← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Plumbing
CPC - Construction, Plumbing and Services
Formal apprenticeship outcome for licensed plumbing in Australia. Required for state plumber registration.
Entry requirements
- Signed apprenticeship contract
- Year 10 or equivalent
What you will learn
The CPC32420 covers the full plumbing trade across water supply, sanitary drainage, sanitary plumbing, roofing, gas, mechanical services and irrigation. Core units include installing and testing water service pipes, setting out and laying drainage, jointing copper, PVC and PEX pipework, and following the Plumbing Code of Australia (AS/NZS 3500). You learn fault diagnosis on hot water systems and gas appliances. Across the four-year apprenticeship you complete around 800 hours of TAFE contact plus several thousand hours of on-job training, building the evidence required for your state plumber licence after course completion.
Skills you build
- Reading hydraulic drawings and plumbing specifications
- Setting out drainage and stormwater systems
- Jointing copper, PVC and PEX pipework
- Installing hot water units and gas appliances
- Roof plumbing, flashings and downpipes
- Backflow prevention and water-tempering valves
- Pressure testing and compliance certification
How the course runs
Most apprentices attend TAFE on day release (one day per week) or in one-week blocks each term. Around 800 hours of TAFE contact across the four years is typical. Theory and practical split runs roughly 50/50 in the workshop, with day-to-day on-job work close to fully hands-on. After completion you sit your state plumbing licensing exams to register as a licensed plumber.
How you will be assessed
- Practical demonstrations in TAFE plumbing workshops
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Third-party reports from your supervising plumber
- Photo evidence and on-job task log book
- State licensing exams after course completion
Workplace and placement
The apprenticeship is a four-year paid workplace contract under the Australian Apprenticeships framework. You sign a Training Contract with a licensed plumbing business (direct hire or through a Group Training Organisation). Your employer supervises your on-job work, the RTO delivers the formal training. Apprentice wages are set under the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award and rise each year. Most employers pay your TAFE fees and fund a starter set of hand tools.
Typical employers
- Residential plumbing contractors on new estates
- Commercial plumbing contractors on fit-outs and high-rise
- Hydraulic service maintenance teams
- Gasfitters and gas service contractors
- Local council and government water authorities
- Mining and resources camps and infrastructure
Pay after this qualification
$70,000 - $95,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/plumbers. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You can solve problems methodically under pressure
- You can handle confined spaces and trench work
- You are not bothered by sewage or hot water systems
- You can deal with customers in their homes politely
- You can manage your own tools and ute
It is probably not for you if
- You cannot commit to four years of apprentice pay
- You have a back condition that limits crawling
- You struggle to read drawings or follow standards
- You cannot stand long days outside in any weather
After you finish
After your state plumbing licence you can pursue Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (CPC40920) for advanced design and supervision work or a Diploma of Plumbing and Services. Specialist endorsements include backflow prevention, thermostatic mixing valves, solar hot water and gas fitting. Bachelor of Construction Management or Engineering programs at UTS, RMIT and Deakin accept the Cert III as part-credit toward degree pathways for plumbing engineers and hydraulic consultants.