WHY CHOOSE SKILLS TRADES TRAINING?

We’ve been training tradies for 30+ years – we know what it takes to get you job-ready.

Real tradies teach real skills

Real tradies teach real skills

Learn from people who’ve actually been on the job site – qualified plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers who know what works.

Get stuck into real work

Get stuck into real work

Use the same tools that tradies use every day. This is practical learning, not sitting in lectures. 

Employers want our graduates

Employers want our graduates

Trade businesses know our learners can actually do the work when they start their apprenticeship. 

GET THE SKILLS YOU NEED

GET THE SKILLS YOU NEED

This plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying course gets you working with real tools from week one. Our workshops are set up like real job sites, so you’ll learn by doing the actual work that plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers do every day. 

When you graduate, your qualification will open doors to a stable career with good earning potential, and you’ll be confident and ready to work alongside qualified tradies.

  • Start building the expertise that makes you valuable on any job site
  • Develop problem-solving skills for everything from burst pipes to blocked drains
  • Learn the techniques that only come from working alongside experienced tradies
  • Join a trade where your skills will always be needed

About this PGD pre-trade course

This NZQA-approved Level 3 certificate is your pathway into plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying. Over 20-22 weeks of full-time study, you’ll complete 70 credits across five core modules that cover everything from safety procedures to system installations.

You’ll graduate with a nationally recognised qualification that employers trust. Study at our Auckland, Christchurch or Dunedin campuses with additional online learning elements to support your workshop training. 

Course content

Essential Safety Skills for Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying – 18 Credits: Learn the safety procedures and protective equipment that keep you safe.

Patterns, Tools, and Regulatory Ethical Considerations – 14 Credits: Learn to use professional tools properly and understand the rules that govern quality trade work.

Introduction to Drainlaying – 11 Credits: Get practical experience with drainage systems, pipe laying techniques and stormwater management.

Introduction to Plumbing – 23 Credits: Learn core plumbing skills including water supply systems, pipe installation and connection techniques. 

Introduction to Gasfitting – 4 Credits: Learn gas safety fundamentals and basic principles of safe gas installations.

Key information

No prerequisites required. If you’re ready to learn real skills, you can start here.

Duration: 20-22 weeks

Cost: $5,126 incl GST

Credits: 70

Intake dates: February and July 2026

Campuses running this course:

Enquire about this course

What you can do after this course

  • Work safely on job sites without putting yourself or others at risk
  • Use the tools that tradies rely on every day with confidence
  • Help out with drainage work and understand how stormwater systems work
  • Support experienced plumbers with installations and repairs
  • Work around gas safely and understand basic safety rules
  • Start your apprenticeship knowing you can contribute from day one

We’re New Zealand's leading trades training provider for electrical, plumbing, gasfitting, drainlaying and roofing. Our industry experts prepare the next generation of tradies with skills that work where it matters – on the job site.

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WE KEEP THE WORLD RUNNING

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From power grids to water mains, our graduates maintain the essential infrastructure that keeps New Zealand running every day.