Renew your registration

All building practitioners need to renew their registration at least every five years to continue carrying out building work in Victoria. This requirement applies to companies as well as individual practitioners.

The VBA will email you five months before you need to renew your registration. You must submit your renewal of registration at least three months before the expiry date.

Applications for renewal of registration must be submitted at least three months before the expiry date. If you apply on time you will remain registered until the VBA makes a decision to grant or refuse your application, even if the expiry date passes.

Renew your application

The VBA will email you six months before you need to renew your registration.

As part of your renewal, you are required to undertake a national police check.

Renew your registration OR
Continue your draft renewal application

You can find the renewal form or your draft renewal on the Registration and Licensing page.

If you’re in a partnership

Each partner must complete a Partner’s Declaration Form (PDF, 935.66 KB) and undertake a national police check.

If you’re renewing a company

The same renewal application process applies for companies registered as building practitioners that wish to apply to renew their registration.

Each director must complete a Director’s Declaration Form (PDF, 1602.73 KB) and undertake a national police check, whether they are a registered building practitioner or not.

If you are a director that holds VBA registration, you must maintain your own registration and continue to meet your annual fee and insurance and renewal obligations for your company to remain registered.

What happens after you apply

Once you apply to renew your registration as a building practitioner, we will check that you have completed the application correctly and submitted the required documents.

We will conduct checks to assess whether you continue to be a fit and proper person to practise as a building practitioner, including that you are covered by the required insurance. The VBA will not reassess knowledge and experience as part of the registration renewal process.

If we grant your application for registration renewal, you will receive confirmation in the mail, along with a new certificate of registration. Individual practitioners will also receive a new identification card.

If your application is incomplete or we need more information, we will contact you in writing and outline what we need.

Applications submitted late but before the expiry date

Due to legislative changes, if we receive your application to renew during the three months prior to your expiry date, it is considered a late application. You will need to pay a late fee in addition to the application fee.

Furthermore, if we receive your application three months or less before your expiry date, and we do not make a decision on your application before your expiry date, then your registration will expire.

You registration will remain expired until we decide whether to grant or refuse your application. The commencement date of registration will be the decision date (if the application is granted) and it will not be backdated to show a continuous registration.

Applications submitted after the expiry date

If you submit your renewal application after your registration has expired, you must pay a late fee in addition to the application fee.

Your registration will remain expired until we decide whether to grant or refuse your application. The commencement date of registration will be the decision date (if the application is granted) and it will not be backdated to show a continuous registration.

If your registration is currently suspended because you haven't paid your annual fee or provided proof of your required insurance, and you wish to carry out work as a registered building practitioner, you will need to pay your annual fee and provide updated insurance. To do this, log in to the VBA and:

pay your fees on the 'Registration and Licensing’ page; and
upload your insurance documents on the Manage insurance page.

This does not apply to practitioners currently in suspension due to disciplinary action. If you are suspended due to disciplinary action and wish to carry out work as a registered building practitioner, please call the VBA on 1300 815 127.

If you or your company have multiple registrations, you can align the expiry dates so that they all expire at the same time and can be renewed together. Please complete and submit the appropriate form below to buildingreg@vba.vic.gov.au:

What happens if I don't renew my registration?

If you fail to complete the five-year renewal on time, your registration will expire and you and/or your company will no longer be a registered building practitioner.

If your registration expires, you cannot lawfully carry out work that can only be performed by a registered building practitioner, and you must not use the title of a registered building practitioner or claim to be registered.

If your company's registration expires, you will not be able to enter into major domestic building contracts in your company's name or name the company as a builder on a building permit worth more than (in most cases) $10,000.

You may renew your registration after it has expired by applying for renewal in the category or class of practitioner of the expired registration, but you must pay a late fee in addition to the application fee.