How to Become a Registered Building Practitioner

15/12/2021

If you want to do building work worth more than $10,000 you must be registered with the Vic Gov’s Victorian Building Authority (VBA).

This process ensures that Victorians get a high standard of work on their buildings and that they are safe.

By getting a registration, you can step up from tradie to builder with all the new challenges, rewarding work and higher pay that it offers. 

In this article, will show you how to get registered.

Things you need to know

Registration applies to people, not businesses or companies.

In the past, some tradies could sneakily get away with not getting registered.

But these days, it’s becoming harder to game the system. 

Customers are becoming more informed on the rules and will often choose registered practitioners for work over $10,000 rather than tradie who want to do it illegally.

If you try to skirt around this law, you could find yourself with a penalty or fine, so it’s better not to risk it.

If you’re doing domestic building work under a corporate entity, one of the directors must be registered. 

When you need a registration

It’s well known that tradies need to be registered if they want to do work over $10,000.

But it’s important to remember that this cost includes labour and materials too.

You also need a registration if you are doing any type of work requiring a permit like: 

  • Re-blocking
  • Re-stumping
  • Demolishing
  • Removing a home

If the work you’re doing requires a permit then you need to be registered regardless of how much that work costs.

The last situation in which you need to be registered is if you are doing more than one type of building work over $10,000.

For example, if you are doing plastering and painting for $12,000 you’ll need a registration. 

How to register

Getting registered with the VBA is no walk in the park. 

Actually, it’s common for experienced tradies and builders to fail their registrations! 

This is because the Vic Gov has a very strict process to confirm that you have the skills and knowledge to complete safe high quality construction.

Here are the steps involved.

  • Step 1 Complete an application
    Download an application form from the VBA website and fill in the blanks.
  • Step 2 Choose your registration class and code
    Select the right category for your specific type of building work such as domestic builder etc. 
  • Step 3 Provide documentation
    Give evidence of your certificates, diplomas, apprenticeships, or the years of work that you have done in construction.
  • Step 4 Pay application fee
    Pay a fee ranging from a few hundred dollars to up to $1000 depending on your category.
  • Step 5 Prove insurance 
    Give documents that show you have the right insurance to cover your work once you are registered.

Why is it so hard?

One of the main reasons that trades failed the registration is because they have a few gaps in their knowledge.

Even tradies who have been working for years might lack the skills and knowledge needed for larger more complex projects.

This is why it’s good to get a formal qualification in the type of building work that you want to do.

Here are two popular courses to choose from:

CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)

This certificate teaches you how to do domestic building work as a supervisor, manager or business owner.

Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50220)

This diploma teaches you how to supervise, manage or run a construction business for residential, commercial or industrial buildings up to 3 storeys.

Recognition of Prior learning

If you’ve been working as a tradie or builder for years, there’s a good chance you know a lot of the course content of the certificate 4 or diploma.

We can help you get your formal qualifications faster through recognition of prior learning (RPL).

The advantage of using RPL is that you get official recognition of your skills without having to start from scratch and go through all the steps like a beginner.

How to pass with flying colours

At Builders Academy Australia, we offer a mentorship to help tradies and builders get their registration without a fuss.

In our Builder Registration Mentoring Program connects you with a senior experienced mentor who helps you prepare everything you need for your registration application.

With our help, very few of our students fail the registration or waste or money on the process. 

Our Builder Registration Mentoring Program is free when you do our certificate 4. Want to earn more as a builder by getting your builders registration? Chat to one of our course advisors about how a Certificate IV in Building and Construction can help with the registration process. Give us a call on 1300 LEGEND or send us a message and we’ll get back to you soon.