Licensing and Registration
Journeyman Registrations | Advanced Tradesman Licences / New Requirements | Overseas Qualifications
Skills Maintenance | Backflow Prevention / Thermostatic Mixing Valves
Once you complete your apprenticeship as a Plumber & Drainer in the NT, you should immediately apply for a Journeyman Registration to enable you to continue working in the industry. If you then decide to move interstate, you can apply for registration in that state under the Mutual Recognition system. If you do not register as a Journeyman in the NT before leaving, it will be much more difficult to register elsewhere.
Journeyman Registration
A registered Journeyman may carry out plumbing/draining work under the general direction of an Advanced Tradesman. A Journeyman may supervise the work of apprentices and trades assistants but is not permitted to contract for plumbing/draining work in his own right.
Application forms for Journeyman registration may be downloaded from the forms page of this site or obtained from the Board's Registrar or the nearest Territory Business Centre.
In addition to the completed application form, you need to provide the following:
- Evidence of service of apprenticeship, eg Certificate of Completion;
- Evidence of examinations passed, eg academic record issued by Charles Darwin University;
- Summary of working experience from the employer where you completed your training;
- Letter of endorsement from current employer if different from above;
- Evidence of Backflow Prevention course and/or Thermostatic Mixing Valve course (if applicable);
- Fee of $30;
- Photograph; and
- Evidence of access to the current (2003) version of AS/NZS:3500 (eg copy of receipt, copy of front cover.
If you completed your training in another Australian State or Territory and you are registered in your home state you can apply for a Northern Territory registration under Mutual Recognition.
The History of a Journeyman
In medieval Europe all tradesmen (plumbers, wheelwrights, glaziers, roofers, blacksmiths, thatchers etc) aspired to be Guildsmen, ie members of their respective trade “Guilds”.
A young apprentice was indentured to a master tradesman for 2-7 years of training and at the conclusion of the training period he became a Journeyman. The Journeyman was required to leave his town/village and journey around other towns and villages for 3 years and 1 day, working at his trade to gain experience.
At the end of that time he could return to his home town and submit a piece of his best work to the guild for approval. If this “master-piece” was accepted he could become a master craftsman and open his own shop. Hence the name Journeyman. Some European trades still follow this tradition.
Incidentally, the term Journeyman has nothing to do with traveling; it comes from the French word "journee" (day), and meant that the journeyman was paid by the day for his work.
Thanks to Peter McDonald of Alice Springs for the above information.
Advanced Tradesman Licences
An Advanced Tradesman's licence allows the holder to contract for plumbing/draining work in his own right. He may also carry out plumbing/draining work himself, and direct/supervise the work of apprentices, journeymen and trades assistants.
New Requirements for Licence
Between now and 1 August 2010, to upgrade from a Journeyman registration to an Advanced Tradesman licence you will need to have:
- A current Northern Territory Journeyman’s Registration
- 2 years working experience; and
- Completed a Small Business Management Training Program, which is offered by Dovaston Training Centre.
You need to be enrolled in the Business Management course by 1 February 2010 and have completed the unit by 1 August 2010.
After 1 February 2010, if you have not already enrolled in the business management course, to obtain an Advanced Tradesmen Licence you will need to have:
- A current NT Journeymen’s Registration;
- 2 years working experience whilst holding a Journeymen Registration; and
- Successfully completed the ten units of competency identified below from the Certificate IV in Plumbing and Service.
APPROVED UNITS OF COMPETENCY
| CORE | |
| BCPCM4001A | Carry out work based risk control processes |
| BCPCM4002A | Estimate and cost work |
| BSBSBM401A | Establish business & legal requirements |
| WATER | |
| BCPWT4001A | Plan size & lay out hot & cold water services |
| BCPWT4002A | Commission & maintain backflow prevention devices |
| BCPWT4003A | Commission & maintain hot water temp control devices |
| SANITARY | |
| BCPSN4001A | Plan size & lay out sanitary pipe work & fixtures |
| DRAINAGE | |
| BCPDR4001A | Plan size & lay out sanitary drainage systems |
| BCPDR4002A | Plan size & lay out stormwater drainage systems |
| BCPDR4003A | Design domestic treatment plant disposal systems |
IMPLEMENTATION TIME LINE
Timeline |
Existing Requirement: BSBSBM401A Establish Business & Legal Requirements |
New Requirement: 10 units from Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services |
Prior to 1 February 2010 |
The Board will accept a Statement of Attainment for this unit. New enrolments allowed in this unit up to this date |
Not available. |
1 February 2010 to 1 August 2010 |
No new enrolments allowed. Board accepts Statement of Attainment for this unit. |
Enrolments commence in the 10 units of competency from the Certificate IV. The Board will accept a Statement of Attainment for the new requirements. |
Post 1 August 2010 |
A Statement of Attainment for this unit alone will no longer be accepted by the Board for issuing an Advanced Tradesman Licence. |
All applicants for Advanced Tradesmen licences must provide a Statement of Attainment for the identified 10 units of competency. |
Application forms may be downloaded from the forms page of this site, obtained form the Board's office or from the nearest Territory Business Centre. In addition to the completed application form you need to provide the following;
- Summary of two years working experience;
- Statements from 2 character referees;
- Letter of endorsement from current or most recent employer;
- Fee of $60;
- Photograph; and
- Evidence of access to the current (2003) version of AS/NZS:3500.
Endorsements for Backflow Prevention Course and/or Thermostatic Mixing Valves can be added to your licence card on provision of evidence that you successfully completed the course.
If you hold a current licence in another Australian State or Territory you may apply for a Northern Territory licence under Mutual Recognition.
Certification of Work
Please note - an Advanced Tradesman may contract for work in his own right, but cannot certify work. If you wish to certify work you must register as a Certifying Plumber and Drainer with the Building Practitioners Board. Application forms are available on the Building Practitioners Board web page.
Overseas Qualifications
If you want to work as a plumber in the NT but you qualified overseas, please read the Board's policy on assessment of overseas applicants.
- Assessment of overseas qualifications: http://www.skillassess.com
- Offshore skills assessment: www.vetassess.com.au
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.
In the plumbing industry we have 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.
The Board understands that some plumbers may not support the requirement for skills maintenance. However, 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, the Board will, at the time of renewal, require evidence of work experience to be more detailed and will carry out a more thorough assessment of the experience listed on the renewal form. An audit of the listed experience may also be performed if there is any doubt about the evidence provided or the continued skills maintenance or competence of the applicant.
Further information on this subject can be found in the Board's information sheet titled Skills Maintenance for Plumbers.
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. Mr Peter Rintel may be contacted on telephone number (08) 8946 7189 or email to find out more about Skills Maintenance and/or enroll to do the assessment.
Backflow Prevention / Thermostatic Mixing Valves
Courses are held at Charles Darwin University's Darwin campus from time to time. For bookings and information about future courses, contact Peter Rintel at CDU on 8946 7189 or by email.
Once you have completed a course, send the Registrar a copy of your
certificate and she will issue you with a new card, complete with the appropriate endorsement.
