Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration:
4 years part time
Delivery mode:
Face to Face
Location: 
Sunshine
Start date:
2 January 2025
Study off-campus:
Available for Apprenticeship.
Contact VU Polytechnic for more information
Application due dates:
Applications for this course are currently being accepted.
Apply

Overview

Get the training and support needed to gain your plumbing qualification with a Certificate III in Plumbing CPC32420 at Victoria University Polytechnic.

This is an apprenticeship course designed for those currently employed as plumbing apprentices. It will provide you with the formal trade certificate you need in order to apply to become a registered plumber. 

Through classroom learning and work-based tasks, you will gain skills and knowledge to complement your on-the-job training. You will learn about:

  • water and sanitary services
  • drainage and blockage clearance
  • plumbing materials 
  • plumbing hand and power tools
  • mechanical services
  • roofing
  • gasfitting
  • welding and pipe fabrication
  • maintaining evaporative air-cooling systems
  • reading plans and specifications
  • workplace safety.

With your employer, you can choose to complete any one or a combination of the four occupational options:

  • General Plumbing
  • General Plumbing – Roofing
  • General Plumbing – Mechanical 
  • General Plumbing – Roofing and Mechanical.

You will graduate with the skills, confidence and experience to be job-ready, able to work in residential, industrial and commercial workplaces in both existing and new constructions.

You will learn in our workplace-simulated workshops, where you will be exposed to all aspects of plumbing. Our workshops have dedicated areas that relate to specific streams of plumbing.

Our training infrastructure includes:

  • oxy/acetylene welding stations throughout the facility
  • 15 arc welding bays
  • 25x10 metre sand pit to allow for real in ground installation of plumbing pipes and fittings
  • backflow and thermostatic mixing valve lab
  • a realistic 6 unit structure, to complete real plumbing fixture installations as you would in the workplace once you’re employed
  • dedicated gas, roofing and mechanical plumbing workshops.

Everything you learn at Victoria University Polytechnic has direct links to the real world. You’ll learn practical skills on special-purpose machinery at our Construction Hub, giving you the chance to test out your theoretical knowledge. Learning with us means you’ll get the hands-on learning to be job-ready when you graduate.

You’ll learn from teachers who have valuable industry contacts and the latest industry-standard skills.  You’ll also develop links with industry and professional experience through:

  • industry projects
  • live work
  • site visits.

Victoria University Polytechnic is a supportive place to study. We have a range of academic support programs that can help you if you're struggling with your studies.

We can help you with your assignments and assessment tasks, maths, writing skills and English language support, as well as showing you effective ways to study and manage your time and preparation. Our study support programs include:

  • workshops and study groups
  • student mentors and peer learning
  • maths and writing resources.

We also have disability support services and counselling services available for all students.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

TAFE resources

Laying the groundwork for a career in the plumbing industry - Transcript

Careers in plumbing

This is a trade qualification for plumbers in residential, industrial and commercial workplaces who are responsible for assembling, installing and maintaining water services, sanitary plumbing and sanitary drainage services in both existing and new constructions.

Occupational titles could include:

  • plumber
  • plumber and drainer.

Nationally recognised training

This course is nationally recognised training.

Course structure

To be awarded the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing, competency in one of the four occupational options must be achieved.

OPTION 1: General Plumbing
To be awarded the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber), a minimum of 58 units are to be completed as follows:
- 43 core units
- 15 elective units, of which:
- 8 units from Group A and
- 4 units from Group B and
- 3 units from Group C
- Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification.

OPTION 2: General Plumbing – Roofing
To be awarded the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber and Roofing), a minimum of 62 units are to be completed as follows:
- 43 core units
- 19 elective units, of which;
- 8 units from Group A and
- 4 units from Group B and
- 3 units from Group C and
- 4 units from Group D
- Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification.

OPTION 3: General Plumbing – Mechanical
To be awarded the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumbing and Mechanical), a minimum of 73 units are to be completed as follows:
- 43 core units
- 30 electives, of which;
- 8 units from Group A and
- 4 units from Group B and
- 3 units from Group C and
- 7 units from Group E and
- 8 units from Group F
- Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course. The units must contribute to the vocational outcomes of the qualification.

OPTION 4: General Plumbing – Roofing and Mechanical
To be awarded the CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing (General Plumber Roofing and Mechanical), a minimum of 77 units are to be completed as follows:
- 43 core units
- 34 electives, of which;
- 8 units from Group A and
- 4 units from Group B and
- 3 units from Group C and
- 4 units from Group D and
- 7 units from Group E and
- 8 units from Group F
- Up to 4 elective units may be replaced by units from any other group or from any relevant nationally endorsed Training Package or accredited course.

Victoria University's delivery structure is designed around Option 4: General Plumbing - Roofing and Mechanical, with the other 3 options embedded in the overall program. This provides students with the opportunity to complete all 4 options within the one program.

Note - Additional units have been included in the course structure, to meet the requirements of the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) Gazette for plumbing registration.

VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).

Core units

Elective units

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

This is a trade qualification for plumbers in residential, industrial and commercial workplaces who are responsible for assembling, installing and maintaining water services, sanitary plumbing and sanitary drainage, gas, roofing and mechanical services in both existing and new constructions.
To be awarded this qualification, competency in one of the four occupational options must be achieved:
-
OPTION 1: General Plumbing
-
OPTION 2: General Plumbing – Roofing
-
OPTION 3: General Plumber – Mechanical
-
OPTION 4: General Plumbing – Roofing and Mechanical
Victoria University's delivery structure is designed around Option 4: General Plumbing - Roofing and Mechanical, with the other 3 options embedded in the overall program. This provides students with the opportunity to complete all 4 options within the one program.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: VET

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

  • government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
  • full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).

Calculate your VET course fees.

Find out more about:

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Skills First (subsidised) indicative fees

The Skills First government contribution in 2024 towards this course is $28,524.65. If eligible, you will pay:

  • Tuition: $6,608.35*
  • Materials: $2,241.15
  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF): maximum per year $175.50**

*A concession rate of 20% of the standard Skills First subsidised tuition fee is available if you are eligible for a concession. Learn more about concessions.

**May be subject to change.

Full-fee place total indicative fees

  • 2024 full-fee place: $33,460.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Apprenticeship applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment
- must be employed as an apprentice
- must have an active Epsilon number prior to commencing the course.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.

Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.

Available start dates:
  • 2 January 2025

Before you apply

Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 31 October 2025 for our next intake which starts on 2 January 2025.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Get help

Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.