Apply for a plumbing registration

Ready to apply

You are ready to apply if you have successfully completed:

• your apprenticeship
• the prescribed units of competency for each class you are applying for
• the Apprentice Registration exam for each class you are applying for.

If you completed your apprenticeship in Victoria or Albury, you will normally do your Apprentice Registration exams in the final year of your apprenticeship.

If you completed your apprenticeship interstate, you can still apply for registration. We will book you into your Apprentice Registration exam once you submit your application.

Prescribed Units of Competency

If you completed your qualification in Victoria in the last three years, you will normally have completed the required prescribed units.

If you completed your apprenticeship more than three years ago, interstate or in an earlier version of the qualification, you may be missing some prescribed units. However, you should still apply. We will let you know if you if you need to meet any additional requirements.

About the Apprentice Registration exam

You will normally do a practical exam task for each class that you are applying for.

Your TAFE will help you prepare for the VBA Apprentice Registration exam.

Apprentice Registration registration exams may be postponed and rescheduled by the Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Apprentices should contact their RTO for more information.

If you have completed your apprenticeship and your Apprentice Registration exam has been postponed due to COVID-19, you can apply for provisional registration.

Classes your apprenticeship allows you to apply for

The classes you can apply for depend upon the apprenticeship you completed.

Certificate III in Plumbing

The education stream you complete will allow you to apply for different classes of plumbing, as outlined in the following table.

Certificate III in Fire Protection

You can apply for Fire Protection work.

Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration

An apprenticeship that covers Type B gasfitting skills and knowledge

If your apprenticeship covered Plumbing, Electrical, Instrument making or Boiler making, you can apply for Type B Gasfitting work.

How to apply

You must submit:

• the Registration application form (PDF, 903.11 KB). Forms should be saved to your computer. Open them in Acrobat Reader, type in the requested details (do not handwrite; it will take longer for us to process) and then print and sign.
• certified photocopies of your qualification documents issued by your training provider. This consists of two documents:
  • certificate
  • record of results (your transcript listing the units you completed)
• a certified photocopy of your apprenticeship completion letter from the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or from the relevant agency in the state/territory in which you completed your apprenticeship
• a certified photocopy of your proof of identify documentation
• two passport photos
• the application fee and registration fee (see Fees).

Ready to apply

You are ready to apply if you meet all the following conditions:

• You are familiar with the Australian standards and guidelines relating to each class you intend to apply for.
• You have successfully completed the prescribed units of competency or have equivalent knowledge and skills to a person who has completed the units for each class you intend to apply for.
• You feel confident that you would pass the VBA exam for each class that you wish to apply for.
• You have completed the minimum experience working for a person licensed in each class that you have applied for (or have equivalent overseas experience). The minimum experience is four years for all main classes, except for the following classes which only require two years:
  • Drainage
  • Type B Gasfitting
  • Irrigation (non-agricultural).

If you completed a relevant overseas qualification, you should still apply. We will let you know if you if you need to meet any additional requirements. You must provide us with a certified photocopy of your original transcript. If this is not in English, you must also provide a translation from an official Australian translation service.

About the VBA registration exam

For each class that you apply for, the exam generally involves:

• a theory exam
• four practical tasks.

The exams are normally held at a TAFE. Once your application has been reviewed and approved to proceed, we will schedule you into the next available exam. We normally provide 10 days’ notice before booking you into an exam.

How to apply

You must submit:

• the following three forms:
  • Registration application form (PDF, 903.11 KB). Forms should be saved to your computer. Open them in Acrobat Reader, type in the requested details (do not handwrite; it will take longer for us to process) and then print and sign.
  • Experience statement for each class you intend to apply for (see below)
  • Technical referee report for each class you intend to apply for (see below)
• if you have completed relevant formal training: certified photocopies of your qualification documents issued by your training provider. These may include:
  • Certificate and Record of Results (your transcript listing the units you completed)
  • Statement of Attainment
  • other academic transcript
• a certified photocopy of your proof of identify documentation
• two passport photos
• the application fee and registration fee (see Fees).

Experience statements and Technical referee reports

If you have not completed an Australian apprenticeship, you need to demonstrate knowledge and competence in the class or classes of work you are applying to be registered in.

Usually, qualified and experienced apprentices must complete the Apprentice Registration exam before they can gain registration. If they have completed their apprenticeship and carry out plumbing work without being registered they would be working unlawfully.

So that affected apprentices aren’t unfairly prevented from gaining registration, the VBA has introduced a 12 month provisional registration for plumbing apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship and the Certificate III in Plumbing but are unable to undertake the Apprentice Registration exam if it has been postponed as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

Any completing apprentice who gains provisional registration will lawfully be able to continue working under a licensed plumber for a period of 12 months. Apprentices granted provisional registration will be managed by the VBA and prioritised to complete the registration exam once exam facilities are made available. The exam must be completed within six months of the date the provisional registration was granted.

Ready to apply

You are ready to apply if you have successfully completed:

• your apprenticeship
• the prescribed units of competency for each class you are applying for.

Prescribed Units of Competency

If you completed your qualification in Victoria in the last three years, you will normally have completed the required prescribed units.

About the Apprentice Registration exam

You will normally do a practical exam task for each class that you are applying for.

Your TAFE will help you prepare for the VBA Apprentice Registration exam.

Apprentices granted provisional registration will be prioritised to complete the Apprentice Registration exam one exam facilities are made available.

Classes your apprenticeship allows you to apply for

The classes you can apply for depend upon the apprenticeship you completed.

Certificate III in Plumbing

The education stream you complete will allow you to apply for different classes of plumbing, as outlined in the following table.

Certificate III in Fire Protection

You can apply for Fire protection work.

Certificate III in Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration

An apprenticeship that covers Type B gasfitting skills and knowledge

If your apprenticeship covered Plumbing, Electrical, Instrument making or Boiler making, you can apply for Type B gasfitting work.

How to apply

You must submit:

• a covering letter stating that you are seeking provisional registration only
• the Registration application form (PDF, 903.11 KB). Forms should be saved to your computer. Open them in Acrobat Reader, type in the requested details (do not handwrite; it will take longer for us to process) and then print and sign.
• certified photocopies of your qualification documents issued by your training provider. This consists of two documents:
  • certificate
  • record of results (your transcript listing the units you completed)
• a certified photocopy of your apprenticeship completion letter from the Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or from the relevant agency in the state/territory in which you completed your apprenticeship
• a certified photocopy of your proof of identify documentation
• two passport photos

The application fee and provisional registration fee for provisional registration has been waived.