
GUIDE
Trade licence in Australia: is your Certificate III enough, or does your state ask for more?
How a trade licence in Australia works: state regulators, the Certificate III behind a full licence, contractor licences and the white card.
This is a trade qualification for plumbers on homes, commercial and industrial sites. Work includes water services, sanitary plumbing and drainage, gas, roofing and mechanical services, in both new and existing buildings. Plumbers already doing this work may be able to have their experience recognised through RPL.
People who work in plumbing, drainage, gas fitting or roof plumbing and want a formal trade qualification.
To be awarded this qualification, competency in one of the four occupational options must be achieved. OPTION 1: General Plumbing For the award of the Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber) a minimum of 58 units are to be completed as follows: Electives are to be selected as followed: 8 units from Group A. 4 units from Group B. 3 units from Group C. Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification. OPTION 2: General Plumbing – Roofing For the award of the Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber and Roofing) a minimum of 62 units are to be completed as follows: Electives are to be selected as followed: 8 units from Group A. 4 units from Group B. 3 units from Group C. 4 units from Group D. Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification. OPTION 3: General Plumbing – Mechanical For the award of the Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumbing and Mechanical) a minimum of 73 units are to be completed as follows: 30 electives Electives are to be selected as followed: 8 units from Group A. 4 units from Group B. 3 units from Group C. 7 units from Group E. 8 units from Group F. Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification. OPTION 4: General Plumbing – Roofing and Mechanical For the award of the Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber Roofing and Mechanical) a minimum of 77 units are to be completed as follows: 34 electives Electives are to be selected as followed: 8 units from Group A. 4 units from Group B. 3 units from Group C. 4 units from Group D. 7 units from Group E. 8 units from Group F. Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification. An asterisk (*) against a unit code below indicates that the unit has a prerequisite. Please check the unit for information on this. All prerequisites are packaged in the qualification.
This unit has a prerequisite unit. Check the unit on training.gov.au for details.
This unit has a prerequisite unit. Check the unit on training.gov.au for details.
This is a licensed occupation. State and territory jurisdictions may have different licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.
View on training.gov.au(opens in a new tab)
GUIDE
How a trade licence in Australia works: state regulators, the Certificate III behind a full licence, contractor licences and the white card.

GUIDE
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