Occupational plumber and/or drainer | Queensland Building and Construction Commission

QBCC licence and other fees are set by regulation and increase according to the Government Indexation Rate. For 2024-2025, the Government Indexation Rate is zero percent. Therefore there was no fee increase on 1 July 2024. 

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Scope of work: plumbing

Includes

  • install steel consumer piping systems
  • install copper consumer piping systems
  • install UPVC consumer piping systems
  • install polyethylene consumer piping systems
  • test consumer piping
  • set out and rough in hot and cold water supply
  • adjust system controls and devices for correct
  • flow operation
  • install backflow prevention devices
  • install mixing valves
  • install hot water systems
  • collection and storage of potable water
  • install pump sets
  • fit off, make final connections to hot and cold water systems
  • connect irrigation systems to potable water
  • perform oxy-acetylene welding
  • commission water systems
  • set out position of discharge pipes and fixtures
  • fabricate and install cast iron soil and waste stacks
  • fabricate and install UPVC soil and waste stacks
  • fabricate and install copper soil and waste stacks
  • install or fit off sanitary fixtures
  • test sanitary pipe work.

Scope of work: drainage

Includes

  • install vitrified clay consumer piping systems
  • install concrete piping systems
  • cut in branches and replace sections of below ground drain
  • test below ground drainage piping
  • install sewerage pumping equipment
  • install pre-treatment facilities
  • install septic tanks
  • install effluent disposal systems
  • locate and clear blockages in drainage systems
  • carry out levelling
  • install site drainage and dewatering systems
  • position and install access chambers
  • install deep trench shoring
  • construct and install concrete anchor blocks
  • read and interpret drainage plans
  • install below ground sanitary drainage systems (Less than or equal to 100mm)
  • install below ground sanitary drainage systems (Greater than 100mm)
  • install below ground stormwater drainage systems (Less than or equal to 100mm)
  • install below ground stormwater drainage systems (Greater than 100mm).

Eligibility requirements

You will need to provide photographic proof of identification with your application.

  1. You must meet the technical qualifications outlined in the document below for a plumber licence. This includes both:

    • CPC32413—Certificate III in plumbing (including the drainage stream)
    • completion of apprenticeship.

    For more information view the:

    Technical qualifications—plumbing & drainage occupational licences

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class.

  2. You must demonstrate you have had 12 months experience in the:

    • plumbing scope of work.

    For details of the experience requirements, refer to the application form.

  1. You must meet the technical qualifications outlined in the document below for a drainer licence. This can be either:

    • CPC20712—Certificate II in drainage
    • CPC32413—Certificate III in plumbing (including the drainage stream).

    For more information view the:

    Technical qualifications—plumbing & drainage occupational licences

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class.

  2. You must demonstrate you have had 12 months experience in the:

    • drainage scope of work.

    For details of the experience requirements, refer to the application form.

  1. You must meet the technical qualifications outlined in the document below for a plumber and drainer licence. This includes both:

    • CPC32413—Certificate III in plumbing (including the drainage stream)
    • completion of apprenticeship.

    Technical qualifications—plumbing & drainage occupational licences

    Show proof of your qualifications

    Proof of your qualifications can be in the form of:

    • apprenticeship papers
    • formal qualifications issued by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) - training.gov.au
    • documentation showing you successfully completed an appropriate course for this licence class
    • certificate from an RTO as recognition of prior learning  (RPL)
    • qualification statement by an approved authority for the licence class.

  2. You must demonstrate you have had 12 months experience in the:

    • plumbing scope of work
    • drainage scope of work.

    For details of the experience requirements, refer to the application form.

Provisional licence

If you can't meet the criteria for a full occupational licence, we may decide to grant you a provisional licence for 1 year. Scenarios where we may grant a provisional licence include:

  • you have the required technical qualification, but you don't believe you have the practical experience required
  • you don't have the required technical qualification, but you believe you have sufficient practical experience to carry out the work under the supervision of a licensed plumber and drainer
  • you hold a current licence from interstate or another country
  • you have the qualification and the practical experience for the licence, but are unable to provide your qualification or prove your experience.

