Going out on your own as a plumber in NSW
Checked against NSW Fair Trading on 8 August 2026.
To take jobs in your own name
Contractor licence, class "Plumber"
Endorsed "(Q)" like the electrical one. There are separate classes for Drainer, Roof Plumber, Water Plumber and combinations: you need the class that covers the work you actually do.
- What you need before you apply
- The qualifications and supervised experience for the class you are applying for, plus proof of identity.
- What it costs
- Trade or specialist contractor licence, individual, new application: $403 for 1 year, $803 for 3 years, $1,235 for 5 years. Applies July 2026 to June 2027.
- How long it takes
- Fair Trading publishes 15 weeks. Plumbing is named directly in the "Specialist (all other)" row, alongside air conditioning and medical gas.
- Who issues it
- NSW Fair Trading
Where this came from
Read off NSW Fair Trading on 8 August 2026. Fees and processing times usually change on 1 July, so check before you budget.
Once you are up and running, we also have a page on what ONARA Ops does for plumbers.
When you are ready to take the first job
Once the licence is sorted, you need to look like you have been doing this for years: a website people can book from, and quotes and invoices with your logo that go out the same day you finish. That part is us.
Other trades in NSW
We are not accountants, lawyers or insurance brokers, and none of this is advice. It is what the regulators and the ATO publish, gathered in one place with links to the source, so you know what to go and ask about. Rules and fees change, so check with the authority before you act on anything here. Government fees shown are for the 2026-27 year and are indexed every 1 July.