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
Sole traders, partners in a business and companies, including their directors, can apply unless they have legal restrictions on their work or business, such 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.
Business criteria for contractors, companies and individuals (PDF 110KB)
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:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have held a licence within the last year and are applying for an equivalent licence
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
Plumber and gas fitter registration
Plumbers and gas fitters
Qualified plumbers can register if they:
- work on water or sanitary plumbing, and drainage
- install or test backflow prevention devices.
Qualified gas fitters register if they work on gas pipes or equipment, which are downstream of:
- the licensed gas supplier’s meter
- a gas storage tank or cylinder.
Plumbing and gas fitting qualifications
Registration categories for plumbers (112KB PDF)
Registration categories for gas fitters (99.7KB PDF)
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.
Information for interstate plumbers working in SA (146.8KB PDF)
Information for interstate gas fitters working in SA (146.8KB PDF)
Police check
You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
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:
- identifying point of isolation
- isolating equipment
- disconnecting the equipment
- determination of the electrical characteristics of the equipment
- selecting the replacement equipment
- reconnecting the equipment
- testing the equipment for operation and safety.
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.
Registration categories for electricians (116KB PDF)
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.
Information for interstate electricians working in SA (147 KB PDF)
Police check
You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
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, such 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.
Business criteria for contractors, companies and individuals (PDF 110KB)
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:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have held a licence within the last year and are applying for an equivalent licence
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
Plumber and gas fitter registration
Plumbers and gas fitters
Qualified plumbers can register if they:
- work on water or sanitary plumbing, and drainage
- install or test backflow prevention devices.
Qualified gas fitters register if they work on gas pipes or equipment, which are downstream of:
- the licensed gas supplier’s meter
- a gas storage tank or cylinder.
Plumbing and gas fitting qualifications
Registration categories for plumbers (112KB PDF)
Registration categories for gas fitters (99.7KB PDF)
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.
Information for interstate plumbers working in SA (146.8KB PDF)
Information for interstate gas fitters working in SA (146.8KB PDF)
Police check
You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
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:
- identifying point of isolation
- isolating equipment
- disconnecting the equipment
- determination of the electrical characteristics of the equipment
- selecting the replacement equipment
- reconnecting the equipment
- testing the equipment for operation and safety.
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.
Registration categories for electricians (116KB PDF)
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.
Information for interstate electricians working in SA (147 KB PDF)
Police check
You'll need a National Police Certificate (NPC) no more than 12 months old from either:
- South Australia Police
- National police checking service - accredited organisations - Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
You don't need an NPC if you:
- are a director of a company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange
- have lodged an NPC with CBS within the last year
- are an overseas resident and have never lived in Australia
- have already supplied an NPC for a different licence issued under the same Act.
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:
- if you have committed an offence
- if the business has gone bankrupt
- when you change or add a nominated supervisor
- if you change your address - you can also update your address when you renew your licence
- to surrender your occupational licence - you'll no longer be able to work under this licence
- if you have lost or damaged cards or certificates
- when you change directors in your company.
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.
Your client ID can be found in the Consumer and Business Services licence register.
Hard copy licences will still be issued and it's a good idea to carry these with you until digital licences become widely accepted.
