Building exams - Frequently asked questions

Online exams are available for most builder registration classes. We will notify you if you need to complete an online exam.

You can find out more on our Online Exams – Building webpage.

We don't currently offer online exams for any plumbing classes.

Applicants for registration or licence in plumbing classes will need to attend our facilities to take exams. We will notify you of your exam booking and where to attend to complete an in-person exam.

The BPC is currently developing online theory exams for plumbing and these are expected to become available for completion by June 2026.

You will receive an exam notification email from us advising you of the timeframe for completion of your exam. 

Instructions to support onboarding and completing your exam online will be provided when you receive notification from us to complete an online exam.

Find further instructions at Building exams and on the Janison website.

If you are unable to complete your exam within the required timeframe, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au within 3 days of receiving your notification.

For extension requests, the new date should be within 2 weeks of the notified timeframe unless extenuating circumstances apply. You may be asked to supply supporting documentation to verify these circumstances.

Applicants will be scheduled for either a 1 hour or 2 hour exam. The length of your exam will be confirmed in your exam notification letter.

The BPC determines a person’s exam length based on the class of registration being applied for and factors such as their:

• Qualifications
  If you hold the prescribed qualification or qualifications and competencies the BPC considers is equivalent to the prescribed qualification.
• Building experience
  Breadth and depth of their practical experience.
• Employment history
  Roles and responsibilities held in the industry.
• Technical referees
  Evidence provided by referees regarding your competency.

Yes, you need to complete the onboarding process on the computer you will use for your exam. This includes:

• Installing the required Proctortrack software.
• Conducting a systems check, including camera and microphone tests.
• Undergoing identity verification. Please have valid identification ready such as a driver’s licence or passport.

Please note that the onboarding checks can take up to 3 days to be completed, so you should allow for this when planning when to do your online exam. You will not be able to attempt your exam until your onboarding has been approved.

There is a Applicant test taker guide to assist you with the onboarding process and the exam available here.

Yes, but only permitted material, and you should review the list of permitted reference materials before the exam.

All reference material will be available for viewing online during the exam. Hard copy reference material is not allowed.

Important: To access the Australian Standards online during the exam, you will be required to have an active subscription or have purchased an online accessible version. Australian Standards subscriptions or purchases can be organised via Standards Australia or one of their authorised distributors. Payment for access to Australian Standards is the sole responsibility of the test taker.
Tip: Ensure you know your login credentials before the exam as you will be required to enter your user name and password when trying to access the standards during the exam.

Note: The BPC will allow applicants who have their own hard copy reference materials to attend an exam at a BPC location for a transitional period.

If you can only access Australian Standards in hard copy, please contact the BPC at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au. You will be required to take your exam in person on a BPC provided laptop.

After the transition period, the BPC will no longer provide the option to complete the exam in person for this reason.

Your equipment will be tested automatically when you complete your onboarding process with Proctortrack before your exam.

The Proctortrack system requirements are:

• You can use your laptop or desktop computer with a keyboard and mouse (please note that tablets, Chromebooks, and mobile phones do not meet the requirements).
• A working built-in or external webcam and microphone.
• A high-speed internet connection.

If your equipment does not meet requirements during your onboarding process, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au.

Email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au to schedule alternative arrangements to complete your exam.

If the date and time are unsuitable, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au within 3 days of receiving your notification.

For extension requests, the new date should be within two weeks of the notified timeframe end date unless extenuating circumstances apply. You may be asked to supply supporting documentation to verify these circumstances.

If you have special circumstances that require reasonable adjustments with how you sit the exam, please email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au or call 1300 067 088 within 3 business days of receiving your exam invitation. 

If you did not complete your onboarding in time to complete your exam, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au.

If your identity is not verified in time to complete your exam within the required timeframe, it is likely you will need to request an extension of time.

Onboarding results typically takes 8 to 24 hours, but we recommend that you allow up to 3 days.

You will receive email confirmation when your onboarding is approved. If there are any issues, Proctortrack will email you and let you know. You will need to undertake the onboarding again.

You can log into your Proctortrack dashboard to check the progress of your identify verification.

If your face scan or identity check has been rejected, Proctortrack will email you and let you know.

You will need to undertake the BPC onboarding process again. For information on how to complete the face scan and ID scan for the best results, please visit the Proctortrack website.

