Apply for plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer

To be eligible for the NZ experience pathway you need to have:

• NZQA issued National Certificate/NZ Certificate (at Level 4) (1998-present)
• Passed relevant plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam (2005-present)

If you have an older NZ qualification like the Trade Certificate please get in touch with us at registration@pgdb.co.nz for your options.

This option is for people with an overseas qualification that is deemed equivalent to, or greater than the NZ Certificate (Level 4).

To get full registration you must:

1. Complete an assessment of your qualification through Skills (category A);
2. Submit an Eligibility Application to the Board for consideration;
3. Pass the relevant plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam.

What is the assessment conducted by Skills:

To prove that your qualification is at the NZ standard you will need an online-based assessment of your qualifications. This assessment is called a ‘Recommendation for Registration Category A assessment’ and it is conducted by the Skills Organisation.

To be eligible for a Category A assessment you must:

• Hold a formal overseas qualification that you want to be recognised in NZ
• Can show a minimum of 4 years of full-time experience in plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying.

Start your assessment with Skills here.

How do I apply for pre-registration at the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying level?

Once you have successfully completed the Category A assessment you can submit an Eligibility Application for Overseas Tradesperson. Once approved you will then be eligible to apply for a temporary provisional licence for up to 12 months whilst you work towards completing your plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam.

The Eligibility Application for Overseas Tradesperson form can be found here.

Pre Registration Eligibility Application Form Overseas Pathway Flow Chart to Registration Overseas Pathway to Registration Information Guide

This option is for people who are based in NZ with relevant experience but no formal qualification in plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying (or the qualification is not equivalent to the NZ Level 4 qualification).

To get full registration you must:

• Complete an assessment of your qualification through Skills (category B)
• Pass the relevant plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam.

What is the assessment conducted by Skills:

You will need an assessment to assess if you have the same knowledge and skill equal to someone with the National Certificate in Plumbing (level 4). This Recommendation for Registration assessment is conducted by the Skills Organisation.

To be eligible for a Category B assessment you must:

• Be based in NZ
• Not hold a formal qualification (or have a qualification that is not equivalent to the NZ Level 4 qualification) but can show evidence of a minimum of 7 years of full-time experience in New Zealand in the relevant trade.

Start your assessment with Skills here.

How do I sit the plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam?

Once you have completed your Skills assessment you can apply to sit for the plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying exam.

Book your exam here.

What forms and evidence do I need to submit to the Board to get registration?

You will need to submit the following forms when applying for registration:

• Completed application form;
• A Certified copy of your New Zealand or National Certificate (Level 4)
• A Ministry of Justice criminal record check

Email your completed form and required supporting documents as separate PDFs to registration@pgdb.co.nz

You will need to submit the following forms when applying for registration:

• Completed registration application form
• A certified copy of your NZQA-issued certificate
• A Ministry of Justice criminal record check

Email your completed forms and your supporting evidence as separate PDFs to registration@pgdb.co.nz.

Plumber, Gasfitter, Drainlayer Registration Application Form (Fillable) 2025