Last reviewed 10 November 2026.
What does "registered" actually mean for a plumber?
Anyone can say they are registered. The useful question is whether a register says so, and which one. Which register matters depends on the job.
The Plumbing Industry Registration Board (PIRB) keeps one. The City of Cape Town keeps another: its plumber register, for plumbers who have applied with a City plumbing licence or a Plumbing Trade Test Certificate. SAQCC Gas, the South African Qualification and Certification Committee for gas, is appointed by the Department of Employment and Labour to register gas practitioners. It keeps a third register, for gas work.
There's a catch worth knowing. Registered is not the same as licensed. According to PIRB's registration support page, the licensed designation is what allows a plumber to issue a PIRB CoC, and a plumber can be registered without it. That matters if a PIRB CoC is what you need. A sale in Cape Town also involves the City's transfer form, which is a different document. Our guide on the plumbing Certificate of Compliance explains the two.
Don't stop at "are you registered?" For a PIRB CoC, ask "are you registered, and licensed to issue it?"
| The job | The register to check | What you search by |
|---|---|---|
| A plumber who says they are PIRB registered, or can issue a PIRB CoC | PIRB: Verify a Plumber | Name or registration number |
| Finding a listed plumbing company | PIRB: Find a Registered Plumber | The directory on the page |
| A PIRB CoC you were given | PIRB: Verify a COC | The certificate details, as the tool asks |
| The City's transfer form for a sale, or anyone who says they are on the City register | The City's Plumbers Register Contact List | Look the name up in the PDF |
| Gas work | SAQCC Gas practitioner search | Registration number, surname, town, company and more |
How do you check a plumber on the PIRB site?
PIRB has three online tools, each on its own page.
Verify a Plumber says you can verify by name or registration number. It's the one to use first. PIRB's page asks whether the plumber is "PIRB registered and can issue a COC".
Find a Registered Plumber is a directory for finding a listed plumbing company that has at least one registered plumber with trackable credentials.
Verify a COC lets you check whether a Certificate of Compliance you were given was issued by PIRB and has been logged.
The search boxes load inside the page, so the layout may change. If a tool won't load, PIRB's contact details are on its website. Write down the plumber's registration number and the date you checked.
A plumber with a PIRB registration number should be able to give it freely. Ask before the visit, and check before they start work.
How do you check the City of Cape Town's plumber register?
The City publishes a Plumbers Register Contact List as a PDF download on its register page, shown with the date 07/10/2026 on the City's page. It isn't an online search. You open the document and look for the plumber's name or company.
The City says it can't vouch for the information on the list and accepts no liability for fraud or dishonesty connected to it. So treat the register as one check, and use the PIRB tools as another.
The City's notice on registering says a plumber applies with a copy of a City plumbing licence or of a Plumbing Trade Test Certificate, plus ID and business details.
A plumber who says they are on the City register should appear on the list. If they don't, ask them to explain, and check the PIRB tools too.
How do you check a gas practitioner?
Gas work is a separate registration. SAQCC Gas has a Find SAQCC Gas Authorized Practitioner search on its homepage. You can search by province, SAQCC Gas registration number, surname, town and suburb, company, gas name and skill.
SAQCC Gas says practitioner licences show as a digital card in its Electronic CoC app. The card shows the practitioner's photo and details. Ask to see it.
A plumber who is not on the gas register shouldn't do gas work. See our page on gas and solar geysers for the safety basics.
What are the three questions to ask before a plumber starts?
Use these questions to check the registration needed for the job.
- What is your PIRB registration number, and are you licensed to issue a PIRB CoC?
- Are you on the City of Cape Town's plumber register, and can I check the list? (This is the register for the City's transfer form on a sale.)
- For gas work, what is your SAQCC Gas registration number? (Ask to see the digital card.)
Then ask for the quote in writing, and for the certificate or invoice when the job is done. What a plumber costs shows what a written quote should cover.
Warning signs are simple. Refusing to give a number. A number that doesn't match the name on the PIRB tool. Pressure to pay in cash before you've seen the work. If any of those happens, stop and check again.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between a registered and a licensed plumber?
According to PIRB, a plumber can be registered without being licensed. Only the licensed designation can issue a PIRB CoC.
Ask a plumber for both their registration number and their licence status.
How do I check a plumber's PIRB registration?
Use the Verify a Plumber tool on the PIRB website. It lets you search by the plumber's name or registration number.
Verify a COC is a separate tool for checking a certificate you were given.
Is there a list of plumbers registered with the City of Cape Town?
Yes. The City publishes a Plumbers Register Contact List as a PDF download. It isn't an online search, so you look the name up.
The City says it can't vouch for the information on the list.
How do I check someone doing gas work?
Use the Find SAQCC Gas Authorized Practitioner search on the SAQCC Gas website, or ask to see the practitioner's digital card.
Gas work needs a practitioner registered with SAQCC Gas.