Licensing
Advanced tradesman licences
Licensing plumbers reduces risks to public health, safety and the environment by ensuring they are competent and sufficiently qualified to do plumbing work that complies with plumbing regulations and standards. Using a licensed plumber minimises:
- risk of contamination to our drinking water
- likelihood of water borne diseases
- possibility of serious injury
- leakage of wastewater or sewage into the ground
- number of uncontrolled discharges into the environment.
In the NT, only a plumber who holds an advanced tradesman licence issued by the Board may contract for and carry out plumbing and draining work. They may also supervise the work of apprentices, registered journeymen and trades assistants. However, an advanced tradesman cannot certify plumbing work. To certify work, you must be registered as a certifying plumber and drainer with the Building Practitioners Board. For more information about registering, visit the Building Practitioners Board website.
Licence requirements
All applicants for advanced tradesmen licences must show that they have:
- 2 years post-trade working experience in plumbing and draining gained while holding an unconditional journeyman registration
- a statement of attainment for the 10 units of competency listed below.
Required units of competency
| Core | Title |
|---|---|
| CPCPCM4011 | Carry out work based risk control processes |
| CPCPCM4012 | Estimate and cost work |
| BSBESB402 | Establish legal and risk management requirements of new business ventures |
| Drainage | Title |
| CPCPDR4011 | Design and size sanitary drainage systems |
| CPCPDR4012 | Design and size stormwater drainage systems |
| CPCPDR4013 | Design and size domestic treatment plant disposal systems |
| Sanitary | Title |
| CPCPSN4011 | Design and size sanitary plumbing systems |
| Water | Title |
| CPCPWT4011 | Design and size heated and cold water services and systems |
| CPCPWT4022 | Commission and maintain backflow prevention devices |
| CPCPWT4023 | Commission and maintain hot and heated water temperature control devices |
In the NT these units are available from Charles Darwin University website.
Application forms may be downloaded from the forms page of this site, obtained from the Board's office or from the nearest Territory Business Centre. The application form lists the information you need to submit to the Board with your application. Applications will not be processed until all information is provided.
If you have completed your training in another Australian State or Territory and are registered in that state, you can apply for Northern Territory registration under Mutual Recognition form PDF (630.4 KB).
Licence renewal
Applications for licence renewal should be lodged at least one month prior to the expiry of your licence. This will ensure your licence is renewed on time and your ability to work will not be disrupted.
If you fail to renew your licence on time, you may lodge a late renewal application within 3 months of the expiry date.
If you fail to lodge a late renewal within 3 months of the expiry date, you will need to satisfy the Board that you meet the current licence requirements.
Courtesy renewal reminders are forwarded by email. You must advise the Board if there is any change to your contact details otherwise you will not receive a renewal notice.
Skills maintenance
In recent years, as in other states and territories, third party inspections of work in the Northern Territory have been reduced, it is now more important than ever for plumbers to maintain their skills and keep abreast of current installation requirements and standards.
The NT plumbing industry has a licence period of 3 years. This provides the opportunity, at the time of renewal, to check that the plumbing worker’s skills have been maintained by having the applicant provide information about work carried out over the licence period on the renewal application form.
As the main reason for licensing is to ensure the health and safety of plumbing workers and the community, it is difficult to argue that skills maintenance is not an important obligation for everyone in the industry.
Consequently, at the time of renewal the Board requires detailed evidence of work experience and an audit of the experience listed may be performed if there is any doubt about the evidence provided or the competence of the applicant.
Anyone who does not demonstrate an appropriate amount of work experience at renewal time will be referred for a skills assessment by the Plumbing Department at Charles Darwin University.
