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Plumber CV example and template (South Africa)

Most plumbing work in South Africa comes from three places: insurance geyser claims, new building and renovation projects, and maintenance for municipalities, schools, hospitals and property managers. Plumbing contractors want to see straight away whether you are qualified, which PIRB (Plumbing Industry Registration Board) category you are registered in, and whether you can sign a PIRB Certificate of Compliance for the work you do. Insurers and homeowners increasingly refuse to pay for a geyser replacement without that certificate.

The example below is for a licensed plumber with around six years in the trade, mostly on geyser and maintenance work. If you are a plumber's assistant or apprentice, list the jobs you have helped with, your PIRB learner or assistant registration, your CETA or other SETA programme, and your trade test date if it is booked. Many plumbing posts are call-out jobs, so your driver's licence and willingness to do standby are worth putting near the top.

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Plumber CV example

Sizwe Ntuli

PIRB licensed plumber with 6 years of geyser, maintenance and renovation work

073 555 0274 · sizwe.ntuli@example.co.za · Bellville, Western Cape

Profile

PIRB licensed plumber with a trade test certificate and six years of residential and commercial plumbing in Cape Town. Replaced more than 500 geysers for insurance claims to SANS 10254 and issued PIRB Certificates of Compliance for each. Experienced with heat pumps, solar geysers, burst pipes, blocked drains and new bathroom installations. Code B licence and comfortable with after-hours call-outs.

Work experience

Plumber

Northern Suburbs Plumbing and Geysers, Bellville | Mar 2022 – Present

Replace burst geysers for insurance claims and issue a PIRB Certificate of Compliance for every installation
Install heat pumps and solar water heating systems for homes and guest houses
Clear blocked drains with a drain machine and jetter, and inspect sewer lines with a drain camera
Quote on site, complete job cards and send before-and-after photos to claims assessors
Work a weekly standby roster for after-hours burst pipes and geysers

Apprentice Plumber

Coastal Building Maintenance, Cape Town | Jan 2019 – Feb 2022

Completed a plumbing apprenticeship on school, clinic and housing maintenance contracts
Fitted toilets, basins, taps and urinals and repaired leaking water supply lines
Laid uPVC drainage on new low-cost housing projects to the site foreman's levels
Passed the plumbing trade test in January 2022

Education

N2 Plumbing (Engineering Studies)

College of Cape Town TVET, 2018, NQF level 3

Subjects: Mathematics N2, Engineering Science N2, Plumbing Theory N2, Building Drawing N2

National Senior Certificate (Matric)

Kwamfundo Secondary School, 2016, NQF level 4

Subjects: Mathematical Literacy, Physical Sciences, Civil Technology, English First Additional Language, isiXhosa Home Language, Life Orientation

Skills

Geyser installation to SANS 10254
PIRB Certificates of Compliance
Heat pumps and solar water heating
Drain clearing and drain camera inspection
uPVC drainage and sewer pipes
Leak detection and pressure testing
Bathroom and kitchen installations
Insurance job cards and reports

Certificates

Trade Test Certificate, Plumber, Accredited trade test centre, 2022
PIRB Licensed Plumber registration, Plumbing Industry Registration Board, 2023
Heat Pump Installation Training, Manufacturer's training academy, 2024

Achievements

Highest customer rating of the company's six plumbers on the claims company's assessment reports in 2025

Personal details

Driver’s licence:: Code B (Code 8)
Own transport:: Yes
Nationality:: South African
Languages:: isiXhosa (Home language), English (Fluent), Afrikaans (Good)
Notice period:: Two weeks
Availability:: Available for standby and after-hours call-outs

References

Johan Botha

Owner, Northern Suburbs Plumbing and Geysers

021 555 0389

Ayanda Mlambo

Site Supervisor, Coastal Building Maintenance

021 555 0157

Plumber CV summary you can copy

Change the details so they are true for you.

PIRB licensed plumber with a trade test certificate and six years of residential and commercial plumbing in Cape Town. Replaced more than 500 geysers for insurance claims to SANS 10254 and issued PIRB Certificates of Compliance for each. Experienced with heat pumps, solar geysers, burst pipes, blocked drains and new bathroom installations. Code B licence and comfortable with after-hours call-outs.