If you have been rejected multiple times and need some further assistance, email us at email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au.

Refer to the exam rules on the Building exams page.

Yes – the entire exam process will be recorded using your computer camera and microphone.

This includes your identification confirmation during your onboarding, the scan of your   environment to ensure adherence to the exam rules, and the completion of the exam.

When you have successfully completed onboarding, and you are ready to start your online exam, you may proceed to the exam immediately.

If you have logged out since completing onboarding, log into Proctortrack using your username and password.

You can find your username in your exam notification email. Use the password you created for this account.

Your online exam will be recorded using your webcam and microphone.

You will be asked to provide valid photo identification during the onboarding process.

You will be required to show your ID again when you start your exam after onboarding or if you attend an in-person exam.

You will be required to accept the Proctortrack Terms of Service, providing confirmation that you understand the exam rules and agree to the exam session being recorded. 

If you have received an Error 404 while attempting to complete your onboarding, this could be because Proctortrack has not been correctly installed. This may be because you do not have administrator rights, which is common if it is a work laptop.

Try to complete your onboarding on a different laptop. If the issue continues, or you do not have a different laptop, please email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au.

If any exam rules are breached during the exam, the BPC will be notified that a breach has been observed.

We will advise you if any breaches were observed that affect the outcome of your exam.

Serious breaches may result in failure of your exam and refusal of your application.

If you experience any technical issues when attempting to start the exam or during the exam, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au. 

Yes, a timer will appear in the top left-hand corner of each screen as you complete each question.

This timer will display a countdown, so you know how much time you have remaining to complete your exam.

You can flag questions at any time during the exam if you wish to return to them to review. You can also review a summary of the status of all the exam questions at any time during the exam. The grid button next to the question number display in the exam will provide a progress summary of all questions, such as answered, not answered, not  read or flagged.

This is only possible while you have time remaining on your exam and have not yet ended your exam by pressing Finish.

If you finish your exam before the exam time has expired, you may submit your answers or spend the additional time reviewing your answers.

When the exam time has expired, your answers will be automatically submitted.

You must complete your exam within the allotted time. If you do not finish before the scheduled finish time, your exam will automatically be submitted when the time expires. 

If you finish your exam before the exam time has expired, you may submit your answers or spend the additional time reviewing your answers.

When the exam time has expired, your answers will be automatically submitted, even if you have not finished the exam.

You cannot go back to view the exam questions or your answers once your exam has expired.

Logout of Proctortrack once your exam has been submitted.

The BPC has established a fair passing standard that reflects the minimum level of competence required for registration.

Every version of an exam is set to the same standard with the pass mark changing dependent on the difficulty of the questions in that exam.

You will be notified via email if you passed your exam and any further steps in your assessment. If you fail your exam, your application is likely to be refused. We will contact you in writing to advise you of the outcome of your application. 

If you pass, your application will move to the next stages, and you may be asked to provide further information if required. 

We will notify you in writing if you  need to provide any further information. 

If you do not meet the required standard in the exam your application for registration may be refused. You will be notified in writing if we refuse your application.

If your application is refused, you may seek a review of the decision by lodging an application for internal review, and this will be confirmed in the written notification of application refusal.

Find more information about the internal review process and how to apply.

If you fail your examination, and your application is refused as a result, you will need to make a new application for registration to have the opportunity to sit another examination. 

If you did not complete the exam within the required timeframe and there were exceptional circumstances preventing you from completing it, you may be offered another opportunity to complete the exam.

You may be required to provide evidence in writing to support your request.

If this occurs, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au or phone us on 1300 067 088.

Yes, you can delete the Proctortrack application after your exam. The BPC will be in contact with you directly via email after your exam.

Hint: On an Apple Mac computer, search 'proctortrack' to locate the files you downloaded  or installed to take the exam. Move those into the rubbish bin, and delete your trash.

If you do not wish to proceed with your application, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au at least 48 hours before the scheduled exam.

When you write to us, please quote your application number.

If you have any questions, email us at onlineexams@bpc.vic.gov.au or phone us on 1300 067 088. 

After you complete an exam, your ID is held for 12 months to support any future test attempts during that period, and your proctored exam recording is held for 6 months for auditing and appeal purposes. At the end of this period, this data is deleted.   This can only be accessed by the BPC and its proctoring service partner, Janison/Proctortrack, and is not shared with any third parties.