registration for trade

[andyplumber]

Hi, I'm hoping we can get an answer to this on the forum, I have submitted my PAR form, if this is OK do I need to get registered with the pgdb[trade body] before I can apply for a job? any info on the process for trade occupation [plumber] would be great. thanks!
Andy

[Bergita]

Hi Andyplumber

I know nothing about plumber, but a quick search of the forum gave me 9 links dealing with plumbing in NZ. Here's the biggest one: http://www.enz.org/forum/showthread....hlight=plumber

If your info is not on there, use the search option, I'm sure you'll find something. Another useful forum to search is probably NZQA.

[bevsere]

Hi, I'm hoping we can get an answer to this on the forum, I have submitted my PAR form, if this is OK do I need to get registered with the pgdb[trade body] before I can apply for a job? any info on the process for trade occupation [plumber] would be great. thanks!
Andy

Blimey Bergita - that is an old thread. Good on yer for finding it. if thats all I have done on this forum about NZ plumbing and registration, then a good post is way overdue !

I may take this in several long and windy posts to make sure its posting up to the site. Sometimes a long post can be lost. Nightmare.

HI ANDY

Myself and my husband have been in NZ since June 2004. He is a plumber/gasfitter and NZ registered. I have been writing to the migrant forums for several years now and the specialist subject is the PGDB , NZ plumbing and registration.

I will try and 'talk' you through the process. Can you let me know via posts to the thread that you have seen the posts. Ask any questions you like. You need to be clear about what you need to do and what will be required of you to work within the trade.

UK PLUMBER/GASFITTER QUALIFICATION ASSESSMENT

To start with . It is a misconception that a plumber - gasfitter or drainlayer should send off for a PAR [pre-assessment result] to NZQA [ New Zealand qualification authority. Yes , I do know that staff at NZIS [ NZ Immigration Service ] will sometimes suggest this, but its not correct. Simple as that.
If you are a qualified plumber or gasfitter from the UK or even a part-qualified plumber or gasfitter then there is only one place that can assess your UK qualifications . That is the PGDB. [ Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainleyer Board of New Zealand.]

You need to send certified copies of your apprenticeship/ C&G certs/ NVQ certs and proof of past 5 years work experience within the trade.

This is the link to the PGDB assessment form. It is in PDF format. Download it.
It is a request to the PGDB to have them assess your UK qualifications under the ANZRA agreement.
Collate all your documents and send them off, together with the completed form and the fee.

http://www.pgdb.co.nz/index.php?sh=0...cations&sub=04

If you intend to do gas as well as plumb, you need to send two assessments , two fees etc.

The above is simply to have the plumbing board assess your UK quals. It has nothing to do with registration. I'll get onto that later.

You should, in due course, receive a letter back from the PGDB . Hopefully, it will state that your UK qualifications have been assessed and will be accepted part-way towards registration.
This is a successful outcome and will satisfy the NZIS with regard to your trade skill level . NZIS will be looking for a level 4 to satisfy itself that the tradesman applying under the Skilled Migrant Category [ whether for PR or a work visa] meets the standard. A successful assessment from the PGDB is equivalent to a level 4.

You will have noticed the phrase 'partway towards registration'. That is as good as it gets.

....next post.....

[bevsere]

NZ PLUMBER and/or GASFITTER REGISTRATION

In order to be deemed a fully qualified plumber and/or gasfitter - drainlayer in New Zealand you must registered.
There is only one way to become registered, regardless of what UK qualifications you hold or how many decades of work experience within the trade you have.

To become an NZ registered plumber you must sit the trade registration exam which happens once a year in November and pass a practical assessment.
This is the same exam as New Zealand final year apprentices sit. They must first pass their National Vocational certificate & then they are allowed to sit the Registration exam.
Same goes for any overseas plumber/gasfitter.
If the PGDB will recognise your UK qualifications and work experience as fully UK qualified, then they will allow you to sit the registration exam.

If the PGDB feel your UK quals and work experience are not enough , then they will state that you have to undergo further NZ training to gain the National Certificate BEFORE you can sit the Registration exams.

