Trades Certification & Licensing by Country

Gas Safe Register is the register approved by HSE: a business must be on it to legally do gas work within the scope of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and HSE prosecutes unregistered gas fitters. For electrical work in dwellings, NICEIC (Certsure) is one of several authorised competent person schemes, alongside BESCA, Blue Flame Certification, NAPIT and OFTEC, that let installers self-certify instead of getting building regulations approval, and OFTEC is one of six schemes authorised for oil appliances. The payroll tools listed here are on HMRC’s list of recognised payroll software, while CIS returns may need an add-on or a separate product; insurers such as Hiscox and AXA note that employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement once you employ staff.

Trade licensing is run by the states: Building Commission NSW issues NSW building and trade licences, QBCC licenses Queensland builders, plumbers and drainers (electrical work is licensed separately by the Electrical Safety Office), Victoria’s Building and Plumbing Commission registers and licenses plumbers, Building and Energy registers WA builders and licenses electricians, plumbers and gas fitters, and CBS licenses South Australian building and PGE contractors. Automatic Mutual Recognition lets licence holders from participating states work in NSW and, depending on the occupation, in WA, usually after notifying; Queensland does not take part. Employers report pay and super to the ATO through STP-enabled payroll software each payday, and from 1 July 2026 must pay the 12% super guarantee when they pay wages.

Provinces and territories are responsible for apprenticeship training and trade certification; a Red Seal endorsement on a provincial or territorial certificate shows the holder passed the Red Seal exam but does not by itself certify anyone to carry on a trade. In Ontario, working in one of the 23 compulsory trades needs a valid Certificate of Qualification from Skilled Trades Ontario (or a provisional certificate or registered training agreement), only ESA-licensed contractors may do electrical work for hire, TSSA registers fuels contractors and certifies gas technicians, and WSIB says people who own or run a construction business must, with some exceptions, have WSIB coverage and register. The Canadian payroll tools listed here say they handle CRA remittances and Records of Employment; Quebec payroll adds Revenu Québec remittances, QPP, QPIP and RL-1 reporting, which not every tool covers.

Only EWRB-registered and licensed workers can carry out or supervise prescribed electrical work, with the practising licence renewed every 2 years; the PGDB registers and licenses plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers and prosecutes unauthorised work; and Restricted Building Work on homes must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. WorkSafe enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and says amendments take effect on 1 April 2027. The payroll tools listed here file payday information with Inland Revenue, and some act as PAYE intermediaries that pay PAYE to Inland Revenue for you. Master Builders and Master Plumbers membership is voluntary and does not replace licensing.

Since 1 September 2026 it is illegal for anyone who is not a Registered Gas Installer to carry out domestic or non-domestic gas works (S.I. No. 106/2026), and the CRU says Safe Electric registration for electrical contractors is the law; Safe Energy Ireland runs both schemes for the CRU. Principal contractors deduct RCT at 0%, 20% or 35% from subcontractors’ payments and file through ROS. The Irish payroll tools listed here say they send payroll submissions to Revenue and handle My Future Fund auto-enrolment. The statutory Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) is not yet mandatory: the CIF says applications open during 2027, and its Voluntary Construction Register runs until then.

Under the Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009, electrical contractors must register with the Department of Employment and Labour, and only registered persons may issue the electrical Certificate of Compliance. Regulation 17 of the Pressure Equipment Regulations bars anyone who is not a registered authorised person (registered through SAQCC Gas) from installing or removing gas appliances and systems. Under PIRB’s rules, only PIRB Licensed Plumbers can issue its plumbing CoC, which is needed for most plumbing work above R1,500 and for electric, solar and heat pump water heating at any cost. Contractors must be cidb-registered to carry out public sector contracts awarded by tender or quotation, and each grade sets a maximum contract value; the NHBRC says anyone in the business of building homes must be registered with it; and under the Construction Regulations, 2014, clients and principal contractors must confirm COIDA good standing before work starts.