A Queensland electrical contractor licence applicant must hold a policy in the applying business’s legal name, including public and products liability with a limit of indemnity of at least $5,000,000 and consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000. The policy must also cover testing and certification, faulty design work, incorrect advice and goods in the licence holder’s care, custody or control. These amounts and mandatory terms come from WorkSafe Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office guidance, dated 5 October 2021; figures checked 1 October 2026.
This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Check the current ESO licensing page and the proposed policy’s PDS before applying, renewing or restructuring.
Do I need an electrical contractor licence in Queensland?
You must hold an electrical contractor licence to perform electrical work for others as a sole trader, partnership or company.
Licences are issued for one year. The licence holder is responsible for maintaining the eligibility requirements throughout that time.
What must the insurance policy cover?
The policy must meet section 165 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026. Use this checklist before applying or renewing:
| Policy requirement | What the ESO requires |
|---|---|
| Business name | The policy must be issued in the legal name of the business applying for the licence. |
| Public and products liability | The policy must include both, with a limit of indemnity of at least $5,000,000. |
| Consumer protection | Consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000. |
| Testing and certification | Liability arising from testing and certifying work in accordance with the ES Regulation. |
| Faulty design | Injury or damage arising from faulty design work performed by the licence holder, including work for which no specific fee was charged. |
| Incorrect advice | Injury or damage arising from incorrect advice, including advice for which no specific fee was charged. |
| Goods | Goods in the licence holder’s care, custody or control. |
The applicant must confirm with the insurer that the policy meets these mandatory requirements. That confirmation must be declared when applying or renewing. If you are unsure whether the wording meets the requirements, consult your insurer or broker and check the policy’s PDS.
Who must be nominated for the licence?
Section 173 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026 sets out the eligibility requirements. An applicant must nominate:
- At least one qualified technical person (QTP) to perform or supervise the electrical work.
- At least one qualified business person (QBP).
The QTP and QBP can be the same person, and both roles are endorsed on the licence.
A QTP or QBP must also have the required connection to the applicant:
| Licence structure | Required connection |
|---|---|
| Individual or sole trader | The applicant or an employee of the applicant |
| Partnership | A partner or employee of the partnership |
| Company | A director, executive officer, member or employee of the company |
The application must provide the nominated people’s details and explain how they meet the eligibility requirements. Use the Electrical licensing eligibility guide linked from the ESO page for the detailed QTP and QBP tests.
How do I apply for an electrical contractor licence?
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Confirm the insurance. Ask the insurer to confirm that the policy meets the mandatory requirements. You will need to provide policy details and make the required declaration.
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Use the Electrical Licensing Portal. Portal access requires identity verification using a Digital ID. The ESO describes Digital ID use as voluntary and says an alternative arrangement can be made by calling 1300 632 993.
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Nominate the required people. Provide the QTP and QBP details, nominate an Authorised Person and identify how the qualified people meet the eligibility requirements. The person submitting the application and making the declaration must be the nominated Authorised Person.
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Check the Authorised Person rules. For an individual application, the Authorised Person is the applicant. For a partnership, the Authorised Person is a partner. For a corporation, the Authorised Person must be a director or executive officer.
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Submit the application. After submission, the QTP, QBP and nominated Authorised Persons receive an email to validate their identity and accept their nomination. Nominated qualified people may also be asked for evidence of eligibility. The application will not proceed until at least one nominated QTP and at least one nominated QBP have confirmed their details and acceptance.
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Pay the applicable fee. Payment can be made by debit or credit card through BPoint. Check the amount shown in the application.
One person can be nominated for more than one role, including QTP, QBP and Authorised Person. For an issued licence, these are the roles that access the portal, and an Authorised Person can make changes to the licence.
You do not need to provide a copy of the insurance policy with the application.
When does a sole-trader-to-company restructure mean a new licence and certificate?
The ESO’s Are you restructuring your electrical contracting business?, dated 31 May 2024, identifies a change of entity as the trigger for a new electrical contractor licence application. Examples include changing from an individual or sole trader to a corporation, or moving from a corporation back to an individual licence.
For the licence: Moving the licence from the sole trader to the company is a change of entity, so plan on a new contractor-licence application.
For the insurance: The current policy must be issued in the applying entity’s legal name. Do not assume a certificate tied only to the former sole trader can support the company’s application. Ask the insurer or broker whether it can issue a new certificate or update the existing certificate to reflect the company’s policy.
The mandatory licensing requirement concerns the policy in the new entity’s legal name, not the upload of a certificate. The ESO says no copy of the policy must be provided with the application.
The restructuring newsletter also records that new licence applicants must have a nominated QTP or QBP who meets training requirements introduced on 1 July 2018. It says a QTP nominee must have held a current Queensland electrical work licence for at least two years. That newsletter referred to section 51 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013; the current contractor-licence page points applicants to section 165 of the Electrical Safety Regulation 2026.
If the restructure has already happened, contact the ESO on 1300 632 993 for assistance with the licensing requirements.
What happens if the ESO audits the insurance?
The ESO conducts periodic audits to check that contractors hold appropriate insurance. Although you do not upload a policy copy with the application, an audit may require you to provide either:
- A copy of the insurance policy; or
- Written confirmation from the insurer.
You can also check the status of an electrical contractor licence number through the Electrical licence holder search on the regulator’s page.
Sources
- Electrical contractor licences | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
- Are you restructuring your electrical contracting business? | WorkSafe.qld.gov.au
FAQ
Can one person be both the QTP and QBP?
Yes. The same person may be nominated for both roles and will be endorsed for each role on the electrical contractor licence.
Is $5,000,000 of indemnity enough on its own?
No. The amount is the stated limit of indemnity for the required public and products liability. The policy must also meet the other section 165 requirements, including consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000 and the listed forms of cover.
Do I upload my insurance policy or certificate with the application?
No policy copy is required with the application. You must provide policy details and declare that you have confirmed compliance with the insurer. Keep the policy and certificate available because an audit may require the policy copy or written confirmation from the insurer.
Does restructuring from a sole trader to a company require a new licence?
The ESO identifies a change of entity as the trigger for a new electrical contractor licence application. The company must also hold a policy issued in its legal name, so ask your insurer or broker for new or updated insurance documentation that reflects the new entity.
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