You are probably asking three practical questions: what do I need, what can I open during the exam and do I need to pay for Australian Standards?
The answer is different for Domestic Builder Unlimited, each Domestic Builder Limited class and Commercial Builder. The list can also change, so your BPC invitation and the live permitted assessment reference materials page are the final word.
Start with the class on your invitation
Do not prepare from another builder’s list. Check whether your invitation is for:
- Domestic Builder Unlimited, DB-U
- a named Domestic Builder Limited, DB-L, class
- a Commercial Builder class
DB-L classes share some core references but can require different Australian Standards for the work involved. A waterproofing candidate, for example, should not rely on the same list as a framing or swimming-pool candidate.
Use the Builders Licence Success Victorian reference finder to narrow the list, then confirm every item against the current BPC page. BPC updates the combinations, so a fixed count copied from an old article or checklist can be wrong.
What types of material are on the list?
Depending on the class, BPC may list:
- Victorian building and safety legislation
- the National Construction Code, NCC
- ABCB handbooks, standards or protocols
- the BPC Guide to Standards and Tolerances
- class-specific Australian Standards
Much of the legislation and NCC material is available online without charge. Australian Standards are commercial publications and usually require paid online access.
Use the NCC edition and volume listed for your exact builder class on BPC’s current permitted-reference page and in your invitation. The required material can differ between domestic and commercial classes. A plumbing reference list or an older downloaded NCC is not a substitute for the builder-class list.
What can you open during an online exam?
BPC says candidates in an online exam open permitted material through the Resources or book icon. Approved sources include BPC, Victorian Legislation, the Australian Building Codes Board and Standards Australia or an authorised distributor.
For an online exam, BPC does not permit:
- PDFs saved on your computer
- printed copies
- search engines
- unapproved websites
- AI tools
Downloaded copies are still useful for study. They just are not a substitute for the permitted online source during an online exam.
Do you need to buy Australian Standards?
If an Australian Standard appears on the current list for your class, BPC requires you to arrange your own online access. That may be an active subscription or a purchased online-accessible version through Standards Australia or an authorised distributor.
Before paying:
- confirm the exact builder class on your invitation
- check the live BPC list for that class
- buy or subscribe only to the Standards actually listed
- test the login and make sure access will still be active on exam day
BPC does not provide commercial Standards access without charge simply because the Standard is permitted in the exam.
What if you only have hard-copy books?
BPC currently allows some candidates with hard-copy permitted materials to request that the online exam be taken at a BPC-nominated venue. Availability, venue and instructions are controlled by BPC and may change.
Do not assume you can bring books to a remote online exam. Follow your own invitation and check the current BPC building exams page.
How to study without trying to memorise everything
The exam tests more than whether you have collected the books. You need to find the right provision under time pressure.
Build the correct list
Create one checklist for your class. Separate public official material from paid Standards and remove anything not on the current BPC list.
Learn where information lives
Practise finding common topics in the Acts, regulations, NCC and Standards. Learn the contents pages, headings, search behaviour and document structure.
Practise through the approved websites
Opening a familiar saved PDF can feel very different from using the official online source. Practise on the websites BPC permits so navigation and logins are not new on exam day.
Recheck shortly before the exam
BPC’s exam arrangements, permitted references and editions can change. Recheck the invitation and live BPC pages shortly before the assessment.
Your final preparation check
- exact class confirmed from the invitation
- current BPC reference list checked
- correct NCC edition and volume identified
- paid Standard access active where required
- usernames and passwords tested
- public official material used for study and familiarisation
- approved websites practised
- exam format and location confirmed
Use the class-based reference finder
The BLS finder groups the official links by builder class. Use it to make a preparation list from your exam invitation without buying every building reference you see.
If you are still organising the registration application behind the exam, see Victorian domestic builder registration or Victorian commercial builder registration before you build your study list.
Already have a BPC exam invitation? Open the BLS Victorian reference finder, choose the class shown on the invitation and check every item against BPC’s current list. If the class is still unclear, Check your next step.
FAQ
Can I use saved PDFs in an online BPC exam?
No. BPC says saved PDFs and printed copies are not permitted in an online exam. Use them for study, then use the approved online sources during the assessment.
Does BPC give me access to Australian Standards without charge?
No. If paid Standards are listed for your class, you need your own active online access.
Are all DB-L book lists the same?
No. The additional Standards depend on the limited class. Check the exact class shown in your invitation.
Can I use hard-copy books at a BPC venue?
BPC currently offers a limited transitional option for some candidates with hard-copy permitted materials. Request it directly from BPC and follow the arrangements they confirm.