Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying (Level 3)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
80
NZSCED
040327
Architecture and Building > Building > Plumbing, Gasfitting and
Drainlaying
Qualification developer
The Skills Organisation
Next review
December 2020
Approval date
June 2015
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide the plumbing,
gasfitting and drainlaying industries with people who have basic
skills and knowledge in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying in
accordance with the requirements of the regulatory legislation
and who are ready to work.
The qualification is common to all three trades and is suitable for
those who wish to enter the industry and who do not yet have an
apprenticeship agreement.
Graduates will be capable of assisting with plumbing, gasfitting
and drainlaying work under supervision and will be ready to enter
into an apprenticeship that will lead to a New Zealand Level 4
trade qualification in one or more of the plumbing, gasfitting or
drainlaying trades [Refs: 2661, 2662, 2663].
The New Zealand community will benefit from having graduates
able to assist in ensuring public safety in the provision of gas,
and water services and removal of foul water.
Graduate profile
Graduates of this qualification will be able to:
 Assist with the installation, repair and maintenance of
plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying systems and
components including the following systems:
Outcome Statement
Water supply; Sanitary plumbing of appliances and
fixtures; Foulwater; Hot water; Consumer gas;
Drainlaying including associated components; Building
envelope claddings, flashings and penetrations
 Apply safe working procedures and practices; identify and
control hazards in a working environment; and use
understanding of basic electrical principles relevant to
plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work contexts to keep
oneself safe.
Education pathway
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
This qualification may build on the National Certificate of
Educational Achievement (Level 2) [Ref: 0973]. The Vocational
Pathway Award in Construction and Infrastructure is also
relevant but not required.
Page 1 of 7
This qualification provides one of two entry pathways into the
plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying industries and is intended for
candidates who do not have an apprenticeship agreement in any
of those trades. It provides trainees with an opportunity to
progress to a fully credentialed tradesperson level with further
study.
The second entry pathway is through an apprenticeship
agreement where candidates will be signed directly into the
New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing (Level 4) [Ref: 2663] or the
New Zealand Certificate in Gasfitting (Level 4) [Ref: 2662] or the
New Zealand Certificate in Drainlaying (Level 4) [Ref: 2661].
On completion of this qualification graduates may progress into
one of the Level 4 New Zealand Certificates above.
This qualification is not a prerequisite for the Level 4 New
Zealand Certificates above. However, some credits gained for
this qualification will contribute towards those higher level
qualifications.
Employment pathway
This qualification does not enable graduates to practice as a
plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer. Graduates will not be eligible to
seek licensing.
Examples of roles that this qualification may lead to are plumbing
apprentice, gasfitting apprentice, or drainlaying apprentice.
Graduates may also be able to work in areas such as plumbing,
gasfitting or drainlaying wholesaling or retailing as a counter
sales person.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
The candidate shall be awarded the qualification by the
accredited Tertiary Education Organisation (TEO) where the
programme has been completed.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification
includes the full qualification title, the date of award, and the
logos of The Skills Organisation, the accredited TEO, and
the NZQF.
As the qualification developer, The Skills Organisation will
maintain a list of graduates of this qualification. The TEO
will report annually to The Skills Organisation the names of
all graduates awarded the qualification.
Evidence requirements for assuring
consistency
All Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) offering this
qualification (either arranging training or delivering
programmes) must participate in the Consistency Review.
TEOs are to seek feedback from the Plumbing, Gasfitting
and/or Drainlaying industries regarding their graduates
meeting the qualification graduate profile outcomes.
Evidence may come from:

Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Regular monitoring of trainee progression within either
Page 2 of 7
the TEO or the workplace including liaising with
employers, teaching staff, training supervisors and
industry and managers about the value of the training to
graduates and industry.

Feedback from major employers' associations to ensure
their members involved in the Plumbing, Gasfitting
and/or Drainlaying industries are satisfied with the
qualification graduates.

Regular cross-industry meetings (Industry Advisory
Groups) where the changing training needs of the
industry can be discussed in light of technology
changes, workplace practices and graduate capabilities.

Independent surveys of graduates and employers to
determine if the graduates are appropriate for the
workplace.

Providing an alignment matrix of programme outcomes
against the qualification outcomes, including how the
programme meets the requirements of the specified
PGD Board competency.

