3 Challenges to Become a Registered Builder and How to Overcome Them

While many Australian industries have taken a hit since covid-19, all is not lost for aspiring builders hoping to become registered builders.

As it turns out, most construction sites remained open, and the Victorian government is putting supports in place to keep the industry up and running. Student loans and job keeper payments help young tradies continue to get the qualifications and experience they need to start working and keep working when the economy recovers.

In this blog, we talk about some of the challenges faced going for your builders registration and offer some solutions. 

How can I become a registered builder?

If you want to achieve your VBA builders registration, you’ll need to take the following steps:

• Step 1: Study a building course
  Depending on your building experience and what type of builder you want to be, you might need a certificate, diploma or degree.

• Step 2: Get experience
  You’ll need a minimum of 3 years’ experience to start your application. Often you get this experience through your apprenticeship.

• Step 3: Complete your VBA registration application
  It can be a complicated process, but with the right supports you can get it right the first time. A lot of people do a CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) because it helps you with your application, while you get your full 3 years’ experience.

• Step 4: Become a registered builder
  After a short but exciting wait, you’ll become a registered builder. With the right guidance from a registered builder course, most applications are successful.

Read more about this process in Learn How to Get Your Builders Licence in Victoria.

How do I get qualified as a builder?

Don’t have any qualifications? All VBA builder registrations require some type of training in building and construction courses.

Solution: Study a registered builder course

Go to the VBA website to find out which qualifications you need for your category of builder. For example, to become a Domestic Builder (Limited to Carpentry), you need at least a cert III. Not sure which course to do? Give us a call 1300 LEGEND (1300 534 363) and our friendly staff can help.

I don’t know which RTO to choose

There are heaps of RTOs offering building and construction courses in Victoria. How do you know which one to choose? You’ll need to find something that’s not too far from home, or that gives you the flexibility to work while studying.

Solution: Choose an experienced RTO

Look for RTOs that have proven experience training registered builders. Builders Academy Australia have trained hundreds of builders in Victoria and helped them get registered. 

Being one of the biggest and best building and construction RTOs, Builders Academy Australia has heaps of campuses across the state, including Melbourne and regional Victoria. We also offer building courses online too for flexible study.

I’m not financially secure

You don’t want to drop everything to study a registered builder course—we get it. You’ll need to work to support yourself while studying, and sometimes an apprentice wage is not enough.

Solution: Get funding

The good news is that a lot of building and construction courses are subsidised by the government. In Victoria, a Cert III and a Cert IV are funded by Victorian Skills First. You can also take out low interest government loans like a VET Student Loan to help pay for your studies.

Become a registered builder in Victoria

Sure, becoming a registered builder in Victoria has its challenges, especially in times of COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean you can’t kick off your building career and profit from a job in construction, helping our economy get healthy again.

Wondering which registered builder course is right for you? Our friendly staff can help. Give us a call 1300 LEGEND (1300 534 363) or request a callback today.

 

This article has been revised and updated on 28 April 2022.