You’ve found an electrician online, and they can come tomorrow. Before they do, it’s worth two minutes to check that they’re licensed. Here’s exactly where to look, what the licence types mean, and the one document every licensed electrician has to give you after the job.
Search the electrician’s name or licence number on Verify NSW, the NSW Government’s licence lookup, or scan the digital licence on their phone with the Service NSW app. You’re looking for a current licence that covers electrical wiring work, held by the person or business you’re paying. After the job, a licensed electrician has to lodge a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) within seven days of testing, and since 1 July 2026 it goes through the Building Commission NSW eCert system, which emails you a copy. If you’re about to book a licensed electrician in Newcastle, those two checks are all you need.
How to Check an Electrician’s Licence Number in Two Minutes
Ask for the electrician’s full name and licence number when you book. Any licensed electrician will give it without fuss. Then:
- Search online. Go to Verify NSW or the Service NSW builder or tradesperson licence check. You can search by licence number, name, ABN or location.
- Check the record. Make sure the licence is current, that it’s for electrical work, and that the name matches the person or business on your quote. Look for any published compliance action, such as a suspension.
- Or scan it on the day. Ask to see their digital licence. In your own Service NSW app, choose Check a licence or credential, then Scan, and scan the QR code on their phone. Don’t take their phone from them.
- Look for the live signs. A genuine digital licence shows a refreshed date and time, an animated NSW Government logo, and a hologram that moves when the phone is tilted.
Contractor Licence vs Qualified Supervisor Certificate
In NSW, you need an electrical licence or certificate to do any electrical wiring work, whatever the job costs. Building Commission NSW lists several types, and the difference matters when you’re the one paying.
If the person quoting you only holds a supervisor certificate, ask which licensed business they’re working for. Unlicensed electrical work can bring fines of up to $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company.
The Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work: What It Proves
A CCEW is required whenever electrical work is done. It records that the work was tested and meets the rules, including the Australian wiring standard AS/NZS 3000.
- The electrician who tests the work lodges it no later than seven days after the test.
- Since 1 July 2026, every CCEW goes through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal. Handwritten and PDF forms are no longer accepted.
- If your email is entered, eCert sends you a copy automatically when it’s lodged.
- Not supplying a CCEW can bring an on-the-spot fine of up to $1,000 each time.
Keep the certificate. Insurers, landlords, buyers and the next electrician may all ask for it.
Red Flags Before You Book
- They won’t give you a licence number, or the name on it doesn’t match the quote.
- Cash only, no written quote and no invoice.
- “You don’t need a certificate for a job this small.” You do.
- A price that’s far below everyone else’s with no explanation.
- They’ll “just wire in” something you bought, like a charger, with no paperwork. If you’re tempted to do that job yourself, read about installing your own EV charger first.
What Not to Do
- Don’t let work start before you’ve checked the licence.
- Don’t accept a favour from a friend who isn’t licensed. The fines and the risk stay the same.
- Don’t pay the final balance without knowing the CCEW will be lodged.
Who to Contact if Something Is Wrong
Start with the electrician; most problems are sorted with a phone call. If that doesn’t work, Building Commission NSW handles home building complaints, including electrical wiring, and the service is free. Have the quote, the invoice, and the CCEW ready. For licensing questions, Building Commission NSW is on 13 27 00.
Complaints do get looked at. In 2025-26 the commission carried out more than 120 inspections of solar and battery work in the Hunter after 113 complaints, according to the Newcastle Herald.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
- What’s your licence number, and is it in your name or your company’s?
- Will I get a written quote before you start?
- Will you lodge a CCEW and email me a copy?
- Are you insured for this kind of work?
- Who will actually be doing the job?
Price matters too, and what an electrician costs in Newcastle covers call-out fees and what a fair quote shows.
Ask for my licence when you book and check it on Verify NSW before I arrive. Every job gets a written quote and a CCEW lodged through eCert, with a copy sent to you.
Licensed electrician · CCEW on every job · Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and MaitlandFrequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an electrician is licensed in NSW?
Search their name or licence number on Verify NSW, or scan their digital licence with the Service NSW app. Check it’s current, for electrical work, and in the name on your quote.
Where do I find an electrician’s licence number?
Ask them. A licensed electrician will give it on request, and it’s often on their quote, invoice or website. You can also search Verify NSW by name or ABN.
Who issues electrical licences in NSW?
Building Commission NSW handles electrical licences and certificates. Its licensing line is 13 27 00.
What is a CCEW and do I get a copy?
A Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work records that the work was tested and meets the standards. The electrician lodges it through eCert within seven days, and you get a copy by email.
Is it illegal to do your own electrical work in NSW?
Yes, for wiring work. You need an electrical licence or certificate to do any electrical wiring work in NSW, and fines apply to unlicensed work.
Two Minutes Now Saves a Lot Later
Check the licence before the job and keep the CCEW after it. If you’d like to know more about who’ll be doing the work, read about Newcastle Electrical. To book a licensed electrician in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or Maitland, call 0450 406 450.
