NSW Gasfitting exam-day guide
NSW Gasfitting · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Current photo identification
Bring the original ID document the provider nominates in your enrolment confirmation (commonly a current passport or driver licence). Photocopies and expired documents are usually refused, and the name must match your enrolment exactly. Confirm the accepted ID types and any secondary ID requirement with the provider.
Enrolment and booking confirmation
Print or download the confirmation showing your candidate number, test time, venue address and any pre-test instructions. Keep a screenshot offline in case mobile reception at the venue is poor.
Trade paperwork and licences
Carry any provisional or trade licences, completed training records or logbook evidence the provider has asked you to present. Bring originals, not just phone images, unless the provider states otherwise.
Personal protective equipment
Steel-capped safety boots, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves are standard for practical gasfitting assessment. Check the provider's PPE list, as some venues also require long sleeves, high-visibility clothing or a hard hat.
Hand tools
Bring the basic hand tools you would normally carry on site, such as spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, a tape measure, a spirit level and marking tools. Confirm whether the venue supplies specialist tooling and whether toolboxes are inspected on entry.
Test instruments
A working gas leak detector or manometer and a multimeter may be expected, depending on the assessment tasks. Confirm which instruments are provided by the venue so you do not carry unnecessary or prohibited equipment.
Calculators and writing materials
Bring a non-programmable calculator, pens and a pencil for any written or calculation components. Check the provider's rules on programmable calculators and loose notes.
Manufacturer instructions and standards awareness
You may be given appliance manuals or extracts during the test, but know where to find installation clearances, flueing requirements and commissioning data. Do not bring annotated copies of standards unless permitted.
Route, parking and arrival plan
Rehearse the trip to the venue and aim to arrive well before the reporting time, allowing for traffic and check-in. Late arrival can mean exclusion, so confirm the reporting time and late-arrival policy with the provider.
Food, water and medication
Practical assessments can run for several hours. Bring water, a snack and any personal medication you may need, subject to the venue's rules on items in the assessment area.
Rest and readiness
Get a normal night's sleep, avoid last-minute cramming of unfamiliar procedures, and plan to work methodically. Fatigue and rushing are common causes of avoidable errors under observation.
Confirm assessment scope and safety briefing
Ask the provider in advance what tasks are assessed, what personal protective equipment is supplied, and how safety breaches are handled. Knowing the scope reduces surprises on the day.
Plan the day
Re-read your training notes on the core practical skills: tightness testing, purging, pressure testing, flueing, ventilation and commissioning. Practise the sequence of a tightness test aloud so the steps are automatic, and check the provider's candidate information for the venue, reporting time and equipment list. Confirm with the provider which instruments and tools are supplied and which you must bring.
Gather every document and item on the checklist into one bag. Check that your ID is current, that your boots and eye protection are in good condition, and that any test instrument is charged or has fresh batteries. Replace worn PPE now rather than the morning of the test.
Do a light review only: key clearances, test pressures, purge volumes and the order of commissioning steps. Pack the bag by the door, lay out work clothing, check the weather and transport plan, and set two alarms. Eat a normal meal and go to bed at your usual time; avoid learning new procedures the night before.
Eat breakfast, arrive at the venue with time to spare, and present your ID and confirmation at check-in. Listen carefully to the safety briefing and ask clarifying questions about anything ambiguous in the task instructions before you begin. Set up your tools and instruments in an organised layout so you are not searching mid-task.
Read each task instruction fully before touching equipment. Work to a consistent method: isolate, test, record, then proceed. Verbalise your safety checks if the assessor expects it, keep your work area tidy, and record readings as you take them rather than from memory. If something goes wrong, stop, make the situation safe and tell the assessor rather than improvising.
Return tools and equipment as instructed, clean your work area, and ask the provider how and when results will be issued. Note any feedback while it is fresh, and confirm whether a re-assessment is available and what the process is.
Rules to check
Bring the original photo identification named in your enrolment confirmation. The name on your ID must match your enrolment, and expired or copied documents are generally not accepted. Confirm the accepted ID types with the provider before the day.
Follow all venue safety directions and the assessor's instructions at all times. Deliberately unsafe work, bypassing safety devices, or working on live gas without authorisation can result in immediate termination of the assessment, regardless of technical accuracy.
Ask permission before leaving the assessment area. Breaks, toilet visits and access to personal items such as phones or notes are controlled by the provider, so confirm the break policy and where your belongings must be stored.
Do not use phones, smart watches or unauthorised reference material in the assessment area. If you need a calculator or reference document, use only what the provider permits and keep it visible on your bench.
Work independently. Do not ask other candidates for help, share readings or discuss tasks during the assessment. If you are unsure about an instruction, ask the assessor, not another candidate.
Scoring is generally based on a combination of practical tasks, safety behaviours, and written or calculation components, with marks awarded for correct procedure as well as final results. Confirm the pass criteria, weighting and any re-assessment rules with the provider.
If you feel unwell, injure yourself or damage equipment, stop and report it immediately. Concealing a fault or a near miss is treated more seriously than the incident itself.
Treat the assessor's directions on housekeeping, isolation and restoration of the work area as part of the assessment. Leaving a task incomplete or a gas supply unrestored can cost marks even if the installation itself is correct.