IOPSA Apprenticeships Contacts List

Table of Contents

About IOPSA

The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is the only plumbing body in the South African Plumbing Industry. Established in 1989 by plumbers, the institute provides a platform so as to advise on the practice and principles of the plumbing industry. It regularly consults and liaises with the plumbing industry, governmental and regulatory bodies, discussing matters that affect the plumbing industry. IOPSA is also often asked to assist or even mediate on pricing. The plumbing industry pricing guideline covers the following topics.

Legislation, regulations and standards

Principles of maintenance rates
Per point installation principles
Bill of quantities principles and exclusions

Principles of preliminaries and general

IOPSA’s major goal is to set and maintain a national plumbing standard in order to ensure that quality plumbing products and installation services prevail to the benefit of both plumbing companies and consumers. The institute has been given the honour of chairing the Standards Generating Body, which represents plumbing training and certification nationwide at Construction CETA – the Construction Education and Training Authority.

IOPSA Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a vocational education and training structured learning and work experience that leads to a registered qualification, the National Qualification Framework (NQF), and consists of a theoretical course, as well as practical training, which is done at the workplace. The programme combines high school curriculum and career and technology training with critical on-the-job training performed at a local business. An apprenticeship programme involves an employer, student and an accredited training centre. Each of these components holds specific responsibilities throughout the apprenticeship. The training centre’s responsibility is to provide quality training and fair, transparent and reliable assessment. The employer’s responsibility is to expose the apprentice to all aspects of the qualification and give the apprentice time off to attend training at the training centre. The apprentice’s responsibility is to complete all the unit standards at the training centre after which the apprentice needs to complete a portfolio of evidence of all the work they have been exposed to in the trade.

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An apprenticeship is offered as a series of training activities in a specific field while earning money simultaneously. This process is covered over a three year period, and at the end of this period the apprentice may apply for a trade test.

The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) determined that to perform in an apprenticeship plumber training programme, all parties involved must follow the terms and procedure as stated below.

Applicants wanting to train under a CETA apprenticeship plumber training programme are required to be employed by a registered plumbing contractor prior to entering into formal plumber training.

A CETA apprenticeship training agreement requires that the apprentice shall attend full time plumber training at a CETA accredited training college for a period of 16 weeks or more, where they will be required to pass 23 unit standards in order to obtain the necessary credits for their qualification.
Apprentices in the programme should note that in top of the practical plumber training, they will be required to complete 24 months of training on site under the supervision of their employer’s qualified plumber, before submitting their practical training credits, and the apprentice’s logbook to the training provider for verification.
The training provider will then forward the apprentice’s completed documents to the CETA together with the employers’ logbook, which shall include all site assessments of the apprentice’s competency levels during the training.

The Construction Education Training Authority will then register the apprenticeship as being complete and issue the apprentice with a National Certificate in Construction Plumbing at NQF Level 4, which certifies that the apprentice can trade as a qualified plumber.

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Specifically, an apprenticeship programme at IOPSA takes up to 3 years of duration which consists of 230 total credits of knowledge and practical modules, a year spent at the workplace, and the programme culminates in a trade test.

Knowledge Modules

To complete the knowledge modules, apprentices are required to complete 100 credits. The training will be carried out at private and public colleges, training centres and schools. A formative assessment is required throughout this process.

Health, Safety, Quality and Legislation
Environment, Energy Efficiency and Ethics

Tools, Equipment, Components and Site Practice
Drawings and Applied Sciences
Theory of Water and Drainage

Surface and Underground Drainage Systems
Sanitary Ware
Hot and Cold Water Systems

Installation and Maintenance Theory for Plumbing Systems
Practical Skill Modules

To complete the practical skill modules, apprentices are required to complete 130 credits. Trainings will also be carried out at private and public colleges, training centres and schools, and a formative assessment is also required throughout this process.

Install, maintain and test surface soil waste and vent systems and sanitary ware appliances
Install, maintain and test underground drainage systems
Install, maintain and test cold and hot water systems

Install, maintain and test rain water systems
Work Experience Modules

To complete the work experience modules, 130 credits must be taken for knowledge modules. Apprentices will spend one year of the apprenticeship programme at the workplace. Throughout this process, they will be managed and monitored by colleges, training providers or schools. A final summative assessment and trade test are required to complete this programme.

Processes and procedures for installation and testing surface soil waste and vent systems and sanitary ware appliances
Processes and procedures for installation and testing underground drainage systems and performing basic building work
Processes and procedures for installation and maintenance of cold and hot water systems

Processes and procedures for installation and maintenance of rain water systems

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Admission Requirements for IOPSA Apprenticeships

In order to be admissible for an apprenticeship, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements.

A South African citizen or permanent resident – certified copy of ID must be attached to the application

Candidates must hold a Grade 11 qualification or an NQF Level 3, with a minimum of 50% in both Mathematics and Science – certified copy academic records must be attached to the application
Currently unemployed and not participating in any other training programme
Candidates must be proficient in English

Candidates must be able to work under pressure
Candidates must be able to work both individually and in teams

How to Apply for IOPSA Apprenticeships

Candidates who have met the aforementioned requirements may apply for the apprenticeship programme through their local Skills Development Provider (training provider). Below is a list of IOPSA’s approved training providers.