The Building Services Board (BSB) has refreshed its builder examinations to align with current legislation and building practices. The last refresh was undertaken by the former Builders Registration Board which was replaced by the BSB in 2011.  The refreshed examinations apply from 1 June 2016.

This change will not affect most applicants for building practitioner registration who have already commenced the examination process.

The examinations are part of some of the five different pathways to becoming a building practitioner.  Registration as a building practitioner may be necessary for people who intend to bring their building skills and knowledge to a building business.  If you intend to be the 'nominated supervisor' of a 'building contractor' you must be registered as a 'building practitioner'.

The examinations are for applicants who do not have the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) to show the BSB that they have the same knowledge as a builder who has completed the Diploma.

These applicants will now need to complete the five refreshed exams, one of which is a new project-based assessment. The examinations must be completed prior to application for building practitioner registration.

The five exam topics are:

• Residential low rise construction
• Commercial medium rise construction
• Estimating
• Financial, contractual and legislative
• Site management (project-based assessment)

For the project-based assessment, candidates will be given two weeks to complete an assignment.

Costs apply for each of the exams.

Anyone who wishes to enrol for the Board exams can find more information on the Building Commission website www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy/board-examinations-builders or phone 1300 489 099.

People considering registration as a building practitioner or contractor are invited to attend the Building Commission’s regular free information seminars on how to become a builder at: www.commerce.wa.gov.au/building-and-energy/events-and-seminars-0.