If you want to move your career in the right direction and make sure you’re doing the right things to protect yourself legally in Victoria then getting your Builders Licence could be the best decision you’ve ever made.
In Victoria the licence category you need is a Domestic Builder Registration. You can get a Domestic Builder Licence with 3 years’ practical experience to the satisfaction of the Victorian Building Authority.
Which Builder Registration do I need?
First thing you must decide on is….. What Builder Licence do I need and Which Licence is going to help me in the future? It’s no good getting a Licence that’s not going to help you to move forward in your career or business. You really need to think about the builders licence you want as this will determine what jobs and projects you will be able to do.
There are many different types of building licences in Victoria. These Builder Registration Classes are:
DB-U (Domestic Builder Unlimited) – Registration in this Builder Class will allow you carry out construction of all components of domestic building work, including building homes, renovation, improvement, or maintenance. This Builder License is the most sort after by people in the Domestic Building industry as it covers you to do almost everything involved with Domestic Construction.
Project Manager (Domestic) – This Building Registration is designed to allow you to manage or arrange the carrying out of domestic building work under a Domestic Builder Unlimited person. You cannot carry out the work yourself and you cannot have an unregistered person carry out the building work. The work you do with this Builder Licence must be under someone with a DB-U (Domestic Builder Unlimited Registration)
Domestic Builder (Limited) – This is the Building Licence you need to get to be Registered for your specific trade a Domestic Builder. With a DB-L class of Licence you will be able to carry out and manage the work or oversee domestic building work depending on the Domestic Builder Limited Registration you have.
You can’t build an entire home with a DB-L but you can do parts that are associated with your Licence and can legally take on work over $10,000 in your specific Registration with Domestic Builder Limited Registration.
This is a list of the Domestic Builder Limited Licences that the VBA offers:
To find out all the requirements you need for each category, check out the VBA’s Information for Domestic Builder here https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/building/builder-registrations/domestic-builder
How to become a builder in VIC
To get your Builders Licence, there are a couple of steps that you need to do to achieve your Licence. The Victorian Building Authority manages and hands out the Registrations in Victoria and if you’re doing any Domestic Building work over $10,000 (including labour and materials) you must be Registered with the VBA in Victoria.
Before you can get your building licence in Victoria you must be able to show that you have the right experience to apply for a Builder Registration and demonstrate to the VBA (Victorian Building Authority) that you have some work history in the Registration Class you want to apply for.
For example….If you haven’t been involved in the building of swimming pools then the VBA are not going to have a great deal of confidence in giving you a Licence to build pools. Likewise if you’ve done one-bathroom renovation then that isn’t exactly a great work history to show the VBA that you’re ready to get a Registration for the renovation of Bathroom, Kitchens and Laundries. So to be clear……. before you even think about Registration you should ask yourself, “Have I got enough experience to demonstrate to the VBA that I can do the work or manage the process for the Class of Registration that I’m applying for?”
Keep in mind that for your Domestic Builder Registration to be successful, the VBA want you to be able to show that you have 3 years’ experience in the Licence Class you’re applying for.
What are the Steps to get my Builders Licence in VIC
STEP 1. The first part of your Builder Registration involves completing the VBA Application Forms. The application requires you create a portfolio that supports your experience with documents such as Site Plans and Working Drawings of jobs you’ve been involved in. This is about providing evidence to the VBA that you have the experience by showing them the kind of work you’ve been doing.
Once your Builders Registration application is fully completed with your Portfolio it is then sent to the VBA (Victorian Building Authority) where your application is assessed and once accepted you then go through to the next step of the process.
STEP 2. At this stage you are notified of a time available to sit your Builders Registration computer based multiple choice examination and plan testing. The Builder Registration examination goes for two hours and is held at the VBA’s office at the Docklands. It is important to note that you are required to achieve a minimum mark of 70% for both parts of the examination to proceed to the next stage of your application.
You must be able to complete the test within the 2 hour period.This is where a solid knowledge of how and where to locate the relevant information in Australian Standards and the Codes is a must for successful Builders Registration!
STEP 3. You will be required to attend a 1 to 3 hour face to face Interview with an Assessor at the VBA. At the interview you may also be required to do further written testing regarding plan tests exercises.
At the completion of the interview, the Assessor may give you an indication of the outcome of your Builders Registration interview however you will have to wait for the VBA to contact you in writing with confirmation that you have been successful and to receive your Builder Registration Licence in the mail.
Here’s some Questions we get from people who are looking to get Registered…….
Do I need a Certificate IV to apply for my Licence?
NO, NO, NO The Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) is NOT a prescribed qualification under the Building Regulations 2018. It is NOT recognised as an equivalent qualification under the Building Act 1993. So you don’t need to spend the next 6 months at a TAFE to get this qualification! What you must have is industry experience in the Registration Class you are applying for.
Check out his link on the VBA to see for yourself https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/building/builder-registrations/faqs
Do I need a Diploma of Building and Construction?
NO, unlike the Certificate IV, the VBA recognise the Diploma BUT MANY OF OUR CLIENTS HAVE NO QUALIFCIATIONS …..BUT THEY DO HAVE INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
What happens if I do not get Registered?
Those in the industry who continue to work as unregistered people or represent themselves to the public that they are Registered are working unlawfully and are liable for substantial fines …. Don’t risk it!
Next Steps on how to get your Registration
Not sure where to start? Give us a call on 0488 27 88 99 because we’re here to help. Since 2013 we’ve assisted thousands of people in the industry to get the Registration they want for the work that they want to do.
YOU get the right information to achieve your Builders Registration/ Builder Licence to save you time and money to registration success!
If you’ve thought it’s too hard or you haven’t got enough time then talk to us about how Builders Licence Made Easy can help you achieve your Licence in half the time of doing Cert IV or Diploma.
Getting your Licence will change your life forever….
Call us today 0488 27 88 99….
