Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying

Recommendation for Registration (RFR)

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Recognition New Zealand is a platform developed by The Skills Organisation to deliver the Recommendation for Registration (RFR) programme for the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying industry.

RFR is an assessment process for people who are not formally qualified in NZ and seek registration with the NZ Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB). You either have overseas qualifications you want recognised here, or you are not formally qualified but have relevant skills and experience you want assessed.

We carry out the assessments on behalf of the PGDB. If successful, we issue you a Letter of Recommendation for Registration in the relevant Category, which you can use towards your registration pathway with the PGDB (note that the PGDB may have further requirements for registration e.g. exams).

Please note that awarding of the qualification is not an outcome of this process.

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There are three different categories:

Category A

Who can Apply?
People with overseas qualifications in plumbing/ gasfitting/ drainlaying.

The RFR process will assess
That your overseas qualification(s) is equivalent to, or greater than the NZ Certificates in Plumbing/ Gasfitting/ Drainlaying (Level 4).

Potential PGDB registration
Tradesman or Certifying. Ensure you have read their guide for overseas-qualified people and understand the pathway to registration before starting this process.

Category B

Who can Apply?
People based in NZ with relevant experience but no formal qualification in plumbing/ gasfitting/ drainlaying (or the qualification is not equivalent to the NZ Level 4 qualification).

The RFR process will assess
That your relevant skills and knowledge cover the same competencies required for the NZ Certificates in Plumbing/ Gasfitting/ Drainlaying (Level 4).

Potential PGDB registration
Tradesman

Category C

Who can Apply?
People based in NZ who are registered and licensed as a Certifying Plumber with the PGDB and have 4 years full-time experience in drainlaying work.

The RFR process will assess
That your relevant skills and knowledge cover the Board’s Certifying Drainlayer competencies.

Potential PGDB registration
Certifying Drainlayer.

 

How it works

If you wish to apply to be Recommended for Registration you will need to do the following:

1. Check your eligibility

Check the entry requirements to see if you are eligible to apply for the recommendation for registration process. You will select Category A, Category B or Category C.

2. Collect your evidence and apply

Collate your evidence as instructed and have this ready to submit.

The types of documents you will submit will vary from person to person, but we recommend going for quality over quantity.  This is one of the most important steps in the process, so it’s worth investing the time to collate quality documentation upfront. Use the Evidence Guide to record the evidence you are providing.

Apply to Skills by completing the online form, uploading your evidence, including the completed evidence guide, and making your online payment.

When your application has been successfully submitted you will receive a confirmation email. Skills will review your evidence and contact you if more evidence is required.

Category C
Once you have uploaded your evidence you will be emailed an assessment paper to complete (PDF form to be completed electronically).  When you have completed this you will return it to Skills.

3. Assessment of your portfolio of evidence
Category A & B
Skills will review your uploaded evidence and contact you if more information is required. If your portfolio of evidence is complete, Skills will allocate this to a registered Plumbing, Gasfitting or Drainlaying assessor who will review your portfolio within 30 days. Your assessor will contact you to discuss your portfolio of evidence.

Category C
A Skills registered Drainlaying Assessor will review your supporting evidence and mark your assessment paper within 30 working days. Your assessor will then contact you to discuss your assessment and authenticate your work. 

4. Competency discussion

As part of the assessment process the assessor will contact you to arrange a time to have a competency discussion.  This is where they will discuss the evidence you have provided and gain insight into your experience, knowledge, and skills.

5. The assessment outcome
Category A & B
If your portfolio of evidence is deemed sufficient to meet the requirements of recommendation for registration, Skills will notify you of a successful outcome. If your portfolio of evidence is not sufficient to meet the requirements for recommendation for registration, Skills will contact you to discuss options for gap filling, and the associated cost.

Category C
If your assessment result and supporting evidence is not sufficient to meet the requirements for recommendation for registration, Skills will contact you to discuss the next steps. If your assessment result and supporting evidence is deemed sufficient to meet the requirements of recommendation for registration, Skills will notify you of a successful outcome.

6. The letter of Recommendation of Registration

Category A & B
If your evidence meets the Tradesman competencies required by the NZ Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB), Skills will issue you with a letter of recommendation for registration which you can then present to the PGDB for eligibility to sit the tradesman exam.

Category C
If your evidence meets the Certifying Drainlayer competencies required by the PGDB, then Skills will issue you with a letter of recommendation for registration which you then submit to the PGDB with the Certifying Drainlayer registration application. This pathway does not require you to sit the PGDB exam.

Ready to apply?

Read through the information below and select the category you best identify with. If you are not sure, you are welcome to contact us: recognition@skills.org.nz

Please note, you can only apply for one trade per application e.g. if you want to be assessed for plumbing and drainlaying, you must make an application for one trade, and then another application for the second trade.

Category A

R

I am based overseas or in New Zealand

R

I hold a formal overseas plumbing / gasfitting / drainlaying qualification that I want recognised in New Zealand

R

I can show evidence of minimum:

  • 4 years’ full-time experience in plumbing/gasfitting, or
  • minimum 2 years’ full-time experience in drainlaying.

Category B

R

I am based in New Zealand

R

I don’t hold a formal plumbing / gasfitting / drainlaying qualification but I can show evidence of minimum 7 years’ full-time experience in the relevant trade.

Category C

R

I am based in New Zealand

R

I am registered as a Certifying Plumber with the PGDB and hold a current Certifying Plumber practising licence.

R

I can show evidence of a minimum of 4 years’ full-time experience in drainlaying work.