The Water Supplies Department held the first certificate presentation ceremony for the Voluntary Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme for Licensed Plumbers on 23 March to commend over 400 licensed plumbers for attaining certain CPD credits under the Scheme last year.
The WSD launched the Voluntary CPD Scheme for Licensed Plumbers through the Advisory Board on Licensing of Plumbers (Advisory Board) in October 2016 to encourage licensed plumbers to pursue CPD to enhance their professional knowledge and skills. Under the Scheme, licensed plumbers can obtain CPD credits by participating in CPD programmes and activities organised by accredited providers or in one-off accredited activities organised by other organisations. Licensed plumbers who have attained certain CPD credits within a year will be awarded a gold, silver or bronze certificate.
Officiating at the ceremony, the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Wong Chung-leung, said that the materials of pipes and fittings as well as the plumbing installation technology kept on changing along with rapid developments in technology. Licensed plumbers should therefore pursue CPD to acquire the latest knowledge and skills. He said he was glad to learn that the Scheme has been well received by licensed plumbers. In its first year of operation, the Scheme was joined by about 850 licensed plumbers and about half of them were awarded gold, silver or bronze certificates. He said he looked forward to seeing the plumbing industry's continued joint efforts towards its professionalisation, which would further enhance public confidence in water safety.
Another officiating guest, the Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Mr Edmund Leung, encouraged licensed plumbers to continue self-improvement and urged plumbing trade associations to continue encouraging their members to participate in CPD programmes and activities. He said the 11 accredited providers under the Scheme had organised nearly 90 CPD programmes and activities for the Scheme in 2016 and 2017. These programmes and activities covered a wide range of areas including legislation, materials of pipes and fittings, plumbing technology and water safety.
Also attending the ceremony were representatives of the 11 accredited providers under the Scheme, members of the Advisory Board and members of the CPD Course Panel under the Advisory Board.
