The Certificate III in Plumbing requires that an apprentice undertakes nominated units of competence in four or five streams.

This will require a new plumbing apprentice to attend formal classes (usually at a TAFE institute) and have a level of education to meet the challenges required within the training program.

The minimum level of education generally required by the Plumbing Industry is:

• Successful completion of year 10
• Passes in Mathematics, English and Science

Since the late 80's plumbing businesses have needed to recruit employees with more appropriate range of education levels to tackle the variety of work areas and situations introduced through new technology, environmental legislation and privatization of Government authorities.

The impact of new regulations is significant in the areas of reading comprehension and interpretation within the industry.

The current system requires that "self certification" of plumbing work carried out on site by licensed plumbers and the notification of plumbing work carried out by plumbers are subject to random audit.

Self certification requires a person to have the ability to comprehend written material, make value judgments based upon Building and Environmental Acts and interpret information.

Examples of the New Training Package competency topics which apprentices will be faced with at TAFE will include:

• Calculate & install natural ventilation for Type A Gas
• Plan the layout for a residential sanitary Plumbing System
• Size consumer piping systems

Science and Environment

The ongoing need to protect the environment from ozone depleting substances, the search for alternative energy methods and water saving measures will require that "Plumbers of the Future", will have a major impact on addressing environmental requirements in their everyday activities and have the appropriate education to enable them to do so.

Therefore students should be aware of the importance of undertaking science and mathematics subjects at Secondary Colleges should they wish to enter the Plumbing Industry.