The average student loan in New Zealand is over $40,000. Start your career with no student debt holding you back.
EarnLearn provides quality training and wellbeing support to help PGD apprentices succeed both on the job and off the job.
The average student loan in New Zealand is over $40,000. Start your career with no student debt holding you back.
Qualified plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers earn well above the New Zealand average salary, with strong demand for skilled workers across the country.
EarnLearn provides quality training and wellbeing support to help PGD apprentices succeed both on the job and off the job.
Start earning from day one in your apprenticeship without taking on the average $40,000 student debt many others face.
Qualified plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers earn well above the New Zealand average salary, with strong demand for skilled workers across the country.
A real paycheck, skilled mentors, and hands-on work across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying. Here’s what day-to-day looks like in a PGD apprenticeship.
From day one you’re earning while you train. You’ll join a crew, work on real jobs, and your pay steps up as your competencies do.
It’s practical learning with a paycheck—no massive student loan, clear milestones, and support to keep you moving.
Hands-on across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying—rough-ins and fit-offs, pipe runs and pressure testing, fixture installs, gradient checks, trenching and maintenance.
Block courses and online modules build your theory, while your logbook captures evidence so you tick off competencies with confidence.
Earn nationally recognised qualifications and register with PGDB. Build a career in residential, commercial, civil, gas, backflow, or even run your own business.
Strong demand nationwide, transferable skills, and real pathways to leadership and self-employment.
A real paycheck, skilled mentors, and hands-on work across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying. Here’s what day-to-day looks like in a PGD apprenticeship.
From day one you’re earning while you train. You’ll join a crew, work on real jobs, and your pay steps up as your competencies do.
It’s practical learning with a paycheck—no massive student loan, clear milestones, and support to keep you moving.
Hands-on across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying—rough-ins and fit-offs, pipe runs and pressure testing, fixture installs, gradient checks, trenching and maintenance.
Block courses and online modules build your theory, while your logbook captures evidence so you tick off competencies with confidence.
Earn nationally recognised qualifications and register with PGDB. Build a career in residential, commercial, civil, gas, backflow, or even run your own business.
Strong demand nationwide, transferable skills, and real pathways to leadership and self-employment.
Fill out the form and our team will be in touch to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you take the next step in growing your workforce.
Enjoy practical, hands-on work indoors and outdoors. You’ll need problem-solving skills, teamwork, good maths/measurement, and a strong safety mindset. A driver licence and basic fitness help.
Show your interest in plumbing, gasfitting, and/or drainlaying. Highlight relevant school subjects (maths, science, technology), pre-trade study, Site Safe/health & safety, or any practical experience.
Secure a job with a PGD-licensed business. Many apprentices start as a labourer or assistant to learn the ropes, then move into an apprenticeship once they’re work-ready.
You, your employer, and EarnLearn agree your programme: on-the-job learning across PGD tasks, off-job block courses/online modules, and how you’ll record evidence in your logbook.
Apply to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board for the correct trainee limited certificate so you can legally work under supervision, and follow PGDB supervision and compliance rules.
Enjoy practical, hands-on work indoors and outdoors. You’ll need problem-solving skills, teamwork, good maths/measurement, and a strong safety mindset. A driver licence and basic fitness help.
Show your interest in plumbing, gasfitting, and/or drainlaying. Highlight relevant school subjects (maths, science, technology), pre-trade study, Site Safe/health & safety, or any practical experience.
Secure a job with a PGD-licensed business. Many apprentices start as a labourer or assistant to learn the ropes, then move into an apprenticeship once they’re work-ready.
You, your employer, and EarnLearn agree your programme: on-the-job learning across PGD tasks, off-job block courses/online modules, and how you’ll record evidence in your logbook.
Apply to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board for the correct trainee limited certificate so you can legally work under supervision, and follow PGDB supervision and compliance rules.
Enjoy practical, hands-on work indoors and outdoors. You’ll need problem-solving skills, teamwork, good maths/measurement, and a strong safety mindset. A driver licence and basic fitness help.
