Registered Building Practitioners (Builders & Trades)

All domestic building work in Victoria valued at over $10,000 must be carried out by a Registered Building Practitioner.

1: Builder Registration: Find a Practitioner Search

The Find a Practitioner Search is the essential public tool provided by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) (formerly the VBA) for Victorians. It allows homeowners to search for a builder or trade professional by name or registration number to confirm they are currently registered or licensed to perform the specific type of work (e.g., Domestic Builder-Unlimited or a specific plumbing class). Using this tool is the first and most critical step in verifying a practitioner’s legal credentials before signing a contract for work over $10,000.

2: Disciplinary History: Search the Prosecution and Disciplinary Register

The Search the Prosecution and Disciplinary Register is an essential public safety tool provided by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) (formerly the VBA).

This register allows homeowners to search for a builder or practitioner’s name or registration number to check for any official regulatory action taken against them. This includes fines, suspensions, cancellations, or findings of professional misconduct. Using this tool provides a critical measure of a practitioner’s reliability and compliance history, helping you avoid engaging a professional with a poor track record.

3: Engineer Registration: Professional Engineers Public Register

The Professional Engineers Public Register is maintained by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) on behalf of the Business Licensing Authority (BLA).

This register enables you to confirm that an engineer is currently and legally registered to provide professional engineering services in Victoria. This is critical for prescribed areas like structural, civil, electrical, mechanical, and fire safety engineering. By searching the register, you verify the engineer’s registration status, the specific area(s) of engineering they are qualified in, and whether there are any conditions placed on their licence, ensuring the professional has met the required standards for complex work.

Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) Verification

For domestic building work valued at over $16,000, your builder must legally provide you with a certificate of Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) (also known as builder’s warranty insurance). This insurance covers the homeowner if the builder dies, becomes insolvent, or disappears.

The Two-Step Check for DBI

Step 1: Check Eligibility: DBI Builder Search

The DBI Builder Search is a key step in the Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) verification process, provided by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) (formerly the VBA).

This tool allows you to input a builder’s name or ABN/ACN to confirm if they are currently eligible to purchase Domestic Building Insurance. DBI is mandatory for domestic work valued over $16,000. While a positive search result is necessary, it is not sufficient to confirm insurance is in place for your specific project; it only confirms the builder meets the minimum financial criteria. You must proceed to the final step: Verify Certificate to ensure the policy has actually been issued for your address.

Step 2: Verify the Certificate: Verify Certificate

The Verify Certificate tool, provided by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) (formerly the VBA), is the final and most critical step in confirming your project’s mandatory Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) coverage.

Using the policy number from the certificate provided by your builder, this tool allows you to instantly verify that an official DBI policy has been actually issued and is current for your specific property address. Since DBI protects you if the builder becomes insolvent, dies, or disappears, this check is the definitive proof that your significant financial investment is legally protected. It is essential to perform this verification before making any payments to the builder.