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CPD FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Continuing Professional Development (CPD)When was Competence Based Licensing (CBL) first introduced?CBL was introduced when Parliament gave gasfitters self certification in 2002 (Gas Amendment Regulations 2002). Prior to this, the Board had, since 1993, been auditing the work of gasfitters. The audit results indicated that only 30% of gasfitters were meeting the minimum standards of competency. The continuing high level of audit failures led to the implementation of the CPD programme for registered and craftsman gasfitters on 1 April 2004.How many points do I have to get each licence year?For each licence you must obtain a minimum of 8 technical points for that licensing year. Depending on how many licences you hold, the number of points required will vary. If you have insufficient points at the time of applying for your licence it will not be issued. See the chart below for further details on points.
I am a licensed or certifying gasfitter, how many points do I have to get for the 2010 and 2011 licensing years?Licensed and certifying gasfitters are required to obtain 16 points for both the 2010 and 2011 licensing years. If you hold a licensed or certifying gasfitter licence, your points requirement reduces to 12 for the 2012 licensing year. This means that from 1 April 2011 you only need to obtain 12 points for the 2012 licensing year.If I am a plumber and/or drainlayer, when do I have to get my points by?Plumbers and drainlayers have two years from 1 April 2010 to get their required points for the 2012 licensing year; CPD is not required for plumbers and drainlayers for the 2011 licensing year. CPD courses for plumbing and drainlaying will be available on the Board's website as the courses become accredited.How long do I have after I have received my registration before I am required to obtain CPD points to renew my annual licence?CPD points are obtained in advance. In the year that you receive your registration, there is no CPD requirement. If you pass your examination in August, your CPD points will be used for that licence year, if you pass in January you may use your CPD points for the following licence year.What happens if I obtain more points than I need?As 8 technical points are required each licence year, points carried forward become non technical. A maximum of 4 points can be carried forward to the following licence year.Why do plumbers and drainlayers have to do CPD?The Board implemented competency programmes for plumbers and drainlayers in line with the provisions in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006. These programmes ensure that practitioners are competent through Competency Based Licensing. CPD points are accrued by practitioners undertaking accredited upskilling courses on a regular basis.How do I find out how many points I have?You have two options:
What will happen if I have not obtained the number of points required?A licence will not be issued to you. The Board has discretion under section 51 of the the Act to approve or decline the issuing of a licence on the grounds of non-completion of the required competency programme. You will be required to obtain your points before a licence can be issued to you.I've been a tradesperson for 40 years, why do I have to show my competence?The Board has a statutory duty to ensure licensed and certifying plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers are competent to undertake work. This is to ensure that the public are protected and can be satisfied that the person they engage has the appropriate skills required for the job.I am retired and only do jobs for my close relatives, why do I have to demonstrate my annual competence?The Act does not differentiate between the person who works full time and the person in semi-retirement. If you wish to undertake any plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying work, you must hold a current licence. Work by non-licensed people could result in you not having cover for public liability and may also invalidate their home insurance cover. |
