In the ACT, plumbing plan certifiers must be licensed under the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004.

A plumbing plan certifier is an entity that provides or proposes to provide plumbing plan certification work as a service.

Plumbing plan certification work means anything a certifier appointed under the Water and Sewerage Act 2000 may or must do.

Other plumbing plan certifier licences

Corporation or partnership licence

If a corporation or partnership wants to provide or advertise plumbing plan certification work in the ACT, it will need a licence. For more information, see corporation or partnership licence.

Eligibility

To be a licensed plumbing plan certifier, you need to have one of the following sets of qualifications.

Registration

  • Registration with the Institution of Engineers Australia on the National Professional Engineers Register in the area of practice of 'building services', or holds an ACT (or interstate) Professional Engineer Registration
  • Can demonstrate sufficient knowledge of AS/NZS 3500 – Plumbing and Drainage and the Plumbing Code of Australia to undertake plumbing plan certification
  • Holds a sanitary plumber and advanced sanitary drainer's licence
  • Evidence of satisfactory completion of the Backflow Prevention Course offered by the Canberra Institute of Technology or an equivalent course
  • Has a minimum of three years’ experience as a licensed sanitary plumber or advanced sanitary drainer.

Licences and experience

  • Holds a sanitary plumber and advanced sanitary drainer's licence
  • Evidence of satisfactory completion of the Backflow Prevention Course offered by the Canberra Institute of Technology or an equivalent course
  • Has a minimum of three years’ experience as a licensed sanitary plumber or advanced sanitary drainer.

Insurance

You must provide evidence of insurance coverage before you can be licensed, to cover:

  • indemnity against claims for breach of professional duty as a works assessor
  • a minimum limit of indemnity of $1,000,000 for a single claim
  • a minimum limit of indemnity of $1,000,000 for the total of all claims made against the applicant during the period of cover
  • a minimum limit of indemnity for the costs and expenses of defending or settling a claim of 20% of the limit of the indemnity for the claim (this is in addition to the indemnities mentioned in points two and three).

Interstate licence holders

You may be able to apply for an ACT licence if you’re already licensed in another state or territory. Find out more about mutual recognition.

Applying for a licence

Step 1 – Gather required evidence to support your application

  • Evidence of your registration or licences
  • Evidence of your knowledge or experience
  • Evidence of insurance
  • A criminal history check.

Access Canberra will not accept checks that are more than 6 months old.

Step 2 – Start your application

Note: you can start an online application and save it to return to later. Your application won’t be submitted until the documents are lodged and the fee is paid.

Step 3 – Assessment

Once submitted, your application will be assessed to ensure you meet:

  • Fit and proper person requirements
  • Insurance requirements
  • Registration requirements.

Step 4 – Decision

Once the assessment of your application is complete you will either be offered a licence, or your application will be refused.

Note: you may be offered a licence with conditions restricting the scope of works that can be undertaken under your licence.

If you are offered a licence you will need to pay a licence term fee. Fees are determined by the Fee Determination for the relevant financial year.

Note: It will take up to 7 days for your licence to be published on the public register after your licence term fee is paid, and up to 21 days for a licence card to be printed and sent to you.

Timeframe

The assessment of your application will take at least 4 weeks.

If your application is incomplete, or we need more information or verification, the assessment will take more time. Requests for more information will be sent to you via email.

Assessments of applications will not be fast tracked in any circumstances.

Your responsibilities

As a plumbing plan certifier licensee you are responsible for:

  • complying with your obligations under the legislative framework
  • undertaking work in a proper and skilful way
  • rectifying issues that may arise with the quality of your work
  • understanding the requirements for insurances, contracts and other obligations.

Further information can be found on the licence responsibilities page.