CERTIFICATES AND RECORDS
Victorian plumbing licence and registration classes explained
In Victoria a plumber is either licensed or registered, and the difference matters on every regulated job. A licensed plumber can certify their own work and issue a compliance certificate; a registered plumber works under supervision and cannot. Here is the distinction, plainly.
Licensed versus registered
This is the distinction that matters most. A licensed plumber can carry out regulated plumbing work, certify that their own work is compliant, and issue a compliance certificate for it. A registered plumber can carry out plumbing work but only under the supervision of a licensed plumber, and cannot certify work or issue a compliance certificate. Registration is the step on the way to a licence, not an equal alternative to it.
Why the difference matters on the job
On any regulated job that crosses the certificate threshold, the question of who can sign it off has one answer: a licensed plumber in the relevant class. If a registered plumber does the work, a licensed plumber supervising them is the one who certifies it. Getting this wrong means a job done by someone who cannot lawfully certify it, which is a real exposure if the work is ever audited.
Work must be in the relevant class
Plumbing is split into classes by the type of work, and a licence or registration applies to specific classes. Being licensed does not mean licensed for everything; it means licensed for the classes you hold. The class structure and the exact codes are set by the regulator and have changed over time, so check the current classes with the Building and Plumbing Commission and make sure the work falls inside a class you actually hold.
Where this sits with the regulator
Licensing and registration are administered by the Building and Plumbing Commission, which replaced the Victorian Building Authority on 1 July 2025. Lodgement of compliance certificates still runs through the VBA360 system during the transition. See the Building and Plumbing Commission guide for what changed and what stayed the same.
Putting your licence on the record
The compliance certificate carries the licensed plumber's details, because the licence is what gives the certificate its authority. Keeping the licence details, the certificate, and the photo evidence together against each job is what backs that authority if it is ever checked. Elemetric keeps that with the job.
Common questions
Can a registered plumber issue a compliance certificate?
No. A registered plumber works under the supervision of a licensed plumber and cannot certify their own work or issue a compliance certificate. Only a licensed practitioner in the relevant class can certify the work and issue the certificate.
What plumbing classes are there?
Plumbing is split into classes for the type of work, such as water supply, sanitary, drainage and others. The class structure and codes are set by the regulator, so check the current classes with the Building and Plumbing Commission rather than relying on an old list, and make sure you are licensed or registered in the class for the work.
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Download on the App Store →General information for licensed tradespeople, not legal or regulatory advice. The licensed plumber remains solely responsible for compliance. Refer to the current AS/NZS 3500 standards and the Building and Plumbing Commission (formerly the VBA) for authoritative requirements.