Dris proposal for national licensing of the plumbing and gasfitting occupations

Queensland

There are some general differences that would apply to new individual worker licence applicants when compared to current licensing arrangements and these include:

inclusion of financial probity checks for individual worker licences in relation to payment of penalties or fines

removal of some personal probity checks, health & fitness checks, evidence of experience requirements

removal of requirement to hold business competencies from nominees and contractors

the endorsement for solar hot water systems would be removed as it would be included in the work of a plumber

removal of endorsement for on-site sewerage facility maintenance and separate endorsement on a drainer’s licence

removal of restricted gas appliance servicing licence for gas Type A (servicing, caravan servicing and restricted manufacturer appliance servicing work)

removal of site supervisor’s licence in ten categories

the introduction of licensing for individuals carrying out gas Type B work:

• 
  currently these licences (described as gas work authorisations) are issued to companies and individuals (with appropriate skills and qualifications) authorised to carry out this work under the authority of that licence
  
• 
  companies carrying out complex gas Type B work not provided for under the national licensing scheme will need to continue to hold the relevant Queensland authorisation
  

the introduction of contractor licensing for all gas Type B work. Currently, a contractor’s licence is only required for type A gas work that is ‘building work’ (for the purposes of the Queensland Building Services Authority Act 1991)

the consolidation of a number of separate fire protection licences into two licences (for water/plumbing based fire protection work; and inspect and test of fire equipment and fire systems work)

removal of the following restricted licences relating to fire protection:

• 
  Water plumber – fire protection (hydrants and hose reels)
  
• 
  Water plumber – fire protection (commercial and industrial)
  
• 
  Water plumber – fire protection (domestic and residential)
  

This work would be carried out under the fire protection licence or by way of a restricted fire protection (inspecting/testing) licence;

removal of the following plumber’s licence endorsements relating to fire protection:

• 
  Fire protection – (domestic and residential)
  
• 
  Fire protection – (commercial and industrial)
  

This work would be carried out under the Fire protection licences.

merging of the following restricted licenses: water plumber – gas and water plumber – electrical into one restricted licence: restricted plumber (disconnect/reconnect) work)

drainage work may no longer be carried out by unlicensed individuals under the supervision of a licensed drainer. Incidental work related to drainage work, such as the excavation or backfilling of trenches will become unlicensed work (and need not be performed under supervision of a licensed drainer).

