BECOMING A PLUMBER IN AUSTRALIA

Pre-apprenticeship (Cert II)

A pre-apprenticeship is usually a 10 week full time course. It consists of the following:

  • 6 weeks total at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), for example TAFE. Here you will learn introductory plumbing theory and basic skills, which you will have the opportunity to practice under supervision in workshops at your RTO.

  • 4 weeks of unpaid work experience with a plumbing company. Your RTO can help you to obtain and successfully complete your work placement. Many students are offered employment by their work placement host employer.

A pre-apprenticeship is not an essential course for starting an apprenticeship. If you complete a pre-apprenticeship and then choose to pursue a Plumbing Apprenticeship (Certificate III), all subjects will be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), meaning you won't have to complete them again, and will have a head start on your apprenticeship.

You might consider a pre-apprenticeship for the following reasons:

  • To get an idea of what plumbing work is really like through practical and theoretical experience.

  • To make your resume more appealing to employers looking for apprentices, therefore increasing your chances of securing employment.

  • To become more confident using basic tools prior to starting an apprenticeship.

  • Many pre-apprentices are offered employment by their work placement host employer.

Check your state to see if pre-apprenticeships are available.

Plumbing Apprenticeship (Certificate III) for tradespersons licence

A plumbing apprenticeship is a 4 year course. Once completed, you will be eligible to be recognised as a Licensed Tradesperson.

To start an apprenticeship course (Cert III) it is mandatory to have signed an apprenticeship contract with an employer (more info below). You cannot start an apprenticeship without having this organised.

There are 2 types of employer for plumbing apprenticeships. Depending on your choice, this will also impact on your choice of RTO.

  1. Directly with your chosen employer. This means you find your own source of employment and sign an apprenticeship contract with that employer. You only work for them. You will work with them for your entire apprenticeship, unless you choose to change employers.

  2. Through a Group Training Organisation (GTO), such as NextGen. GTOs have access to a network of host employers, and you may be placed with any of them. You may work for many different host employers, organised by your GTO, for varied periods of time during your apprenticeship.

You will attend an RTO for theoretical and practical skills training throughout your apprenticeship.

There are approximately 12 subjects in the plumbing apprenticeship, each taking 2-3 weeks of equivalent full time learning at your RTO (course content does vary by state).

Apprentices attend their RTO either in block release (2-3 weeks at a time) or 1 day each week. The structure of training depends on your RTO.

Tradesperson's Licence

You will be eligible to apply for your Tradesperson's licence once all Certificate III subjects are completed, your employer believes you are competent.

A tradesperson's licence authorises the holder to*:

  • carry out water supply and sanitary and/or drainage plumbing.

  • supervise apprentices completing plumbing work.

*All work must be completed under the general direction and control of the holder of a plumbing contractor's licence.

Contractor's Licence (Certificate IV)

If you would like to be a plumber who owns a plumbing business or works for themselves, you will need your Plumbing Contractor's Licence.

To apply for this course, you must already hold a Tradesperson's Licence (Certificate III).

This course is delivered over 8 weeks equivalent full time at your RTO. Other delivery methods may include part time on campus, or part time evening classes. Choices will depend on what is offered by your RTO.

You must complete all Core Units. Following this, you may choose to complete:

  • Drainage Specialisation and/or

  • Backflow and Water Supply Specialisation

  • Sanitary Specialisation (This specialisation cannot be completed alone. It can only be completed as part of Drainage Specialisation or Backflow and Water Supply Specialisation.)

Units are slightly different depending on your state.

Holding a Plumbing Contractor's Licence means you are overall responsible for all plumbing work completed by your business, whether that is completed by yourself, a Licensed Tradesperson, an apprentice, pre-apprentice or provisional tradesperson, or another Licensed Contractor working for your business.