A provisional licence allows you to work lawfully in the industry and gain the required practical experience to eventually work without supervision.

You apply for a full occupational licence after 1 year of holding your provisional licence.

Licence application fees

Licence fees

You have the option to pay licence fees for 1 to 5 years.

Annual administration fee

In addition to your licence fee you will need to pay an annual administration fee of $75.68.

This only needs to be paid once per financial year per licensee. If you have already applied for another plumbing and/or draining licence within the same financial year, you don’t need to pay the administration fee again.

Our fees and charges increase on 1 July each year. On 1 July 2023 our fees and charges were increased in line with legislative requirements.

Fee exemptions

Individuals (not companies) who hold a QBCC plumbing or drainage related contractor, nominee supervisor and site supervisor licence are not required to pay a fee if they apply for a range of corresponding occupational licences under the Plumbing and Drainage Act. See these listed in the table below.

Application fee with admin fees

Licence class 1 yr 2 yrs 3 yrs 4 yrs 5 yrs
Plumber $232.72 $315.61 $398.45 $481.29 $564.13
Drainer $232.72 $315.61 $398.45 $481.29 $564.13
Plumber & drainer—combined $389.76 $472.60 $555.44 $638.28 $721.17
Restricted licence $172.83 $255.67 $338.51 $421.35 $504.19
Provisional plumber OR provisional drainer $148.50 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Provisional plumber & provisional drainer—combined $221.32   n/a n/a n/a
Provisional plumber & full drainer $305.54 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Application fee without admin fees

Licence class 1 year 2 years 3 years 4 years 5 years
Plumber $157.04 $239.93 $322.77 $405.61 $488.45
Drainer $157.04 $239.93 $322.77 $405.61 $488.45
Plumber & drainer—combined $314.08 $396.92 $479.76 $562.60 $645.49
Restricted licence $97.15 $179.99 $262.83 $345.67 $428.51
Provisional plumber OR provisional drainer $72.82 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Provisional plumber & provisional drainer—combined $145.64 n/a n/a n/a n/a
Provisional plumber & full drainer

$229.86

 n/a n/a n/a n/a

Fee exemptions

These exemptions apply only to Individuals (not companies) who hold a QBCC plumbing or drainage related contractor, nominee supervisor and site supervisor licence applying for a corresponding occupational licence.

Trade licence held Occupational licence with fee exemption

Plumbing & drainage

Plumbing & drainage restricted to plumbing

Plumbing & drainage restricted to tanks—water supply

Plumber

Plumbing & drainage

Drainage

Drainer

Gasfitting

Water plumber—gas

Irrigation

Water plumber—irrigation

Fire protection—water—based fire system stream—install and maintain—restricted to commercial and industrial types

Water plumber—fire protection (hydrants and hose-reels)

Fire protection—water-based fire system stream—install and maintain—restricted to commercial and industrial types

Water plumber—fire protection (commercial & industrial types)

Fire protection—water-based fire system stream—install and maintain—restricted to domestic and residential types

Water plumber—fire protection (domestic and residential types)

Drainage—on-site sewerage facility—maintenance

Drainer—on-site sewerage facility (maintenance)

Drainage—on-site sewerage facility—maintenance & installation

Drainer—on-site sewerage facility (maintenance & installation)
Mechanical services—plumbing Water plumber—water and sanitary

How to apply

  1. You will need to provide certified copies of your:

    • technical qualifications
    • photo identification (e.g. driver’s licence or passport).

  2. Do you wish to have a photograph included on your licence card?

    If yes, you will need to include one passport-style photograph with your application.

  3. Download and complete the form for the licence you are applying for:

    Occupational plumber (PDF, 153KB)

    Occupational drainer (PDF, 150KB)

    Occupational plumber and drainer (PDF,156KB)

  4. Your occupationally licensed supervisor needs to complete PART B of the application form—the declaration to confirm your practical experience in the scope of work.

  5. To complete your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail — add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.