Table E.3: Changes to existing licensing arrangements – Queensland

Proposed national licence (occupational) categories, eligibility and other requirements	Changes to existing licence categories, eligibility and other requirements
Plumber licence Certificate III in Plumbing or Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) or Plumber tradesperson registration plus four compulsory Certificate IV units Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Plumber’s licence New requirements: financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: business competencies experience. fit and proper
Drainer licence Certificate III in Plumbing including the drainage stream and one compulsory unit or Certificate II in Drainage including two compulsory Certificate III units or Drainer tradesperson registration plus four compulsory Certificate IV units Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Drainer’s licence New requirements: financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: one additional Certificate IV unit of competency business competencies experience fit and proper
General gasfitter licence Certificate III in Gas Fitting including one compulsory Certificate II unit and two compulsory Certificate III units or Certificate lll in Plumbing including the gas services stream including one compulsory Certificate II units and one compulsory Certificate III unit or General gasfitter tradesperson registration plus four compulsory Certificate IV units Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Full gas work licence New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: experience (i.e. field experience forms for applicant not having completed an apprenticeship) removal of separate restricted licences for gas Type A servicing removal of initial single year maximum licence duration for the newly licensed (including submission of gas compliance certificates) suitable person check Licences initially issued for one year. On renewal, duration is five years.
Gasfitter Type B appliances licence General gasfitter licence or qualifications to obtain it plus one compulsory Certificate IV unit Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	No equivalent Gas Type B work is regulated under an Authorisation, which may be issued to an individual or company. However, individuals carrying out Type B under a company authorisation are not required to personally hold a licence/authorisation. The Queensland Government is yet to make a decision regarding the introduction of new licences. However, as this work is currently regulated via Authorisations, it is likely individuals carrying out this work in Queensland will need to personally hold the proposed Gasfitter Type B appliance licence upon commencement of the system. New requirements: Certificate III plus five additional Certificate IV units financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: regulator discretion to tailor eligibility requirements to the specific work undertaken under the relevant Authorisation suitable person check
Fire protection licence Certificate III in Fire Protection or Fire protection tradesperson registration plus two compulsory Certificate IV units Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	No equivalent as the Queensland fire protection licences have a narrower scope of work
Mechanical services licence Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) or Certificate lll in Plumbing including the mechanical services stream or Mechanical services tradesperson’s registration plus three compulsory Certificate IV units Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	In Queensland a licence is only required for contracting of mechanical services plumbing work (as part of a BSA air-conditioning licence) and is not licensed at an occupational level. The Queensland Government is yet to make a decision regarding the introduction of new licences.
Plumber – tradesperson registration Certificate III in Plumbing or Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Provisional plumber New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: none
Drainer – tradesperson registration Certificate III in Plumbing including the drainage stream including one compulsory Certificate III unit or Certificate II in Drainage plus two compulsory Certificate III units Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Provisional drainer New requirements: additional two units at Certificate III level financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: none
General gasfitter – tradesperson registration Certificate III in Gas Fitting including one compulsory Certificate II unit and two compulsory Certificate III units or Certificate III in Plumbing including the gas services stream including one compulsory Certificate II unit and one compulsory Certificate III unit Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Gas work licence interim New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: experience (field experience form) licence currently issued one or two years only, after which there is a requirement to move to a gas work licence suitable person check
Fire protection – tradesperson registration Certificate III in Fire Protection Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Restricted water plumber’s licence, Fire Protection (commercial and industrial) New requirements: new category Removed requirements: removal of endorsement
	Current title: Restricted water plumber’s licence, Fire protection (domestic and residential) New requirements: new category financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: removal of endorsement
Mechanical Services – tradesperson registration Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) OR Certificate III in Plumbing including the mechanical services stream Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	In Queensland a licence is only required for contracting of mechanical services plumbing work (as part of a BSA air-conditioning licence) and is not licensed at an occupational level. The Queensland Government is yet to make a decision regarding the introduction of new licenses.
Contractor (in any category) Personal probity and financial probity requirements. If contractor does not hold a relevant licence to carry out work, must have nominee with relevant licence. One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Trade contractor’s licence – plumbing and drainage New requirements: none Removed requirements: skills qualifications (including managerial course) fit and proper test experience insurance (now forms part of conduct requirements)
	Current title: Trade contractor’s licence – drainage New requirements: none Removed requirements: skills qualifications (including managerial course) annual financial capability checks fit and proper test experience insurance (now forms part of conduct requirements)
	Current title: Trade contractor’s licence – gasfitting New requirements: none Removed requirements: skills qualifications (including managerial course) annual financial capability checks fit and proper test experience insurance (now forms part of conduct requirements)
Provisional plumber (water and sanitary) Offshore Technical Skills Record successfully assessed against either of: Certificate III in Plumbing or Certificate III in Plumbing (Mechanical Services) One year licence duration	substantially the same New requirements: one year time limit for provisional licence
Provisional drainer Offshore Technical Skills Record successfully assessed against Certificate III in Plumbing including the drainage stream and one compulsory Certificate III unit One year licence duration	substantially the same New requirements: one year time limit for provisional licence
Provisional general gasfitter Offshore Technical Skills Record successfully assessed against either of: Certificate III in Gas Fitting including one compulsory Certificate II unit and two compulsory Certificate III units or Certificate lll in Plumbing including the gas services stream and one compulsory Certificate II unit and one compulsory Certificate III unit One year licence duration	New requirements: new licence one year time limit for provisional licence
Restricted plumber (disconnect/reconnect) Completion of two compulsory units of competency from Certificate III in Plumbing and one compulsory unit from Certificate lV Plumbing and Services Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Water plumber – electrical (RWP - electrical) New requirements: financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: criminal history check
Restricted plumber – urban irrigation work Certificate II in Urban Irrigation including four compulsory Certificate III units or Certificate III in Irrigation including five compulsory Certificate III units and two compulsory Certificate II units or Certificate III in Plumbing including three compulsory Certificate III units and one Certificate II compulsory unit Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: Water plumber – irrigation New requirements: financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: criminal history check
Restricted plumber – fire protection (inspecting/ testing) Certificate II in Fire Protection Inspection and Testing Financial probity checks in relation to payment of penalties or fines Skills maintenance on an as needs basis when directed by the licensing authority One, three or five year licence duration	Current title: No direct equivalent, but Queensland has inspect and test licences for: Sprinkler and suppression systems – reticulated water based Fire pumps; and Fire hydrants and hose reels. Removed requirements might therefore be removal of two additional licence categories.