No. The Level 4 qualifications are only open to someone who is employed as an apprentice by a Plumbing or Roofing company.

PGD apprentices will be issued a limited certificate trainee license by the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board (PGDB). This limited license will indicate your programme of learning.

There is ample onsite parking at our East Tāmaki, Christchurch and Dunedin sites, and plenty of roadside parking at Ōtaki.

ICE was created by industry for industry, and we are the connection between trainees, employers, and the wider industry. Our focus is narrow, we are solely focused on plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying, not a myriad of other courses. ICE has earned the respect and support of industry bodies such as Master Plumbers NZ, ATT, RANZ, and Master Link. Suppliers of tools, materials and products also support ICE with their expertise. Our trainers are experienced, well-rounded people with the necessary qualifications, and they work hard to ensure our trainees learn well. They are the main reason so many ICE trainees successfully progress their apprenticeship training. Our facilities are modern, and we are continually looking to innovate the delivery of training, whether in the classroom, the workshop, the drainage pit, the gas containers. We have even begun developing practical training delivery via Microsoft Hololens augmented reality technology.

It depends on which disciplines you are training for:

• NZC Plumbing – average 3.5 years
• NZC Gasfitting – average 3.5 years
• NZC Drainlaying – average 2 years
• NZC Combined Plumbing & Drainlaying – average 3.5 years
• NZC Combined Plumbing & Gasfitting – average 3.5 years
• NZC Combined Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying – average 4.5 years

You will undertake off-job block courses with ICE, including:

• Health & Safety Training
• Induction block
• Technical training blocks
• Practical assessment blocks

No.

Yes, ICE offers several recognition pathways that may count your prior experience and qualifications toward your new qualification. Explore the options below to find the one that best suits you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Credit Transfer (CT): If you have completed the same unit standard from a qualification awarded by Skills or another New Zealand institution, you may be eligible for a Credit Transfer. Click here to know more about CT.

Cross Credit (CC): If you have completed a similar unit standard from a qualification awarded by Skills or another New Zealand Institution, you may be eligible for Cross Credit. Click here to know more about CC.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): If you have relevant life or work experience, either alone or combined with previous study, you may be eligible for RPL, and therefore be awarded credits towards a new programme. This option is available for applicants with experience or qualifications from both New Zealand and overseas but you must be in NZ to apply. Click here to know more about RPL.

If you’re already registered in plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying and want to add another trade, you have two pathways:

1. For a formal qualification: Apply for RPL towards your new programme of interest. the relevant Level 4 NZ Certificate. Your existing trade registration and experience can contribute to up to 66% of the programme credits. This pathway gives you the NZ Level 4 certificate after completing the qualification and supports your registration application with the PGDB.
2. For registration only: This option is for you who is already registered with the PGDB via the Recommendation for Registration (RFR) process and believe you can get registered for another trade using the same process, without having to complete the qualification.

Contact [email protected] to discuss which pathway best suits your situation.