  1. You will need to provide as much evidence as you can that supports your eligibility for a provisional licence.

    Provide certified copies of:

    • any technical qualifications
    • evidence of any experience gained
    • your photo identification (e.g. driver’s licence or passport).

  2. Do you wish to have a photograph included on your licence card?

    If yes, you will need to include one passport-style photograph with your application.

  3. Download and complete the form for the licence you are applying for:

    Occupational plumber (PDF, 153KB)

    Occupational drainer (PDF, 150KB)

    Occupational plumber and drainer (PDF,156KB)

  4. To complete your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail — add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.

  1. We may accept applications for mutual recognition from:

    • Australian Capital Territory
    • New South Wales
    • Northern Territory
    • South Australia 
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia
    • New Zealand.

    The QBCC may only issue a licence that is equivalent to the licence you already hold.

    If your interstate or New Zealand licence is subject to a condition or restriction, the QBCC must impose the same condition on your Queensland licence.

    Where there is no QBCC licence equivalent to your interstate or New Zealand licence, we will not be able to issue you a licence.

    Learn more about what licences we can accept through mutual recognition.

  2. Your interstate licence must remain active to qualify for a QBCC licence. Be sure to renew your licence on time and pay any outstanding fines.

    If your interstate licence is cancelled or suspended prior to approval of a Queensland licence, you will not be entitled to a Queensland licence under mutual recognition.

  3. Gather any relevant supporting documents including:

    If applying by mail, only provide us with certified copies of your original documents, as we cannot return them to you.

  4. Mutual recognition (PDF, 123KB)

    NOTE: you don't need to complete this PART B of the form when applying for a provisional licence.

  5. To complete your application you need to provide us with:

    • the completed form
    • all supporting documentation
    • the application fee.

    You can lodge the application:

    • in person at a QBCC service centre and pay the fees by eftpos
    • by mail — add credit or debit card details to the application form and post it to us with all supporting documentation.

What happens next?

A specialist QBCC licensing assessment officer will carefully assess your application and will contact you if they have questions about your application.

We will process your application within 20 days unless

  • extra information is required
  • information is missing from the application.

We will notify you if we require extra time to process your application (up to an extra 20 days).

Applicants who satisfy all of the necessary requirements will be granted a licence. 

If you can’t demonstrate the full practical experience requirements, QBCC may make the decision to grant you a provisional licence.

If your application is unsuccessful we will refund you the licence fee, however we will retain the cost of processing the application.

Frequently asked questions

A provisional licence is granted to applicants who cannot provide evidence that they meet the eligibility of a full occupational licence. A provisional licence allows newly qualified apprentices and other applicants to work lawfully in the industry whilst they gain the required practical experience to eventually work without supervision.

Reasons for granting a provisional licence

A provisional licence will be granted in the following scenarios:

  • you have the required technical qualification, but you don't believe you have the practical experience required
  • you don't have the required technical qualification, but you believe you have sufficient practical experience to carry out the work under the supervision of a licensed plumber and drainer
  • you hold a current licence from interstate or another country
  • you have the qualification and the practical experience for the licence, but are unable to provide your qualification or prove your experience.

Applying for a provisional licence

When applying for a provisional licence you do not need to complete PART B of the form—the declaration of practical experience by the licensed supervisor. You will also pay a reduced fee for the year.

Cannot renew a provisional licence

A provisional licence can only be granted for 1 year and cannot be renewed.

If you have previously been granted a provisional licence and are seeking another one, you must reapply.

The QBCC will only grant the provisional licence if it is satisfied that you continue to meet the eligibility requirements for a licence of this type. The QBCC will not grant a provisional licence if you meet the legislated requirements for a full licence.

If the condition on your licence was a restriction limiting what work you can perform, you can apply to have us review it.

To apply you must:

Find out what options you have for removing other types of conditions on your licence.

Need some help?

Contact us if you have any questions regarding your application.

Contact us

Technical qualifications—plumbing & drainage occupational licences

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Last reviewed: 30 Jan 2024 Last published: 30 Jan 2024
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