Stay legal on the tools: a young tradie's compliance and licensing checklist

Nothing kills a good run of work faster than a lapsed licence or an insurance policy that quietly expired. Fines can be big, insurers can refuse claims, and some clients will drop you on the spot. The good news: staying compliant is mostly about knowing what you need and when it renews.

1. Your trade licence (and what it lets you do)

Electricians, plumbers, gasfitters, builders and air-con techs need a licence to work unsupervised in every state. Many states also license carpenters, tilers, painters and others once a job goes over a set dollar value. Check your state's building or fair trading authority — each state is different.

• Know whether you hold a contractor licence or just a worker licence — you need a contractor licence to quote and invoice in your own name in many states
• Licences renew every 1–5 years, depending on state and trade
• Many require CPD (continuing training) points before renewal — don't leave them to the last week

2. White card (general construction induction)

You need a white card to work on any construction site in Australia. It doesn't expire, but if you haven't done construction work for two years, some states require you to redo it. Keep a photo of it on your phone.

3. Insurance that actually covers you

• Public liability — $10M–$20M is standard. Renews yearly.
• Home warranty / domestic building insurance — required for residential jobs over a set value in most states
• Workers comp — compulsory as soon as you employ anyone, including apprentices
• Tool and income protection — not compulsory, but losing either can sink a sole trader

Save your certificate of currency in Henri's Docs and you can attach it to quotes in seconds when a builder asks.

4. Safety paperwork: SWMS and site safety

High-risk construction work — working at heights over 2 metres, near live electrical, in trenches, with asbestos and more — needs a Safe Work Method Statement (SWMS) before you start. Keep a template per job type and tweak it for each site.

5. Compliance certificates

Sparkies, plumbers and gasfitters must lodge compliance certificates for regulated work (names vary by state — CoC, CCEW, PIC and so on). Missing or late certificates are one of the most common reasons tradies get fined. Lodge them the day the job is done.

6. Your vehicle

Rego, CTP and comprehensive insurance on the ute, and make sure your insurer knows it's used for business and carries tools. Many personal policies won't pay out otherwise.

The renewal calendar to keep

• Trade licence — every 1–5 years (plus CPD points)
• Public liability insurance — yearly
• Workers comp — yearly, once you have staff
• Vehicle rego and insurance — yearly
• First aid certificate — CPR yearly, full course every 3 years
• Test and tag of power tools — every 3–12 months depending on the site

Add your licence and insurance expiry dates to the setup checklist on your Henri dashboard, and you'll get a warning 30 days before anything runs out.

Rules differ between states and change often. This is general information only — always check with your state licensing authority and insurer.