VIC Builder’s Registration

The process of getting a builders licence in Victoria is managed and regulated by the Victorian Building Authority.

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Experience

Depending on whether you are applying for Domestic Builder (limited or unlimited), you'll need 2 to 3 years' experience.

Qualifications

It's important to understand that while there are prescribed qualifications, an applicant may show they have equivalent skills and qualifications.

Who can I contact?

Contact the Victorian Building Authority for further information.

Experience

You will need 2 years’ full time building work experience for Class A, B and C; and 3 years’ experience for Class D.

Technical qualification

The ACT builder licence is classified into A, B, C and D. Each classification has its own requirements.

Examination

Class A,B and C require a written examination; with Class D exempt from examination.

Who can I
contact?

Contact the ACT Planning and Land Authority for further information.

In Victoria, a building licence for residential builders is called Domestic Builder Registration.

To build a complete home or carry out significant residential building work you need a Domestic Builder (Unlimited) Registration.

To carry out a single trade and work for consumers you usually need a Domestic Builder (Limited) Registration. A Domestic Builder (Limited) Registration may also be used by builders who install kitchens, bathrooms and laundries or build non-habitable structures such as sheds.

Experience

To be registered as a Domestic Builder in Victoria you need to prove that you have sufficient practical experience within the seven years before applying for registration to the satisfaction of the VBA.

An applicant for registration as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited) needs to prove they have at least 3 years' practical experience and an applicant for registration as a Domestic Builder (Limited) needs to prove at least 2 years' practical experience. This practical experience usually needs to be well-rounded and include experience with quotes and contracts, obtaining building approvals, engaging workers, resolving problems, and having work completed and handed over.

Class A, B and C requires 2 years’ of documented full time building work experience where 1 year full time experience was undertaken after the date the qualification was issued.
Class D requires 3 years’ of documented full time building work experience.

Class A builder (Unlimited)

Requires a tertiary qualification in building that the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory has determined is a Bachelor degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree, or Doctoral Degree in Building (‘tertiary qualification in building’).

Class B builder (Medium Rise)

Requires, one of the following:

Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) with a course code of CPC50210, CPC50208 or BCG50206; or
a tertiary qualification in building.

Class C builder (Low rise / Residential up to 2 storeys)

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Class D builder (non-structural work)

Does not require a formal qualification

Qualifications

There is often confusion about the rules for getting Domestic Builder Registration in Victoria. When applying for builder registration in Victoria, it's important to understand that while there are prescribed qualifications an applicant may show they have equivalent skills and qualifications without necessarily having the exact prescribed qualifications. Also, a qualification, even a degree or diploma, is not by itself sufficient to obtain registration.

In practice, many applicants for builder registration, including as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited), have a CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction and demonstrate to the VBA by exams and assessments that they have the equivalent skills and experience to the prescribed qualifications. It for this reason that many potential builders seeking registration undertake the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction course and do not necessarily obtain a degree of diploma that at first glance seems to be required to be registered as a Domestic Builder (Unlimited).

Class A, B and C requires you to pass a written examination set by the Construction Occupations Registrar before your builder licence is issued. You may make two attempts before your licence is refused.
Class D is exempted from examination.