QLD Plumbing Licence cheat sheet

Queensland plumbing and drainage work must be carried out under a licence issued by the QBCC; the work categories are plumbing, drainage, gas fitting, roofing (stormwater), and fire protection (water).

A plumbing licence authorises sanitary plumbing, water supply, and sanitary drainage work within the scope endorsed on the licence; work outside the endorsed scope requires a separate licence or endorsement.

Nominee requirements: a licensed individual or company must have a nominated supervisor holding the relevant licence class and the required experience for that class.

Individual licence classes progress from provisional/qualifying to journeyperson-level and then contractor-level; the contractor licence is required to contract with the public for plumbing work.

A person must not hold out or advertise as a licensed plumber unless they hold the licence, and a licensee must not allow another person to carry out work under their licence.

Licences are term-based and must be renewed before expiry; practising while suspended or cancelled is an offence under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 (Qld).

Mutual recognition and automatic licensing allow holders of equivalent interstate or New Zealand qualifications to apply, but Queensland-specific requirements (e.g., local regulations) still apply.

Unlicensed plumbing work may attract enforcement action including fines, rectification orders, and disciplinary proceedings; the QBCC maintains a public register of licensees.

Regulated work is plumbing or drainage work that must be carried out by a licensed person and is subject to compliance assessment; notifiable work must be reported to the regulator after completion.

Typical regulated work includes sanitary drainage, sanitary plumbing, water supply, and installation of fixtures connected to a water service or drainage system.

Notifiable work includes certain minor or like-for-like replacements (e.g., replacing a tap or toilet suite) that must be notified to the QBCC within the prescribed period.

Excluded work (not regulated and not notifiable) includes work the homeowner may lawfully do on their own single detached dwelling, and certain irrigation or garden work not connected to a regulated system.

A Form 4 (compliance certificate for notifiable work) or equivalent must be given to the owner and the regulator for notifiable plumbing work; regulated work requires inspection and a compliance certificate.

Notifiable work must be notified within the prescribed timeframe (generally within 10 business days of completion) using the approved form and payment of the notification fee.

Work on a shared or common property system, or work affecting more than one lot, is regulated and requires local government or body corporate involvement as applicable.

Thermostatic mixing valves, backflow prevention devices, and solar hot water installations are regulated and carry specific compliance and notification obligations.

The licensed person in control of the site is responsible for ensuring work complies with the Plumbing and Drainage Act, the Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), and AS/NZS 3500.

Supervision means the nominated supervisor or licensee is accountable for the work of apprentices and unlicensed assistants, including verifying work before it is covered or commissioned.

Testing obligations: drainage must be tested for watertightness (e.g., hydrostatic or air test) before backfilling; water supply must be pressure-tested and flushed before commissioning.

Backflow prevention: hazard ratings determine the required device; testable devices must be tested on installation and at the prescribed intervals by a licensed tester.

Records: keep job records, test results, and compliance certificates for the period required by the regulator; certificates must be issued to the owner on completion.

Work health and safety duties require identifying hazards (e.g., confined spaces, trench collapse, gas), implementing controls, and maintaining safe work method statements for high-risk work.

Rectification of defective work must be carried out by a licensed person; defects identified through audit or complaint can lead to a direction to rectify and disciplinary action.

A contractor licence is required to enter into contracts for plumbing work with consumers; contracting without a licence is an offence and may void or limit enforceability of the contract.

Queensland home building contracts for plumbing work above the prescribed threshold must be in writing, include required disclosures, and provide the statutory cooling-off period.

Statutory warranty/insurance: residential plumbing work may require home warranty insurance for work above the threshold; the contractor must provide a certificate of insurance before starting work.

Progress payments and deposits are regulated; a deposit exceeding the prescribed maximum (generally 10% for domestic building work) is not permitted without specific arrangements.

The contractor must provide a written contract, comply with the Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000 (Qld) requirements, and keep records of variations signed by the owner.

Tax and business obligations: hold an ABN, be registered for GST if turnover exceeds the threshold, maintain public liability insurance, and comply with superannuation and PAYG obligations for employees.

Consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law apply to plumbing services: work must be done with due care and skill, be fit for purpose, and be completed within a reasonable time.

Record-keeping and reporting: retain contracts, certificates, and financial records for at least five years; respond to QBCC requests and comply with audit and disciplinary processes.