Important information for plumbers thinking of migration. I have just completed a waste disposal 2 course at Regency Park TAFE for my contractors licence, and have been told by the head of plumbing that there is going to be a change regarding plumbing licencing, any fully qualified plumber migrating from the UK or any where else will only be given a licence to work under direct supervision of a plumbing worker, this WILL mean you are an apprentice.

They will no longer take into account your qualifications from the UK as you will have to get up to speed with SA regulations as there have been reports from the big companys that new migrants have not been up to scrach.

You will be offered a course but only 2 and a half hours a week and it will take 12 months for a plumbing licence, and upto 2 years for a contractors licence I did argue the fact that many plumbers will not be able to afford to be an apprentice for that amount of time and it was unfair for the goverment to get you to pass a TRA test only to tell you that you have to retrain, believe me i was given an apprentice licence and i ran my own business for 14 years in the UK, but the differance for me was that i took block courses and was given RPL for some qualifications, that now will no longer happen.

For your own sake if you have been told that you can get RPL for any UK qualifications get it in writing from the local TAFE that is the only way the office of consumer affairs will upgrade any licence. hope this helps.