:::IOPSA GP:::

There are four routes to becoming a qualified plumber in South Africa. (All routes end in the prospective plumber having to pass a trade test. Once the individual has passed their trade test they will be qualified).

THE PLUMBING APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING SCHEME

The basic requirement for any person wanting to enter into the plumbing apprenticeship training program is that he needs to be employed by a registered plumbing contractor, as the employer is the responsible party in terms of the apprenticeship agreement.

The apprentice will be required to pass 46 training modules at a CETA accredited training college, on top of which the apprentice shall work on site under the supervision of his employers qualified plumber for a period of 24 months before becoming eligible to take a Department of Labour Trade Test.

The cost of apprenticeship plumber training at a CETA accredited training college is approximately R16 000, which can either be funded by a parent through a financial institution, or an employer who can claim a deduction on his company tax for skills training.

On completion of his 24 month apprenticeship training period with his employer, and having passed all 46 practical training modules at the training college, the apprentice is required to apply to the Department of Labour to take his plumbing trade test at a Government trade test centre.

A plumbing trade test is taken over two days and will require the apprentice to pass five separate plumbing installation tests. On completion of the trade test and having passed all five plumbing installations the apprentice will be issued with a Department of Labour trade test certificate, which certifies that the apprentice can now trade as a qualified plumber.

Kindly note that N1 and N2 courses in Plumbing Theory Building Science and Technical Drawing may be taken at various correspondence colleges, whilst they are no longer essential for apprenticeship training, they will provide the student with a valuable background knowledge of the basics of plumbing.

CETA LEARNERSHIP PLUMBER TRAINING PROGRAM

Applicants wanting to train under a CETA learnership plumber training program are required to be employed by a registered plumbing contractor prior to entering into formal plumber training.

A CETA learnership training agreement requires that the learner shall attend full time plumber training at a CETA accredited training college for a period of sixteen weeks or more, where he will be required to pass twenty three unit standards in order for him to obtain the necessary credits for his qualification.

Learners in the program should note that on top of the practical plumber training, they will receive at the training college, the learner will be required to complete 24 months training on site under the supervision of his employers qualified plumber, before submitting his practical training credits, and the learners log book to the training provider for verification.

The training provider will then forward the learners completed documents to the CETA together with the employers log book, which shall include all site assessments of the learners competency levels during the training period.

The Construction Education Training Authority (CETA) will then register the learnership as being complete and issue the learner with a National Certificate in Construction Plumbing at NQF Level 3, that certifies that he can trade as a qualified plumber.

The total cost of a CETA learnership plumber training program is R36 980. Training costs are financed by the learners employer, who can claim a certain portion of the training costs from the CETA, the employer is also able to claim a rebate on his company tax for skills training.

SECTION 28 PLUMBER TRAINING

This is a special plumbing qualification for plumbers assistants who have spent more than five years working in the industry and who feel they are competent enough in that they have the knowledge and the required hand skills to pass a Department of Labour Trade Test.

Before the applicant can apply to the Department of Labour to take a plumbing trade test, he would be best advised to contact a CETA accredited training college for an assessment of his plumbing handskills.

In a case where an applicant fails the assessment test of his hand skills, IOP(SA) recommend that the applicant will need to take a Section 28 preparation course at the same training college before making an application to the Department of Labour to take a Section 28 plumbing trade test.