Industries & Occupations
Occupational licensing for plumbers
Plumbing Regulations
Work on the Plumbing Regulations has paused pending the outcome of a review into the effects of the water and sewerage reforms, and the Commonwealth’s national licensing project. Stakeholders will be notified when work resumes on these regulations.
Existing plumbers
Contractors
When the plumbing regulations have been finalised Workplace Standards will contact existing plumbers to see if they wish to work as plumbing contractors under the Act.
If they do, they will need to
- apply for a contractor’s licence
- have the required insurance cover
- organise a nominated manager (who may be the applicant)
If existing plumbers do not meet the eligibility requirements for nominated manager but have been doing plumbing contracting in the past, or supervising the work of others doing that work on their behalf, they may offer themselves as the nominated manager.
Those who wish to operate a business in more than one of the industry streams (plumbing, gas and electrical) will require more than one licence and may require more than one nominated manager.
Practitioners
Plumbers who are registered under the Plumbers and Gas-fitters Registration Act 1951 will be considered to be licensed plumbing practitioners under transitional provisions. They will not need to pay, or do anything, until it is time to renew their practitioner’s licence. Workplace Standards will then send eligible persons a practitioner’s licence renewal application form for completion and return to us. Following consideration of the application and supporting documentation, a licence will be issued if it satisfies all requirements.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
As it is expected that the development of the CPD requirements will require significant consultation and resources, this work will be postponed until the regulations and codes of practice have been completed and the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 has commenced.
