Yes. Since 1 July 2025, Victoria’s building regulator has operated as the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), according to BPC’s launch announcement. On paper, the legal name is still the Victorian Building Authority (VBA). The Building Act 1993 (sections 193–194) still sets it up under that name, and it trades as BPC.
So if you’re applying today, use the current BPC application steps and Victorian registration pathways.
What does BPC stand for?
Building and Plumbing Commission. It’s the name on the regulator’s website. Some older articles call it the “Building Practitioners Board”. That’s wrong.
If you searched for a “VBA builder licence”, you’re in the right place. Start with our Victorian builder registration guide, or check when you need builder registration in Victoria.
Before you pay a fee or buy reference access, Check your next step.
What changed when the VBA became the BPC?
Three jobs that used to sit with different bodies now sit under one roof, as the launch announcement explains:
- Building and plumbing regulation, from the Victorian Building Authority (VBA).
- Domestic building disputes, from Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV).
- Domestic building insurance, from VMIA’s domestic building insurance team.
Only VMIA’s domestic building insurance function moved across, not the whole of VMIA.
Other rule changes have come in since the launch, on their own dates. Check the current BPC guidance for anything that affects your job.
Why does my paperwork still say VBA?
Your registration card, an old application PDF or a saved bookmark might all say VBA. There are two normal reasons for that:
- The legal name hasn’t changed. The Building Act still calls it the Victorian Building Authority.
- Some of BPC’s own systems still use the old address. BPC’s current builder application guide links to a portal at bams.vba.vic.gov.au.
So “VBA” on a page doesn’t make it out of date. It doesn’t make it current either. The safe habit is to start at bpc.vic.gov.au and follow its links, rather than an old bookmark or a link in an email.
Older guides may also name portals such as VBA360. Don’t pick a portal by its old name. Use the one the current application guide sends you to for your category.
Which one applies to you?
Applying for the first time
Apply through BPC. Its application guide covers online applications for domestic builders, commercial builders and demolishers. Some categories, including project managers, can’t apply online yet, so check yours first.
Before you collect a single form:
- Write down the work you actually plan to quote and sign contracts for.
- Match it to a class in BPC’s builder classes.
- Check that class against the current eligibility requirements: qualifications, experience and supporting documents.
- Decide who will hold the registration. If you’ll trade through a company, read company or individual registration in Victoria.
Not sure which domestic class fits? Compare DB-U and DB-L. For referees and project records, see what your Victorian registration experience needs to show.
Already registered
You don’t need to reapply just because your card says VBA. Look yourself up in BPC’s practitioner search and check your status, scope and any conditions. If something doesn’t match your card, ask BPC before your next job.
Application already lodged
Keep your application reference and the latest letters or emails about it. Ask BPC about that file before you lodge anything new, because a second application doesn’t fix a question about the first one. The practitioner search won’t show a pending application’s progress.
Are the requirements the same as under the VBA?
Don’t assume so. Check the current requirements for your class and follow the assessment instructions BPC sends you. For a wider look at what has changed since the launch, BRIQ, our sister study app for Victorian builders, has a rundown of BPC’s first year.
If your checklist was downloaded before July 2025, recheck it against BPC’s current guidance before you rely on it.
How can BLS help before you lodge?
BLS provides application support, walking you through your class, projects, referees and what to lodge. Read domestic builder registration support or the Victorian registration pathway to start with the work you want to do. BPC assesses every application and makes the decision.
Rather talk it through? Call us on 0468 008 598.
Frequently asked questions
Is VBA registration now handled by BPC?
The regulator has operated publicly as the Building and Plumbing Commission since 1 July 2025. Use BPC's current guidance when applying for builder registration, including the class requirements and online application instructions. An older page address is not a reason to use an outdated application checklist.
What does BPC stand for in Victoria?
BPC stands for Building and Plumbing Commission, the public name used by Victoria's building regulator. Its launch announcement explains the combined building-regulation, dispute-resolution and domestic-insurance functions. For a builder application, use the builder-registration pages rather than assuming every service shares the same application form or online system.
Why do official links still say VBA?
The regulator operates as BPC, while the current Building Act still establishes the Victorian Building Authority. BPC's website footer identifies that legal body trading as the Building and Plumbing Commission. Follow links from the current official guide rather than judging whether a service is current from its address alone.
Where do I apply for registration with the former VBA?
Use BPC's current application guide for your category. Domestic and commercial builders can start online through Registration and Licensing after logging in. Other practitioner categories have different availability, so check the category list before choosing a form or relying on instructions saved from an older application.
Are old VBA qualification checklists still reliable?
Check your class against BPC's current requirements and the in-force Building Regulations rather than assuming an older checklist still applies. BPC reviews qualifications and experience together and may request more information or assessment. A course name on an old checklist doesn't mean your application meets today's rules.
Where can I check a Victorian builder's registration?
Use BPC's Find and check a practitioner service to check the registration record. The official page separates building and plumbing searches, owner-builder information and compliance or enforcement records. Select the search relevant to your question rather than treating a historic card or an old business listing as the current record.