Are you still following me ?

The PGDB are responsible for the Registration exams. They set them and mark them. It has nothing to do with NZQA.

Be aware that a pass in the registration exams does NOT allow you to be self-employed or to sub-contract or anything remotely like that.
It means you are recognised as a fully qualified plumber who can work as an employee in the trade.

onto next post.....

[bevsere]

LICENCES ALLOWING YOU TO WORK ONCE YOU HAVE THE OFFER OF A JOB

If you look at the PGDB website http://www.pgdb.co.nz/index.php?sh=0...04-fees&sub=04

you will see an assortment of licenses.

There is only one licence that you can apply for and you can only apply for that once you have an NZ employer willing to offer you a job.
That is the LIMITED LICENCE.
It is the licence that is issued to anyone working within the plumbing trade. An apprentice or a labourer would have one of these.

Both yourself and your Nz employer would apply for the locence wehich would allow you to legally work within the trade in NZ.
You would complete the form and the employer needs to countersign this and vouch for your work by nominating a craftsman plumber to oversee all your work. In theory all your work must be directly supervised. In any case, all your work must be signed off by the person named on your Limited Licence.
You will remain on the Limited Licence until you have passed your Registration exam and sat your practical assessment.

You may need to explain to any prospective NZ employer that you are a fully qualified UK plumber but that it is a PGDB requirement that you sit the NZ registration exam and that until that time you must remain on the Limited Licence.
There is a shortage of plumbers here so many employers will be happy with this. They will also pay you that bit less. LOL

[bevsere]

SUMMARY.

1] Have your UK quals assessed by the PGDB
1a] if intending to submit an EOI to NZIS and you have enough points without a job offer - submit using the PGDB assessment letter to gain points for skill.

2] Gain an NZ plumbing job offer - the best way is by coming to NZ on a job hunt

3] Apply for the Limited Licence
3a] Submit EOI or work visa pllication here to use points for both skill and job offer

4] Start work

5] Sit registration exam and assessment to gain NZ registration

[bevsere]

If you do have thoughts to become self-employed, there are a further two exams that have to be passed.
One is a business exam. you can sit that the year following Registration.
The second exam is the craftsman exam. You cannot sit that until you have two years as a registered plumber.

All of these come with fees and study.

[bevsere]

If you look here

http://www.pgdb.co.nz/index.php?sh=0..._papers&sub=08

you will see that you can download the past two years exam papers.
This is a brand new facility and very welcome it is to.

Download the plumbers registration question and answers papers. Also the prescrption.

I do have further exam question examples. PM me if you are interested.

I have also compiled a bit of a reading list which I will let you have , if you PM me.
You will find that NZ like their rules , regs and standards. You will need to know them as well as limbering up your math.

There are some very fundemental differences between NZ plumbing and UK plumbing.

If you hope to pass the registration paper , then you will need to be au fait with the NZ working practices. Of course, the best way to gain that is by actually doing the physical work.

I think thats enough for now , don't you ?

Get back to me, so i know that you are clear about the process and what will be required of you.

Plumbers of the world unite.... for our whole world is in boss white

[Ashby]

The PGDB does not list USA as have recognized qualifications. They also do not return emails.
Is the process for an American plumber the same as British?

Again, what is the point to only accepting level 4 skilled and experienced plumbers and then demoting them to apprentice? Making them work for
2+years to re-gain qualifications in NZ?

[victoria]

The pgdb do not answer emails nor can you get past their reception either by phone or in person.If the building had a chimney,we'd have tried abseiling down it to get in. You are completely at their mercy & timescale.You will have to send their application form for assessment to be told that you will be starting at a base level(pay for it) then you will return an application for limited license(pay for it) & wait. I'm told all these (once accepted by the way) are sent to Christchurch for issuing.You might guess by my undertones that I'm not overly impressed by them BUT as a plumber wanting to work in NZ they are the only governing body & you must go through them. One very good thing is you don't need to have NZQA.
I think that's it.
Bevsere is excellent for this info.