PGDB Certifying Plumbing Exam Refresher Course
I WANT TO PASS MY EXAM
We’re here to make your plumbing exams simpler, faster and way less stressful.
The Trade Lab® plumbing exam refresher course prepares you to sit your PGDB Certifying Plumbing Exam in easy-to-understand modules of easy-to-follow video lessons. We’ve bundled all the info you need into one place, so you don’t have to search through pages and pages of irrelevant content.
Here's a sneak peek into the course
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Big benefits of the Trade Lab® course
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All PGDB information in one place
When we Trade Lab® people sat our plumbing certification exams, just sourcing the info we needed took ages. And that was before we could start revising. To save you that kind of pain, we’ve bundled all the content you need into one easy video course.
Slam-dunk PGDB exam theory
Like you, we loved our apprenticeship – because it was hands-on, outdoors and practical. But it didn’t prepare us to sit plumbing certification exams. While the apprenticeship is an NZQA qualification, the exams are run by the PGDB – and they test the theory! Our exam refresher course makes the theory clear and easy to follow, so you can slam-dunk it on the day.
Tests, codes, standards and regulations … you’ve got this
Everyone’s eyes glaze over hearing things like ‘net positive suction pressure’. It’s hard to remember all the different tests, codes, standards and regs. We’ve simplified things, and only include the parts you actually need to know. By the time you’ve done your revision with Trade Lab®, you’ll be all over this stuff.
Feel motivated and confident for the PGDB exams
You know you’re a good tradie – and good enough to be a certifying plumber. But too many good people sit the exam and fail because they weren’t properly prepared. This is a waste of time and talent, not to mention moneymaking potential. That’s why we started Trade Lab® – to help plumbers like you pass their certification exams, the first time.
Why get your plumbing’s certificate?
When you get your plumbing’s ticket, the sky’s the limit, and great things can happen.
· Become a certifying plumber
· Work on bigger projects
· Have more independence
· Start your own business
· Earn more money
· Take on your own apprentices
After passing his certifying and tradesman exams, Trade Lab® founder Nik McIntosh did a Bachelor of Construction, then landed a job at BECA running the largest hydraulic engineering team in New Zealand. He is also leaned on to provide advice on industry matters and opinions by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB).
Your plumbing’s certificate is the beginning of a rewarding and epic career.
Why Trade Lab®?
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Learn from the experts
The purpose of the plumbing registration exam is to assess your ability to ’design, specify, and install systems’. That’s what we do on a daily basis – nobody is better qualified to show you what you need to know and do to pass.
We will also help you avoid the three common mistakes most people make preparing for the PGDB exams by themselves:
Most people don’t give it enough time
The average successful candidate puts in 200 hours of study to prepare for the exam. It’s worth it.
Most people don’t do a refresher course
The Trade Lab® refresher course is the best way to get all the info you need at the time you most need it.
Most people don’t get proper guidance
We not only help you study for the exam, but we also give you tips and tactics for what to do (and not do) during the exam.
The team here at Trade Lab® hold some prestigious positions within the industry, and we actually practise what we preach. We use the same information you’ll be getting on this course ourselves, every day – designing buildings, specifying products, and providing advice to the PGDB.
I recently completed the certifying gasfitter online course. The course is in-depth, focusing on all the necessary parts of the exam, including the detailed process for pipe sizing, clear definitions, and explanations of things I hadn’t even come across yet. All their information is up to date and updated regularly, and they are happy to help with any questions (I had heaps) in the weeks leading up to the exam. I passed with 88 percent. Since then, I have started my own plumbing and gas company. I highly recommend this online course: it’s easily done at home and in your own time."
— Bryn Jones
What's in the certifying plumbing exam refresher course?
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We will provide you with a structured course to help you pass the PGDB Certifying Plumbing Exam. You can access it wherever you are, whenever you want, on any device.
Let’s take a look at what you will learn in each of the eight modules.
Module 1 – Overview
Before we kick into the theory, we will take you through an overview of things such as how to use the website, how to study and sit exams, and how to navigate codes and standards.
Module 2 – Legislation, Certifiers’ Responsibilities, and Building Integrity
We'll take you through the different legislation you need to know including the building act and clauses of the NZBC and how they fit together as well as maintaining both structural and fire integrity of a building.
Module 3 – Sanitary Drainage
In this module we break down each component of a sanitary drainage system and take you through the process of going from a blank piece of paper to a compliant sanitary drainage system for a house (yes - you do get examined on this).
Module 4 – Sanitary Plumbing
We'll take you through all things sanitary plumbing looking at a range of different aspects that build up a complete and compliant system.
Module 5 – Cold Water Systems and Pipework
We'll take you through the water pipe sizing procedure from start to finish including looking at a few different ways to get to an outcome as well as looking at different ways to supply cold water to a building.
Module 6 – Backflow Prevention and Hot Water Systems
We look at a bunch of different backflow prevention strategies, devices, how they work and the situations they can be used in as well as walking you through a range of different hot water generation systems and how to size them.
Module 7 – Health and Safety
This module covers the Health and Safety at Work Act, WorkSafe NZ and Notifiable Works, and outlines the hazards we face as plumbers and how to manage them safely.
Module 8 – Revision
The all-important revision module! We help you identify areas you need to improve on, how much effort to put into those improvements, and how to move forward quickly and efficiently. We also have great exam tips – what to do on the day and how to maximise your chances of success.
Without the help of Trade Lab®, there is no way I would have achieved the pass marks I did in both my gas and plumbing certifying exams. The way the courses are set out makes them easy to follow and recap if needed. If there are sections you are struggling with, all it takes is an email and help will follow.
If, like me, you were hopeless at school and the thought of more study fills you with dread, then jump on board with Trade Lab® and you'll surprise yourself. I certainly did."
— Jim Simpson
Your instructor
Nik McIntosh - Founder
Hi there! I’m Nik McIntosh, owner and instructor here at Trade Lab®.
I am a certifying plumber and gasfitter and an associate director at Beca. I’m responsible for running the hydraulic engineering discipline across New Zealand and Australia.
I’ve been in the industry since 2005 and in the hydraulic engineering field since 2010. During this time I have also completed a Bachelor of Construction, graduating as a Senior Scholar in 2016.
I’m a firm believer that you and I, as participants in this industry, have the ability to impact its future for the better. And that collectively we can achieve this through collaboration, education, open conversation, and removing the barriers preventing people from getting the best information. I am incredibly passionate about this industry and its impact on the community around us.
Who is this refresher for?
Everyone who is sitting the PGDB Certifying Plumbing Exam.
Who is this refresher NOT for?
People sitting the PGDB Tradesman Plumbing Exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the course start and finish?
The course starts when you purchase it you'll have access for six months. It is a completely self-paced online course, and you can drop back into any subject module as many times as you want, at any time during your studies.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied for whatever reason, reach out to us in the first 14 days and we will give you a full refund.
Can I find this information for free online?
Not really – certainly not easily! We trawled for weeks through heaps of textbooks, official publications, standards docs and legislation so you don’t have to.
What format is the content delivered in?
Mostly video, because it works best. You get video instruction and step-by-step walkthroughs of every major topic. There are some aspects that are text-based, with quizzes all the way through to make sure you’re on track.
Is my credit card secure?
Credit card security is extremely important to us. We have partnered with Stripe to handle the billing and provide a secure socket layer, 128-bit encryption. So feel comfortable knowing your transaction is 100% completely protected from bad guys.
Hear from more of our students
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