General Building Licensing Information

VICTORIA

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

Licensing

You must be registered with the Victorian Building Authority in Victoria to:

  • perform domestic building work that costs more than $10,000 (including labour and materials)
  • carry out re-blocking, re-stumping, demolition work or removal of a home, regardless of cost
  • provide more than one type of building work (such as plastering and painting) that costs more than $10,000 (including labour and materials).

License Types

There are several different types of builder’s registration in Victoria. These include: 

  • Domestic Builder (Limited)
  • Domestic Builder (Unlimited)  
  • Domestic Builder (Manager)
  • Commercial Builder (Limited)
  • Commercial Builder (Unlimited) 

PLUS

  • Completion of the approved managerial course (BSBSMB401 - Establish legal and risk management requirements of small business).

License Application

Domestic Builder

https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/building/builder-registrations/domestic-builder

Commercial Builder

https://www.vba.vic.gov.au/building/builder-registrations/commercial-builder

Experience

For each type of registration, you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • 3 year’s experience in the building registration category being applying for (eg Domestic Builder (Unlimited). This may vary depending on the registration category.
  • Complete an Experience Statement and a Technical Referee Report
  • You also may be required to undertake a written test and/or an interview.

Qualifications

If you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications, you will satisfy the knowledge required for registration in the class of Domestic Builder (Unlimited):

  • Bachelor of Construction Management and Economics from Holmesglen Institute
  • Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) from Deakin University
  • Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50210).

If you have not completed the above, the VBA will assess your knowledge against the competencies included in the diploma.

If you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications, you will satisfy some of the technical knowledge required for registration in the class of Domestic Builder (Unlimited):

National Police Check

Applicants must provide a copy of National Police Certificate.

Financial Requirements

Nil

Building Insurance Requirements

If you undertake domestic building work worth more than $16,000, then you need domestic building insurance that will cover costs up to $300,000 to fix structural defects for six years, and non-structural defects for two years.

Before taking a deposit or any money, building practitioners must provide their client with (1) a copy of the policy and (2) a certificate of currency covering the client's property.

Domestic building insurance covers the client if, before work is complete, the practitioner is deceased, is declared insolvent or disappears.

It covers costs up to $300,000 to fix structural defects for six years, and non-structural defects for two years.

In all other cases, it is up to the building practitioner to fix or complete works, or to pay any costs awarded.
 

More Information

For more information on applying for a Victorian License, or to learn more about the process, visit the Victorian Building Authority website.