Other relevant evidence that would support the report on
the evaluative question.
The evidence should be collated in to a high level report
using the consistency template that answers the key
evaluation question and is presented at the consistency
event to show how the graduates meet the graduate profile.
Guidelines for managing consistency are available and
should be referred to on the NZQA website.
Credit transfer and recognition of
prior learning arrangements
TEOs delivering programmes that lead to award of this
qualification may transfer credit and recognise prior learning
in accordance with their own credit recognition policies and
procedures.
These policies and procedures, and information about
associated fees, must be available to the applicant prior to
enrolment.
To facilitate credit transfer, education organisations must
clearly demonstrate the equivalency or comparability
between each of the outcomes in the graduate profile, and
the assessment components of their programmes.
Credit transfer will be automatic where standards on the
Directory of Assessment Standards are used for assessment
within programmes of study or training leading to this
qualification.
Minimum standard of achievement
and standards for grade
endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for the
award of the qualification will be the achievement of all
graduate outcomes in the graduate profile through
successful completion of an approved programme.
There are no grade endorsements for this qualification.
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 3 of 7
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory body
or legislative requirements)
None.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
This qualification does not enable graduates to practice as a plumber,
structure
gasfitter or drainlayer.
Programmes must provide the theoretical knowledge and practical
skills in relation to supporting the competencies required for
registration and licensing under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and
Drainlayers Act 2006.
Conditions for programme
context
Programmes leading to this qualification must reflect supervision
requirements that are contained within the Plumbers, Gasfitters and
Drainlayers Board (PGD Board) registration and licensing Gazette
notices.
Any learner undertaking sanitary plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying as
defined in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 must
obtain an exemption under supervision from the PGD Board.
Other conditions
Programmes must provide good working knowledge in health and
safety across all activities – and all practical activities must
demonstrate these skills – supporting gazetted Plumbers, Gasfitters
and Drainlayers Board competencies for plumbers, gasfitters and
drainlayers.
Programmes must provide general knowledge of limitations of
persons who do or assist in doing Plumbing, Gasfitting, and
Drainlaying work of Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers.
Programmes must provide general knowledge of PGD instructions,
drawings, symbols and specifications and basic trade calculations for
plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying and provide for practical
demonstration of these skills across programmes.
Programmes must provide general knowledge of material science and
selection, trade physics, and environmental sustainability
considerations for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying systems.
Programmes must provide opportunities for practical demonstration of
working with other construction trades and related on-site services.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
Conditions
Mandatory
or Optional
1
Water Supply Systems
Mandatory
Assist with the installation, repair
and maintenance of plumbing,
gasfitting and drainlaying systems
and components including the
following systems:
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge and practical skills – supporting
PGD Board competency 2(d)(ii) Hot and cold
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
Water supply
water reticulation systems .

Sanitary plumbing of
appliances and fixtures

Foulwater

Programmes must provide general knowledge
supporting board competency 2(d)(viii)
backflow prevention and 2(d)(x) alternative
water supplies.
Hot water

Consumer gas

Drainlaying including
associated components

Building envelope claddings,
flashings and penetrations
Credits 58
Sanitary Plumbing
Use definition of Sanitary Plumbing in the
Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Act 2006.
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge with practical skills – supporting
PGD Board Competency 2(d)(vii) Sanitary
appliances and fixtures.
Foulwater
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge and practical skills – supporting
PGD Board Competency 2(e)(i) Principles of
sizing and venting for foul water plumbing
systems and 2(e)(iii) Sanitary appliances and
fixtures.
Hot Water
Programmes must cover open and closed
supply systems.
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge and practical skills – supporting
PGD Board Competency 2(d)(ii) Hot and cold
water reticulation systems and 2(d)(ix) Heating
systems that relate to sanitary plumbing - Hot
water systems.
Consumer gas
Excludes live gasfitting work as defined under
PGD Act.
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge and practical skills in consumer
gas pipework, supporting PGD Board
competency 2(c)(iv) Pipework.
Gas appliances and Gas equipment
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge of appliances and their
applications, supporting PGD Board
competency 2(c)(i) Appliances and 2(c)(ii)
Equipment.
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge in flueing and ventilation,
supporting PGD Board competencies 2(c)(iii)
Ventilation and 2(c)(v) Flueing.
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 5 of 7
Drainlaying
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge of foulwater and storm water
drainage systems and access systems and
practical skills in foulwater and storm water
drainage systems supporting PGD Board
Competency 2(b)(i) foul water systems and
2(b)(ii) stormwater.
Programmes must include applications of
materials including material protection and
jointing methods relevant to foul water and
stormwater.
Building envelope
Programmes must provide general theoretical
knowledge of critical principles related to
weather tightness in plumbing and gasfitting –
addressing PGD Board Competency 2(g)(i)
Preservation of structural integrity and 2(g)(ii)
Prevention of damage to property including
weather tightness, and gasfitting PGD
Competency 2(i)(i) Preservation of structural
integrity and 2(i)(ii) Prevention of damage to
property including weather tightness.
2
Apply safe working procedures
and practices; identify and control
hazards in a working
environment; and use
understanding of basic electrical
principles relevant to plumbing,
gasfitting and drainlaying work
contexts to keep oneself safe.
Credits 22
Programmes must include practical working at
heights safety training and assessment,
evidenced by unit standards 23229 and
15757.
Mandatory
Programmes must include training and
assessment in confined spaces awareness,
evidenced by unit standards 18426 and
17599, and may also include unit standard
3058 or equivalent.
Programmes must ensure that graduates have
current first aid certificates and hold unit
standards 26551 and 26552 or equivalent
replacement standards.
Programmes must include knowledge of
principles of electricity and working safely with
electricity.
Transition information
Replacement information
The qualification does not replace any National qualifications. However,
this qualification replaces the following provider developed qualifications

Certificate in Pre Trade Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drain Laying
[Ref: CH3951]

Certificate in Pre-trade Plumbing & Gasfitting (Level 3) [Ref:
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 6 of 7
HV4161]

MIT Certificate in Plumbing and Gas Fitting (Level 3) [Ref:
MN4484]

Certificate in Plumbing, Drainlaying, Gasfitting and Roofing [Ref:
PR4869]
For last dates of entry and last dates of award of the replaced provider developed qualifications; please
contact the relevant qualification owner.
Qualification Reference 2660
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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