Dris proposal for national licensing of the plumbing and gasfitting occupations

Western Australia

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

the introduction of a separate contractor level licence – currently licence holders can contract with the public

removal of gasfitter’s apprenticeship permit as apprentices will be exempt from licensing

removal of the gasfitting licence restricted to servicing

minor plumbing work, such as changing tap washers, would be exempted under national licensing

removal of separate authorisations at both Class G and Class I gasfitting where licensee wishes to supervise work.

In Western Australia a licence or registration is not currently issued for mechanical services or fire protection plumbing and under national licensing neither will be issued for these occupations in this jurisdiction.

Table E.4: Changes to existing licensing arrangements – Western Australia

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: Plumbing contractor New requirements: additional one unit of competency Removed requirements: removal of business units fit and proper check experience
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: Plumbing contractor New requirements: none Removed requirements: removal of business units fit and proper check experience
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 unit 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: Class G gasfitting permit New requirements: probity check Removed requirements: fit and proper check
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	Current title: Class I gasfitting permit New requirements: none Removed requirements: fit and proper check experience
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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the fire protection category in this jurisdiction.
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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the mechanical services category in this jurisdiction.
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: Tradesperson’s licence New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: fit and proper person test experience
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: Tradesperson’s (drainage plumbing) licence New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: fit and proper person test experience
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: Gasfitting permit – Class G (Type A appliances) New requirements: financial probity check in relation to payment of penalties or fines Removed requirements: fit and proper person test
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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the fire protection category in this jurisdiction.
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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the mechanical services category in this jurisdiction.
Contractor (in any category) One, three or five year licence duration	No contractor licence in this jurisdiction and anyone can contract for plumbing or gasfitting work.
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
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
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	Substantially the same
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: Restricted plumbing permit New requirements: none Removed requirements: criminal history check experience
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 selected 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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the urban irrigation category in this jurisdiction.
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	Not currently licensed and a national licence would not be issued for the fire protection category in this jurisdiction.