Show your interest in plumbing, gasfitting, and/or drainlaying. Highlight relevant school subjects (maths, science, technology), pre-trade study, Site Safe/health & safety, or any practical experience.
Secure a job with a PGD-licensed business. Many apprentices start as a labourer or assistant to learn the ropes, then move into an apprenticeship once they’re work-ready.
You, your employer, and EarnLearn agree your programme: on-the-job learning across PGD tasks, off-job block courses/online modules, and how you’ll record evidence in your logbook.
Apply to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board for the correct trainee limited certificate so you can legally work under supervision, and follow PGDB supervision and compliance rules.
Work alongside licensed plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers. Gain skills across pipework, installs, testing, and maintenance while recording evidence of tasks completed.
Attend block courses and online modules that cover the theory behind practical PGD work—everything from hydraulics to gas safety and compliance standards.
Keep your training logbook up to date and complete competency assessments. These track your progress across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying skills.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer every 8 weeks to keep your training moving and support you with any challenges.
Once you’ve completed all requirements, you’ll sit final assessments before applying to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) for registration and a practising licence.
Work alongside licensed plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers. Gain skills across pipework, installs, testing, and maintenance while recording evidence of tasks completed.
Attend block courses and online modules that cover the theory behind practical PGD work—everything from hydraulics to gas safety and compliance standards.
Keep your training logbook up to date and complete competency assessments. These track your progress across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying skills.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer every 8 weeks to keep your training moving and support you with any challenges.
Once you’ve completed all requirements, you’ll sit final assessments before applying to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) for registration and a practising licence.
Work alongside licensed plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers. Gain skills across pipework, installs, testing, and maintenance while recording evidence of tasks completed.
Attend block courses and online modules that cover the theory behind practical PGD work—everything from hydraulics to gas safety and compliance standards.
Keep your training logbook up to date and complete competency assessments. These track your progress across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying skills.
EarnLearn Account Managers check in with you and your employer every 8 weeks to keep your training moving and support you with any challenges.
Once you’ve completed all requirements, you’ll sit final assessments before applying to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) for registration and a practising licence.
Everything you need to know about starting and succeeding in a plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying apprenticeship.
First, get a job with a licensed plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying business. Then you and your employer sign a training agreement with EarnLearn, and we’ll help you register with the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) as a trainee so you can start officially.
Not always. Some apprentices go straight into work and learn on site, while others do a pre-trade course to build confidence and stand out to employers. It’s helpful, but not required.
You’ll learn by doing real PGD work under supervision, record evidence in your logbook, and complete off-job learning (block courses and online modules). Assessments track your progress across plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying skills.
Yes. You earn a wage from day one. Your pay typically increases as you progress and tick off competencies in your apprenticeship.
You’ll have an EarnLearn Account Manager who checks in every 8 weeks, helps plan your training, keeps things on track, and can connect you with learning or wellbeing support if you need it.
Short bursts of off-job learning that cover theory—codes, calculations, gas safety, hydraulics, and compliance. They’re essential for completing your qualification.
Tell your Account Manager early. We can set up extra support, plan catch-ups, and work with your employer so you can get back on track.
Usually 3–4 years. It depends on the work you’re exposed to, your progress through assessments, and any prior experience or study.
Yes. You’ll apply for a PGDB trainee limited certificate. This lets you legally work under supervision while you complete your apprenticeship.
You’ll complete your final (capstone) assessments, then apply to PGDB for registration and a practising licence. That opens the door to more responsibility, higher pay, and pathways into leadership or self-employment.
EarnLearn provides free, specialised learning & wellbeing support services to all apprentices and employers during their apprenticeship.
Our nationwide team of dedicated EarnLearn Account Managers (AM) are your ‘go-to’ for all things related to your or your apprentice’s training. They help coordinate off-job and on-job learning, and can provide support from enrolment through to completion.
We check in on our apprentices every 8 weeks throughout their training to ensure they are supported in all ways.
If you have any questions, give them a call.
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