is not specified in the cited guidance.[6][11]

01 · Check the licence record

Look up a plumber or gas fitter through Service NSW

Open the Service NSW “Check a builder or tradesperson licence” transaction. Select “Check online”, enter information in the search bar and select the search icon.[1]

Search using a licensee name, licence number, licence type, Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or location by suburb, postcode or local government area. These are alternatives; Service NSW does not say that every field is required.[1]

  1. Select “Check online”.[1]
  2. Enter an available search option in the search bar.[1]
  3. Select the search icon.[1]

The transaction is for checking a contractor licence. Use the official record for the status it reports; this lookup does not replace a renewal application.[1][7]

Open the Service NSW licence lookup

02 · Identify the credential

Match the renewal route to the credential holder

NSW lists individual contractor licences, company or partnership contractor licences, qualified supervisor certificates, tradesperson certificates and provisional tradesperson certificates for plumbing, draining and gasfitting work. A contractor licence permits contracting and advertising. A qualified supervisor certificate lets an individual do and supervise its listed work but does not permit contracting or advertising. A tradesperson certificate permits listed work under general supervision and does not allow the holder to sign it off.[6][11]

Use the credential name and holder shown on the licence record or renewal notice to select the matching Service NSW transaction. NSW Government says renewal applications should be lodged on or before expiry and that notices are sent several weeks beforehand.[7][8][9][10][3]

03 · Individual contractor licence

Renew an individual contractor licence

The individual contractor transaction asks for the licence number, the renewal number from the notice or full personal details, and fee payment. Verify the licence number and details through Verify NSW if needed.[8]

The online route is unavailable if you seek a CPD exemption or need a licence change beyond contact details or address. The NSW-wide renewal guidance also lists criminal charges, insolvency matters, complaints or compliance issues to declare as reasons an online application may not be available; use a Service NSW Centre if you cannot renew online.[7][8]

Renew on or before expiry. If you miss the deadline, the individual transaction directs you to restore in person at a Service NSW Centre; the statewide guidance gives a standard restoration window of less than three months. If the licence has been expired for more than three months, the transaction says to apply for a new licence. The statewide guidance says an expired licence no longer authorises work until it is renewed or restored.[7][8]

  1. Open the individual contractor renewal transaction and select “Renew online”.[8]
  2. Select “Next”.[8]
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the application and payment.[8]
Open individual contractor renewal

04 · Company or partnership contractor licence

Renew a company or partnership contractor licence

This licence belongs to the company or partnership. Service NSW says the renewal notice is sent several weeks before expiry. The renewal transaction asks for the licence number, renewal number from the notice or full personal details, and fee payment.[9]

For online renewal, select “Renew online” and follow the prompts. For an in-person application, take the renewal notice and payment to a Service NSW Centre.[9]

If you do not renew on time, the transaction says the entity cannot trade until its new licence is issued. A restoration application can be made at a Service NSW Centre within three months of expiry. If the licence expired more than three months ago, apply for a new licence.[9]

  1. Open the company or partnership renewal transaction and select “Renew online”.[9]
  2. Follow the prompts to renew the entity licence.[9]
Open company or partnership renewal

05 · Qualified supervisor certificate

Renew a qualified supervisor certificate

The transaction asks for the licence number, renewal number from the notice or full personal details, and payment. It directs applicants to check eligibility, select “Renew online” and follow the prompts. A Service NSW Centre is the stated route when the online requirements are not met.[10]

The transaction says online renewal is unavailable if you seek a CPD exemption or need a licence change beyond contact details or address.[10]

The transaction says you cannot trade until the new certificate is issued; after a missed deadline it directs applicants to a Service NSW Centre to restore, and says a certificate expired more than three months needs a new application.[10]

  1. Check the transaction’s eligibility requirements.[10]
  2. Select “Renew online”.[10]
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the application.[10]
Open qualified supervisor certificate renewal

06 · Tradesperson certificate

Renew or restore a tradesperson certificate

The online transaction applies to plumbing, draining and gasfitting tradesperson certificates. It asks for a MyServiceNSW Account, certificate number, renewal number from the notice and fee payment; you may need details from two identity documents. Gather any additional documents the transaction requests for your circumstances.[3]

The application is assessed by Building Commission NSW. The transaction says holders can continue trading while a renewal application is being assessed; if it is refused, trading authority ends on the refusal date.[3]

If the certificate expired within 90 days, apply online to restore it and pay the restoration fee. If it expired more than 90 days ago, the transaction says to reapply for the certificate.[3]

  1. Gather the required documents.[3]
  2. Select “Renew or restore online”.[3]
  3. Log in or create a MyServiceNSW Account.[3]
  4. Follow the prompts to renew or restore the certificate.[3]
Open tradesperson certificate renewal or restoration

07 · Provisional tradesperson certificate

A provisional tradesperson certificate cannot be renewed

NSW Government says provisional tradesperson certificates for listed categories including plumbing, draining and gasfitting are issued for three years and cannot be renewed.[6][11]

The cited guidance does not specify what an existing holder must do when this certificate expires. Check directly with Building Commission NSW rather than treating a standard renewal or restoration route as applicable.[6][11]

Read NSW plumbing and gasfitting licence guidance

08 · Certificate class changes

Check expiry before changing a tradesperson certificate class

If a tradesperson certificate expires in less than six weeks, Service NSW says to renew it before varying the classes. A class change itself is handled at a Service NSW Centre with the application form and supporting documents.[2]

Open the Service NSW class-change instructions

09 · Details to confirm

Confirm these points with Building Commission NSW

The qualified supervisor transaction’s opening text says online renewal is available if the licence “expired less than 3 months ago”, while its expired-certificate section directs a late applicant to restore at a Service NSW Centre. The statewide renewal page says restoration within three months is available, but does not resolve this certificate’s online-versus-centre route. Confirm the correct path with Service NSW before applying.[7][10]

The individual, company or partnership, and qualified supervisor transactions direct applicants whose credential expired more than three months ago to apply for a new licence. The statewide guide also describes an extension of the standard restoration period in certain circumstances, including inadvertence or where restoration is just and equitable, with an in-person application and supporting documents. The pages do not explain how that exception applies to each credential type; confirm with Building Commission NSW before treating a new application as the only route.[7][8][9][10]

The cited NSW pages say provisional tradesperson certificates cannot be renewed, but do not give the next application or restoration step for an existing holder. Ask Building Commission NSW which route applies to the specific certificate.[6][11]

10 · Work compliance certificates

Use the compliance portal for the work type

Compliance certificates are separate from a licence lookup or renewal. NSW Government says gasfitters must use BCNSW eCert for gasfitting certificates of compliance and inspection; MyInspections is for plumbing and drainage work.[5]

Use the Service NSW transaction to check licence information and the credential-specific sections above for renewal or restoration. Use the NSW Government compliance guidance for the work-certificate portal.[1][3][5][7][8][9][10]

Read NSW gasfitter compliance guidance

Source list

Official NSW information

More about RuleRivet for NSW tradies