Under Part 4 of the Plumbing Regulations 2018, water supply work is:
a. the construction, installation, replacement, repair, alteration, relining, maintenance, testing or commissioning of:
any part of a heated or cold water service connected to drinking water supply from point of connection to points of discharge of water service
any part of a non‐drinking heated or cold water service or rainwater service, from the point of connection to water supply to points of service discharge
any heated water service in, or on, a caravan or vessel
b. any design work incidental to, or associated with, any work described in paragraph (a).
This work does not include
Work described in subregulation (1) carried out in connection with supply of piped non‐drinking water for agricultural purposes unless the water is supplied by a network utility operator or other water provider.
Treatment of water used in a heated or cold water service.
Backflow prevention work.
The repair, alteration, maintenance and testing of a thermostatic mixing valve.
Knowledge and experience requirements
Areas of experience (AoEs)
Persons registered or licenced in this class typically carry out the following work:
Read a site or building plan and identify water supply connections.
Install, pressure test and repair hot and cold-water fixtures and services.
Install, move and remove trench support work.
Carry out oxy‐acetylene and manual arc welding.
Plus
Fabrication and installation of hydrant and hose reel systems.
Installation of domestic and residential safety sprinkler systems in buildings up to four storeys.
Compliance requirements
Registered and licenced practitioners in this class must interpret and apply the compliance requirements for this class outlined in:
Building Act 1993 (Vic)
Victorian Plumbing Regulations 2018
WorkSafe Victoria requirements for plumbing work and building construction sites
WaterMark Certification Scheme
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme
Additional compliance requirements for licensed practitioners
Licensed practitioners hold a greater level of responsibility and must interpret and apply the following additional compliance requirements:
Issue compliance certificates
Knowledge of Performance Solutions
WorkSafe Victoria requirements for supervising staff (including supervision of apprentices)
Hold relevant insurance.
What do you need to become registered or licenced in this class?
All persons who apply for registration or licence in this class – unless applying via Mutual Recognition (MR) – must successfully complete the relevant BPC exam. You are permitted to bring relevant reference materials to your exams.
Registration
There are different pathways to become registered:
Australian apprentice pathway
This is the most common pathway. You are eligible to apply via this pathway if you have successfully completed the:
Certificate III in in Plumbing via an Australian apprenticeship
Prescribed units for this class
BPC apprentice registration exam for this class (typically completed in the final year of your apprenticeship).
You will need to apply via the non-apprentice pathway if you:
Did not complete your Certificate III.
Completed the Certificate III, but not as an apprenticeship.
Completed plumbing training (including an apprenticeship) in another country.
Graduated but not yet successfully completed your BPC apprentice exam?
You may apply for provisional registration (PR) – this will allow you to continue to work lawfully for up to 12 months while you are waiting to sit your exam.
Non-apprentice pathway
Title: Non-apprentice pathway
To apply via this pathway, you must meet the following conditions:
Have at least 4 years in the required AoEs
Can interpret and apply the compliance requirements for this class
and
Have a current Construction Induction Card (white or red card)
And have successfully completed either the:
Prescribed units for this class or
Prescribed safety units for this class and can demonstrate the same knowledge and skill as a person who has completed the prescribed units
and
Can provide a Technical Referee Report from a suitably qualified licenced plumber in this class
Plus
Successfully complete the BPC non-apprentice registration exam for this class.
Are you eligible for provisional registration?
Some persons may be eligible for PR. PR allows you to work lawfully for up to 12 months while you are waiting to complete your BPC registration exams.
Mutual recognition
If you hold a current registration or licence in another Australian jurisdiction or New Zealand that the BPC recognises as equivalent to this class, you may be eligible to apply for MR.
Licence
To become licenced in this class, you must meet the following conditions:
Hold (or be eligible) to hold registration in this class.
Have an additional 2 years of practical experience.
Hold the prescribed units for licence in this class.
and
Successfully complete the BPC licence exam for this class.
