CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing

VU course code: CPC32420 | Level of study: TAFE

Duration

4 years part time

Delivery mode

Face to Face

Fees

VET

Location

Sunshine

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.

: 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.
: 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 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 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.

This course is nationally recognised training.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’, which lets you finish your course more quickly when you have gained some of the skills required from past study or work experience.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

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.

Units

Fees & Scholarships

TAFE fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer.

Fees

Scholarships

CAREERS

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.

VU Stories

Prize-winning plumber

Certificate III in Plumbing CPC32420, Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services CPC40920

"The resources at VU are excellent and I’ve received so much help from the staff - it’s a great place to study. "

Bryce's story

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Overview

Entry requirements

Entry criteria

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

VU Guaranteed

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

Course Structure

Units

CORE UNITS

Work safely at heights

Carry out interactive workplace communication

Read plans, calculate quantities and mark out materials

Work effectively in the plumbing services sector

Carry out WHS requirements

Handle and store plumbing materials

Use plumbing hand and power tools

Carry out levelling

Cut and join sheet metal

Carry out simple concreting and rendering

Work safely on roofs

Flash penetrations through roofs and walls

Weld polymer pipes using fusion method

Fabricate and install non-ferrous pressure piping

Prepare simple drawings

Install trench support

Locate and clear blockages

Install stormwater and sub-soil drainage systems and drain work site

Install prefabricated inspection openings and inspection chambers

Plan layout and install below ground sanitary drainage systems

Install on-site domestic wastewater treatment plants and disposal systems

Fabricate and install fire hydrant and hose reel systems

Install gas pressure control equipment

Install gas appliance flues

Purge consumer piping

Disconnect and reconnect Type A gas appliances

Calculate and install natural ventilation for Type A gas appliances

Size and install consumer gas piping systems

Install LPG storage of aggregate storage capacity up to 500 litres

Install and commission Type A gas appliances

Plan the layout of a residential sanitary plumbing system and fabricate and install sanitary stacks

Install discharge pipes

Connect and install storage tanks to a domestic water supply

Set out and install water services

Install and commission water heating systems and adjust controls and devices

Install water pumpsets

Install and fit off sanitary fixtures, water services and adjust water service controls

Install backflow prevention devices

Collect and store roof water

Fabricate and install roof drainage systems

Fabricate and install external flashings

Install roof components

Provide First Aid

ELECTIVE UNITS

Group A

Operate elevated work platforms up to 11 metres

Cut using oxy-acetylene equipment

Weld mild steel using oxy-acetylene equipment

Install residential life safety sprinkler systems

Test and maintain fire hydrant and hose reel installations

Design domestic urban irrigation systems

Set out, install and commission irrigation systems

Install and commission domestic irrigation pumps

Install and maintain domestic water treatment equipment

Install property service

Install water pipe systems

Group B

Install LPG systems in caravans, mobile homes and mobile workplaces

Maintain Type A gas appliances

Install LPG storage of aggregate storage capacity exceeding 500 litres and less than 8 kl

Install LPG systems in marine craft

Group C

Install pre-treatment facilities

Install sewerage pumpsets

Enter and work in confined spaces

Group D

Select and install roof sheeting and wall cladding

Receive roofing materials

Install roof coverings to curved roof structures

Install roof sheets, wall cladding and complex flashings