Builder Exam Practice — Victoria
Independent study help

Domestic Builder Unlimited vs Limited: what is the difference?

Unlimited covers all parts of domestic building work. A Limited class covers one kind of work only, such as carpentry or glazing. There are 30 domestic builder classes in all. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Domestic Builder (Unlimited); Domestic Builder (Limited).

On this page, "the Commission" is the Building and Plumbing Commission. Read on 11 October 2026.

Domestic Builder (Unlimited)

  • A person registered in this class is responsible for carrying out, managing and arranging all components of domestic building work, on Class 1, 2, 4 and 10 buildings. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Domestic Builder (Unlimited).
  • You can apply for Unlimited with a condition that narrows it: Class 1 and 10 buildings only; Class 1 and 10 plus Class 2 and 4 buildings up to 3 storeys; or Class 2 and 4 buildings only. You can also apply with no condition. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Domestic Builder (Unlimited).
  • The Commission says a condition lets you choose the level that matches the experience you can show, and makes the assessment simpler for applicants who do not have experience across every building class. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Domestic Builder (Unlimited).
  • The prescribed qualification is a diploma of building and construction (building) from a registered training organisation, or one of two named construction management degrees, together with at least 3 years of practical experience. Source: Building Regulations 2018, Schedule 9, clause 31.

Domestic Builder (Limited)

  • A person registered in a Limited class can only do certain types of domestic building work. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Domestic Builder (Limited).
  • The Limited classes include bathroom, kitchen and laundry renovation, bricklaying and blocklaying, carpentry, framing, footings and slab work, roof tiling, waterproofing, external wall cladding, retaining walls, swimming pools and spas, re-stumping and re-blocking, and non-habitable structures. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Technical references; Commission: Building exams, Online exams.
  • Each class has its own qualification and experience requirements, set out in the Building Regulations. As one example, the class limited to non-habitable building structures asks for a carpentry certificate with extra units and at least 2 years of practical experience. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Eligibility; Building Regulations 2018, Schedule 9, clause 32.

What is the same for both

  • You apply online and you need a technical reference confirming your experience. Your referee must be a domestic builder registered in the same class as the one you are applying for, or a higher one. Source: Commission: Domestic builder (builder classes), Eligibility; Technical references.
  • An online exam may be required for Unlimited and for many of the Limited classes. Source: Commission: Building exams, Online exams.

The fees differ

  • For an individual in 2026 to 2027, the one-off application fee is $1,039.00 for Domestic Builder (Unlimited) and $831.20 for Domestic Builder (Limited). Source: Commission: Registration fees, Building practitioner fees, individuals: Registration fees.
  • The annual fee after that is $519.50 for Unlimited and $415.50 for Limited. Source: Commission: Registration fees, Building practitioner fees, individuals: Annual fees.
  • Whichever class you choose, the exam is open book. The free practice questions here cover the Acts, the Regulations and the code that both lists share.

Try the free practice questions

25 questions on the Acts, the Regulations and the code. Every answer names the clause it comes from. No sign-up.

Start the free practice questions

More on the exam and registration

Sources for this page