Your WA police clearance, done online.
A Police Clearance WA is actually a national check — recognised across every state and territory. Apply in minutes, no post office or police station visit required.
1–3 minutes
to apply
screening body
What is a Police Clearance WA?
A Police Clearance WA — also called a WA police check or national police certificate — is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC), the official police check issued by ACIC-accredited providers in Australia. Despite the “WA” label, it is a national check: it draws on the same national police database and discloses your criminal history from every Australian state and territory, not just Western Australia. Worker Checks issues it 100% online, and around 80% of results are returned within 1–3 minutes.
A national check, processed fast, secured properly
A “Police Clearance WA” is the same Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check used Australia-wide — it draws from the same national database and is recognised by employers, regulators, and volunteer organisations in every state and territory, not just Western Australia.
What appears on a WA police clearance?
On a standard employment Police Clearance WA, disclosure of older Western Australian convictions is governed by the Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA). Here is what generally does and doesn’t appear.
- Convictions that have not been made spent
- Findings of guilt and certain court orders
- Pending charges — matters before a court that aren’t yet finalised
- Court-convicted driving offences (e.g. drink or drug driving, dangerous driving)
- Convictions from other Australian states and territories
- Convictions that have been made spent under the 1988 Act
- Convictions covered by a spent conviction order made at sentencing
- Non-conviction outcomes and most minor infringements not dealt with by a court
How convictions become “spent” in Western Australia
Western Australia’s spent convictions scheme sits under the Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA). The Act splits old convictions into two types, and the path to spending one depends on which it is:
- Lesser conviction — a sentence of imprisonment of one year or less, or a fine of less than $15,000. It is spent when you apply to the Commissioner of Police and a certificate is issued.
- Serious conviction — a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year, or a fine of $15,000 or more. It can only be made spent by applying to the District Court.
- The waiting (“prescribed”) period is generally 10 years — plus any period of imprisonment relevant to the conviction — and you must not reoffend during it.
- A sentence of life imprisonment can never be made spent.
A court can also make a spent conviction order at the time of sentencing, which spends the conviction immediately. Because spending isn’t automatic, applying for a national police certificate prompts the WA Police Force to review whether any eligible lesser convictions can be treated as spent.
From application to certificate in about 5 minutes
Submit your application
Provide your details and complete identity verification from your phone or computer — no appointments or paper forms.
Receive confirmation
You’ll get a confirmation email once your application is lodged, with details available in your secure Worker Checks portal.
Get your result
80% of checks are completed within 1–3 minutes. The remaining 20% are flagged for manual review by police agencies, which can take up to around 15 business days.
Download or share
Print your certificate, download the PDF, or e-share it directly with an employer from your portal.
Worker Checks vs other providers in WA
A WA police clearance is identical no matter who issues it — the same national database, the same legal validity. The differences are price, speed, and whether a business portal is included.
| Provider | Employment | Volunteer | Typical turnaround | Business portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worker ChecksBest value | $52.00 inc. GST | $21.00 inc. GST | 80% within 1–3 min | ✓ BusinessHub (free) |
| AuthNTick | ~$59 (incl. fees) | ~$23 | Within 24 hours | ✓ Yes |
| CrimCheck | ~$60 | ~$23 | ~2 in 3 within 2 biz days | ✓ Yes |
| ANCC | ~$58 | ~$27 | 1–3 business days | ✓ Yes |
| National Crime Check | ~$59 | ~$30 | ~70% in 1–2 biz days | ✓ Yes (API) |
| Checked Australia | ~$64 | ~$34 | Within 1 hour | ✓ Yes |
| CVCheck (fit2work) | ~$65 | ~$27 | 95% in 10 biz days | ✓ Yes (API) |
| Crime Check Australia | ~$99 | ~$69 | Within 1 hour | ✓ Yes |
| AFP | $56 (GST exempt) | $56 (GST exempt) | 5–7 business days | ✕ No |
Worker Checks pricing and turnaround are current and confirmed, and include GST with no additional processing or transaction fees at checkout — the price shown is what you pay. Competitor prices and turnaround times are approximate, reflect each provider’s public information (July 2026), and are a general guide only. The AFP charges a flat fee and is GST-exempt. See the full breakdown on our police check providers comparison.
Police Clearance WA — FAQ
Is a WA police clearance the same as a national police check?
Yes. In Western Australia a “police clearance” or “national police certificate” is a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC). It draws on the national police database and is recognised in every Australian state and territory, so a clearance obtained through Worker Checks is valid nationwide.
What shows up on a WA police clearance?
A standard employment clearance shows disclosable court outcomes from anywhere in Australia — convictions that have not been made spent, findings of guilt, certain court orders, and pending charges. Convictions that have been made spent under the Spent Convictions Act 1988 generally don’t appear unless the check is for an exempt purpose.
Do convictions become spent automatically in WA?
No — and this is the key difference from most other states. In Western Australia a conviction does not become spent just because time has passed. It stays disclosable until it is actively made spent, either by a court order at sentencing or by a later application.
How do I get a conviction spent in Western Australia?
Under the Spent Convictions Act 1988 (WA), a lesser conviction (imprisonment of one year or less, or a fine under $15,000) is spent by applying to the Commissioner of Police. A serious conviction (more than one year, or a fine of $15,000 or more) can only be made spent by applying to the District Court. The waiting period is generally 10 years plus any term of imprisonment, with no reoffending.
How much does a WA police clearance cost?
A WA employment police clearance is $52.00 and a volunteer clearance is $21.00, both including GST. Worker Checks adds no processing or transaction fees at checkout, so the price shown is what you pay.
How long does a WA police clearance take?
Around 80% of clearances are returned within 1–3 minutes. The remaining applications are referred for manual review by police agencies, which can take up to around 15 business days — no provider can speed up a manual review.
How long is my clearance available after I receive it?
Your result is available in your Worker Checks portal for 3 months, after which it is removed under Commonwealth requirements — so download and save your certificate within that window. A police clearance has no fixed expiry, but most organisations won’t accept one older than 3 months.
Does an interstate conviction show up on my WA clearance?
Yes. A police clearance is national, so a conviction recorded in any state or territory appears no matter where you apply from. Generally, the spent-conviction rules of the state where you were convicted determine whether it is still disclosed.
Can I run a police clearance on someone else?
No. A police clearance can only be conducted with the informed consent of the person it is for, and applicants must be at least 16 years old.
Get your WA police clearance today
100% online, ACIC-accredited, and recognised nationally — not just in Western Australia.
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