Skills to list on your Plumber CV

Installing and replacing electric geysers to SANS 10254
Hot and cold water supply in copper, PEX and multilayer pipe to SANS 10252-1
Issuing PIRB Certificates of Compliance for plumbing work
Installing heat pumps and solar water heating systems
Fitting pressure control valves, vacuum breakers, drip trays and safety valves
Clearing blocked drains with rods, drain machines and high-pressure jetters
Laying uPVC drainage and sewer pipes to the correct fall
Finding hidden leaks with pressure tests and moisture meters
Bathroom and kitchen installations, including toilets, basins, showers and sinks
Reading building plans and drainage layouts
Complying with municipal water and sanitation by-laws
Writing job cards and photographing work for insurance assessors

Duties written as strong bullet points

Replaced burst geysers for insurance claims, fitting new drip trays, valves and overflow pipes and issuing a PIRB Certificate of Compliance for each job
Installed and commissioned split and integrated heat pumps to cut clients' water-heating electricity use
Fitted solar water heating systems, including roof collectors, geyser connections and backup elements
Cleared blocked sewer and storm-water drains using a drain machine and high-pressure jetter, and inspected lines with a drain camera
Laid new uPVC drainage for house extensions, getting falls and inspection eyes approved by the municipal building inspector
Found and repaired hidden leaks behind walls and under floors after pressure-testing the water supply
Plumbed complete bathrooms and kitchens on renovation projects from first fix to final fit-off
Photographed every insurance job before and after, and submitted job cards and reports to the claims assessor on the same day

Tips for a stronger Plumber CV

Write your exact PIRB category and number

PIRB registers plumbers in categories from learner and assistant plumber up to licensed and master plumber. Put your category and registration number on your CV, because only certain categories may issue a PIRB Certificate of Compliance and the employer will check it on the PIRB register.

Count your geyser jobs

Insurance work runs on speed and paperwork. A line like "replaced over 500 geysers for insurance claims, all with PIRB CoCs" tells a contractor you understand assessors, job cards and SANS 10254. Mention the insurers or claims companies you worked for if you can.

Add heat pump and solar geyser training

Clients want cheaper hot water, so plumbers who can install heat pumps and solar geysers get more work. List any supplier or manufacturer training and the PIRB specialisation you hold for solar water heating or heat pumps.

Show you can work alone on call-outs

Many plumbing companies send one plumber with a bakkie to each call-out. State your licence code, whether you have worked unsupervised, and whether you can quote on site and collect payment, because that is what the dispatcher needs.

Questions people ask

Do I have to register with PIRB to work as a plumber?

PIRB registration is how the plumbing industry recognises your level, and you need to be registered in a qualifying category, such as licensed plumber, to issue a PIRB Certificate of Compliance. Most serious employers and insurers ask for it, so register as soon as you start in the trade, even as a learner plumber.

What is a PIRB Certificate of Compliance?

It is a certificate a registered plumber issues to confirm that the work, such as a new geyser or a hot water system, was done to the national standards (SANS 10252 and SANS 10254) and the local by-laws. Insurers usually ask for it before they pay a geyser claim.

How do I become a qualified plumber in South Africa?

Do a plumbing apprenticeship or learnership (often through CETA), or a plumbing qualification at a TVET college or accredited provider, get the required workplace experience, and pass the plumbing trade test at INDLELA or another accredited trade test centre. Then register with PIRB in the category your qualification and experience allow.

Which plumbing standards should I mention on my CV?

Mention SANS 10252-1 for water supply in buildings, SANS 10254 for fixed electric geyser installations, and SANS 10400-P for drainage if you have done new drainage work. Naming the standards shows an employer you work to code, not just by habit.

Is there demand for plumbers outside the big cities?

Yes. Mines, municipalities, hospitals, schools and farms in smaller towns need plumbers for maintenance, and there are fewer qualified plumbers there. Say on your CV if you are willing to relocate or work away from home on contracts.