White card and trade licence renewals by state: what expires, when, and how to renew

Most tradies hold at least two pieces of plastic that matter: a white card to get on site, and a trade licence or registration to do the work. They follow very different rules. One rarely needs renewing. The other expires on a fixed date, and working past that date is against the law.

This guide covers when a white card stops being valid, and how builder, plumber and electrician licences renew in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Everything is from the state regulators’ own pages, checked in October 2026. Fees change every 1 July, so treat any figure here as a guide and check the regulator’s page before you pay.

White cards: when you need to redo the training

A white card (general construction induction card) shows you’ve done the “Prepare to work safely in the construction industry” course. Safe Work Australia says white cards are recognised Australia-wide.

There’s no expiry date on the card, but it can stop being valid:

• NSW: SafeWork NSW says the card becomes void if you haven’t done construction work for two consecutive years or more.
• ACT and WA: the regulations require a business not to let a worker do construction work if they did the training more than two years ago and haven’t done construction work in the past two years.
• Victoria: cards are issued by WorkSafe under Victoria’s own OHS regulations. If you’ve had two years or more out of the industry, ask WorkSafe’s Licensing Branch (1300 852 562) before relying on an old card.

Lost your Victorian card? WorkSafe replaces construction induction cards on request, by phone or online. It said there was no fee for replacement cards when we checked.

Victoria: builders, plumbers and electricians

Swipe the table sideways to see every column

Builders. The BPC says practitioners must pay an annual fee and provide proof of insurance to keep working, and it emails a reminder six weeks before each is due. If you don’t pay or provide insurance by the due date, the BPC must suspend your registration. For an individual, the annual fee listed for 2026 to 27 was $519.50 for Domestic Builder (Unlimited) and $332.30 for most other categories. Registration itself must be renewed at least every five years, and the BPC says to lodge at least three months before expiry to avoid a late fee.

Plumbers. Licensed plumbers renew every year and registered plumbers every three years, online through eToolbox. The BPC sends reminders eight and four weeks before expiry. Licensed plumbers need to send an updated certificate of currency for their insurance first, which takes about three business days to process. The BPC also notes that a plumber with an expired licence can’t buy a compliance certificate.

Electricians. Energy Safe Victoria says licences and contractor registrations renew for five years, through ESVConnect, from three months before expiry. To renew a licence you must have done the eight-hour Skills Maintenance CPD course in the two years before renewal. Energy Safe says it must cancel a licence that isn’t renewed by the renewal date, and you’d then reapply at the full fee.

NSW

Building Commission NSW contractor licences can be issued for 1, 3 or 5 years and expire on the anniversary of the issue date. A renewal notice is sent about six weeks before expiry. You can renew online with the notice unless you have something to declare, want a CPD exemption, or need to change the licence. If it lapses, you can restore it within three months. After that you may need to apply for a new licence.

Queensland

QBCC licences are renewed every year, on the anniversary of the date the licence was first issued. Contractor fees depend on your maximum revenue category. The QBCC says that if you don’t pay by the due date your licence may be suspended, and you can’t sign contracts, quote or keep working while it is. You have three months from expiry to renew.

South Australia

Consumer and Business Services says occupational licences must be renewed every 12 months, and plumbing, gas fitting and electrical workers’ registrations every three years. Listed renewal fees when we checked included $589 for an individual general building work contractor and $504 for an individual plumbing, gas or electrical contractor.

Western Australia

You can renew a WA building contractor registration up to 12 weeks before it expires. The renewal needs a home indemnity insurance eligibility certificate or a qualified accountant’s letter on solvency. Late applications can be lodged within six months of expiry, with a letter explaining the delay and a late fee.

For Tasmania, the NT and the ACT, check the local building regulator. We haven’t summarised their renewal rules here.

A simple renewal routine

1. List every licence, registration and card you and your workers hold, with numbers and expiry dates.
2. Set two reminders for each: three months out and one month out.
3. Keep your insurance current. Several regulators need proof of insurance before they’ll renew. Our tradie insurance guide and public liability guide explain the common covers.
4. Book CPD early. Courses fill up near popular renewal months.
5. Keep contact details up to date with each regulator, so reminders reach you.
6. Don’t quote or start work on an expired licence.

Starting out on your own? Our sole trader setup guide covers the licence, ABN, GST and BAS steps in order.