Plumbing, gas fitting and electrical registration and contractors' licences

SA.GOV.AU

Individuals, including partners in a business, and companies must be licensed as plumbing, gas fitting or electrical (PGE) contractors if they run a business that carries out or organises that type of work.

If you do the physical trade work, you'll also need to register as a plumber, gas fitter or electrician. Check if your interstate or overseas licence is recognised in SA.

Related pages

Apply for a licence or registration

Complete the form online, then print, sign, scan and upload it (if you can't complete the form online phone 131 882 to discuss your options with CBS staff).

You'll need supporting documents and a photo to complete your registration or licence application.

Contractor's licence

Plumber and gas fitter registration

Electrician registration

Apprentice registration

Contractor's licence

Sole traders, partners in a business and companies, including their directors, can apply unless they have legal restrictions on their work or business, s uch as bankruptcy, financial receivership or a suspended trade or business licence.

Experience and qualifications

You must have the right experience and qualifications to apply for a contractor’s licence. Companies need to show that a director also meets the business criteria.

Finances

You need to have at least $10,000 in net assets to apply for a contractor’s licence. If you don't, you can apply for a restricted licence as a subcontractor.

Photo and ID check

You will need to have your photo taken for your licence and undergo an ID check before being issued with a licence card.

Police check

Contractors will need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Plumber and gas fitter registration

Plumbers and gas fitters

Qualified plumbers can register if they:

Qualified gas fitters register if they work on gas pipes or equipment, which are downstream of:

If you're an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you'll need to provide evidence regarding your intention to contract for and/or work as an electrical worker, plumber, gas fitter in South Australia. This includes workers in the fire protection industry.

Police check

You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Electrician registration

Your electrical qualifications will determine the type of work that will be included on your registration.

Electrical work includes installing, altering, repairing or maintaining an electrical installation, subject to conditions limiting (in any way) the work that may be carried out under the authority of the registration.

Electrical qualifications - through a trade apprenticeship or Certificate lll

National Restricted Electrical Licence (NREL) qualifications allows the disconnection and reconnection of existing fixed wired equipment (connected to a supply of up to 1000 volts), while observing and maintaining the safety of the working environment.

The work performed includes:

However, the registration does not permit you to perform electrical maintenance, fault finding, installation, rewiring, alterations or additions to any electrical equipment or fixed wiring.

If you're an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you'll need to provide evidence regarding your intention to contract for and/or work as an electrical worker, plumber, gas fitter in South Australia. This includes workers in the fire protection industry.

Police check

You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Apprentice registration

All plumbing, gas fitting and electrical workers must have a photographic registration card, including apprentices. If you're not registered, both you and your employer can face significant penalties.

As soon as your training contract has been approved, CBS will contact you by email or SMS with a link where you can upload a licence photo and 100 points of ID.

CBS will then post your registration card to you. There is no fee.

If you have any questions about your registration, you can email occupational@sa.gov.au.

Contractor's licence

Sole traders, partners in a business and companies, including their directors, can apply unless they have legal restrictions on their work or business, s uch as bankruptcy, financial receivership or a suspended trade or business licence.

Experience and qualifications

You must have the right experience and qualifications to apply for a contractor’s licence. Companies need to show that a director also meets the business criteria.

Finances

You need to have at least $10,000 in net assets to apply for a contractor’s licence. If you don't, you can apply for a restricted licence as a subcontractor.

Photo and ID check

You will need to have your photo taken for your licence and undergo an ID check before being issued with a licence card.

Police check

Contractors will need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Plumber and gas fitter registration

Plumbers and gas fitters

Qualified plumbers can register if they:

Qualified gas fitters register if they work on gas pipes or equipment, which are downstream of:

If you're an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you'll need to provide evidence regarding your intention to contract for and/or work as an electrical worker, plumber, gas fitter in South Australia. This includes workers in the fire protection industry.

Police check

You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Electrician registration

Your electrical qualifications will determine the type of work that will be included on your registration.

Electrical work includes installing, altering, repairing or maintaining an electrical installation, subject to conditions limiting (in any way) the work that may be carried out under the authority of the registration.

Electrical qualifications - through a trade apprenticeship or Certificate lll

National Restricted Electrical Licence (NREL) qualifications allows the disconnection and reconnection of existing fixed wired equipment (connected to a supply of up to 1000 volts), while observing and maintaining the safety of the working environment.

The work performed includes:

However, the registration does not permit you to perform electrical maintenance, fault finding, installation, rewiring, alterations or additions to any electrical equipment or fixed wiring.

If you're an interstate applicant, and not applying through mutual recognition, you'll need to provide evidence regarding your intention to contract for and/or work as an electrical worker, plumber, gas fitter in South Australia. This includes workers in the fire protection industry.

Police check

You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:

You don't need an NPC if you:

Apprentice registration

All plumbing, gas fitting and electrical workers must have a photographic registration card, including apprentices. If you're not registered, both you and your employer can face significant penalties.

As soon as your training contract has been approved, CBS will contact you by email or SMS with a link where you can upload a licence photo and 100 points of ID.

CBS will then post your registration card to you. There is no fee.

If you have any questions about your registration, you can email occupational@sa.gov.au.

Changes that affect your registration or licence

You must notify CBS within 14 days:

Digital licences

You can download your licence or registration to an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet using the mySAGOV app.

Once registered in the app, press the '+' button in the top right corner, select your 'occupational licence' type, then enter the licence/registration number requested along with your client ID.

Hard copy licences will still be issued and it's a good idea to carry these with you until digital licences become widely accepted.

Contact CBS licensing

Phone: 131 882 and press 4