Plumbers, Gasfitters
and Drainlayers Board
Examination information
Examination information
Tradesman and Certifying examinations
The Board's registration examinations are offered through an online platform delivered by Aspeq.
Examination support
Candidates can get special assessment conditions if they have a disability or difficulty which they believe could impair their performance sitting the Board’s registration examinations.
Interactive Certifying examination module
Get ready for your certifying exam with the Board's new step-by-step module on what you can expect when it comes to sitting your certifying exam.
Go to Certifying examination module
Tradesman examinations
The Boards tradesman registration exams are delivered by Aspeq throughout the year, but advanced bookings are necessary.
Venues and timetables are listed on the ASPEQ website.
How to book your Tradesman exam with Aspeq
- Register with Aspeq: https://pgdb.aspeqexams.com/registration
- Log in to your PGDB trade log in: https://www.pgdb.co.nz/trade-log-in/
- Download your examination eligibility report – You can find this under the exams tab, accessible from the top menu
- Upload your eligibility report onto your Aspeq account
- Once the eligibility has been validated, you will be able to book your examination.
Contact the Aspeq team on (04) 913 9812 or by email at info@aspeq.com if you need help.
Tradesman past examination papers
Past examination papers from 2018 onwards
- Online examinations are generated for each sitting, so no examples are available. Watch a video about the types of questions in online exams.
Past exam papers up until 2017
- The answer papers below were compiled as guidelines for the markers of the corresponding examinations. Alternative answers, when appropriate, were marked on their own merit.
- Legislation, standards and practices mentioned in the answer papers were valid at the time of the appropriate examinations and have not been reviewed against new or updated legislation and/or bibliography.
- These are available for reference only and preparation should be based on up-to-date practices and resources.
- For technical advice and tutoring towards examinations, please contact your local or preferred training provider directly.
Tradesman plumbing questions
Tradesman plumbing answers
Tradesman gasfitting questions
Tradesman gasfitting answers
Tradesman drainlaying questions
Tradesman drainlaying answers
Certifying examinations
The online certifying examinations are computer based and consist of 65 - 70 questions. 75% of the questions will be electronically answered, and 25% will need to be answered on a paper exam sheet.
The exams consist of a range of question types for the computer-based exams, including:
- Multiple choice/single choice (one correct answer from a range of possible answers)
- Inline (select a word/phrase to complete a statement)
- Numerical
- Multi-select (select the number of correct answer options)
The paper-based questions will require the candidate to draw, design or fill in answers on a diagram, much like the current tradesman examination.
The exam lasts for two and a half hours and costs $410.00 (GST inclusive).
Reference materials will be supplied to candidates as a PDF within the exam, if you require hard copies of the codes and standards when sitting your exam, you will need to apply for special conditions prior to booking your exam with Aspeq.
Where can I sit the exam?
The current Aspeq examination centre locations are:
- Every week in; East Tamaki, North Shore, Hamilton, Lower Hutt, Oamaru, and Christchurch
- Every week with limited seats in: Blenheim, Greymouth, and Timaru
- Twice a month in; Tauranga, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Whanganui, Havelock North, Motueka, Blenheim, Dunedin, Wanaka, and Invercargill
- Every three weeks in; Whangārei, New Plymouth, and Gisborne
- By arrangement in some overseas locations.
Can I sit the examination as many times as I need?
Yes. You can book your second attempt as early as the next available sitting. A three month stand down period will be enforced after a failed second attempt.
How can I book?
To book your examination you will need to:
- Register with Aspeq
- Download your examination eligibility report from your trade login and email it to info@aspeq.com
- After receiving confirmation your eligibility report has been loaded, log on to your Aspeq account, book and pay for your examination.
Certifying examinations past papers
Past exam papers 2020 - 2023
We have a limited selection of past exams for you to use as a study resource. This is because some of the older exams may contain outdated content or formats that no longer align with our current exam. Additionally, the format of our examinations has changed, and many of the questions now differ from those in previous years.
In our new format, we will be using a range of question types for the computer-based exams, including:
- Multiple choice/single choice (one correct answer from a range of possible answers)
- Inline (select a word/phrase to complete a statement)
- Numerical
- Multi-select (select the number of correct answer options)
We encourage you to use the available exams as a guide, but also to consult more recent study materials and resources to ensure your exam prep is up to date.
Certifying plumbing questions
Certifying plumbing answers
Certifying gasfitting questions
Certifying gasfitting answers
Certifying drainlaying questions
Certifying drainlaying answers
Examination refresher courses
Trade Lab's online, on-demand refresher courses
By providing a one-stop-shop for anyone sitting their PGDB examinations, Trade Lab’s ultimate goal is to help people feel confident and prepared, so they can pass with flying colours.
Trade Lab offers online refresher courses designed to take you through a logical and sequential series of modules capable of being completed in six weeks (although available for longer).
Trade Lab has helped over 200 plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers pass their examinations, now it's your turn!
Visit courses.tradelab.co for more information.
TTE Plumbing and Drainlaying Education
Up-skill and prepare for Board exams with custom in-house plumbing an drainlaying courses at Auckland based TTE.
Visit TTE | Plumbing and Drainlaying Education for more information.
Certifying examination refresher courses
Certifying plumber courses, April-May 2024 - Auckland - Jim Roskvist
Certifying plumber courses, Sept-Nov 2024 - Auckland - Jim Roskvist
Certifying drainlaying courses, May-June 2024 - Auckland - Jim Roskvist
Certifying drainlaying courses, Oct 2024 - Auckland, Jim Roskvist
Tradesman examination refresher courses
Tradesman drainlaying - Auckland - Jim Roskvist
Gas Training Consultants Ltd
Wellington based and available elsewhere on request.
Gasfitting examination refresher courses
Gasfitting - Gas Training Consultants - Lynn Oxenbridge
Special conditions and examination support
Apply for special conditions for examinations
- Extra time
- Special assistance
- An alternative venue
- Verbal examinations
All applications for special conditions must be approved by Board before booking your examination.
Literacy and numeracy programme
If you struggle with literacy and numeracy, dyslexia; are you challenged by the use of English; or suffer from severe anxiety? You might like to sign up for the Literacy Aotearoa support programme.
Overseas people
If you would like to apply to sit an examination while overseas, please email registration@pgdb.co.nz and request the relevant form.
FAQs
How much does the examination cost?
The Tradesman examination costs $330 and the Certifying examination costs $410.
How many questions are in each examination?
The examination consists of 70 questions with a duration of 2.5 hours.
How can I prepare for my examination?
It is recommended that you do a minimum of 200 hours of study per examination.
There are refresher courses available to candidates preparing to sit the registration examinations.
What does the examination look like?
Aspeq have published a video of what the examinations look like.
Where can I sit an examination?
I struggle with examinations, is there anything available to help me sit and pass my examination?
Special assessment conditions are available if you have a long-term disability/difficulty or a short-term disability (through accident or injury, which you believe will significantly impair your performance in examinations). Information on the special assessment conditions available can be found above these FAQs.
What should I do once I have passed my examination?
Once you have sat and passed your examination, you need to apply for registration as a tradesman. This process is not automatic.
Contact
If you need more help or have an exam question, call us on 0800 743 262 (+64 4 494 2970 from overseas) or email exams@pgdb.co.nz