Department of Trade, Employment and Training
Engineering Fabrication Trade (Boilermaking)
Apprenticeship
The apprentice will generally work with heavy gauge steel: cutting, shaping, assembling and welding.
Typically, they work for heavy engineering companies involved in the production, fabrication and development of items manufactured from plate materials, generally in steel of varying thickness but can be involved with non-ferrous materials. They may also be employed in the construction industry putting together steel components for major structures - buildings, bridges etc. Another application of the skill could involve the manufacture of cooling towers, pressure vessels, hoppers, mining equipment, excavation buckets, large trailer bodies, smoke stacks, transformer containers, storage bins and large pipe work.
Other work may involve the development and fabrication of structural items such as: building supports, structural beams, gantries, crane carriages and jibs. The apprentice would normally be involved in the use of the following materials: Ibeam, angle iron, Usections, square, oblong or round section and some plastic material.
They would be expected to use specialist measuring equipment, a range of hand tools and work from detailed drawings.
Apprentices would be expected to use the following equipment: MIG, submerged arc, oxy and other welding equipment, oxy/gas cutting equipment (straight line, profile, multihead), rollers, metal forming and shaping machines, marking out tables, friction saws, grinders (hand and pedestal), air arc gouges and a range of portable hand tools. Involvement in this type of work would require an enclosed and well equipped workshop.
The apprentice will construct or repair metal products by joining parts using a variety of welding methods either manually or by machine. These parts are used to complete structures and equipment. Welders may specialize in certain types of welding, such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Typically, they work for heavy engineering companies involved in the production, fabrication and development of items manufactured from plate materials, generally in steel of varying thickness but can be involved with non-ferrous materials. They may also be employed in the construction industry putting together steel components for major structures - buildings, bridges etc. Another application of the skill could involve the manufacture of cooling towers, pressure vessels, hoppers, mining equipment, excavation buckets, large trailer bodies, smoke stacks, transformer containers, storage bins and large pipe work.
Other work may involve the development and fabrication of structural items such as: building supports, structural beams, gantries, crane carriages and jibs. The apprentice would normally be involved in the use of the following materials: Ibeam, angle iron, Usections, square, oblong or round section and some plastic material.
They would be expected to use specialist measuring equipment, a range of hand tools and work from detailed drawings.
Apprentices would be expected to use the following equipment: MIG, submerged arc, oxy and other welding equipment, oxy/gas cutting equipment (straight line, profile, multihead), rollers, metal forming and shaping machines, marking out tables, friction saws, grinders (hand and pedestal), air arc gouges and a range of portable hand tools. Involvement in this type of work would require an enclosed and well equipped workshop.
The apprentice will construct or repair metal products by joining parts using a variety of welding methods either manually or by machine. These parts are used to complete structures and equipment. Welders may specialize in certain types of welding, such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Contract mode
Full Time
Nominal term
48 months
Probation period
90 days
Implementation date
03/04/2023
ANZSCO
Sheetmetal Worker
Qld declaration date
10/03/2023
Duration & probation details
Nominal Term - all apprenticeships have this timeframe on the contract.
Expected Duration - some apprenticeships include this amount of time it's reasonably expected someone could become competent and complete their Apprenticeship.
Apprentice's Training Plans are developed using the Expected Duration timeframe rather than the contract's Nominal Term.
Full-time
Yes
Part-time
Yes
Casual
No
School-based
Yes
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Casual NOT PERMITTED in Queensland
- School-based
The lodgment of a second training contract where one of the training contracts is full-time will be reviewed by the Department to determine if each of the parties to each training contract can meet their obligations. There must be a clear separation between the training and employment requirements for each training contract and must not be replicated through the one occupation only.
Minimum of 15 hours per week over each 4 week period throughout duration of apprenticeship/traineeship.
7.5 hours per week of paid employment. This may be averaged over a 3 month period.
Over the period of a year, the employer must provide at a minimum the equivalent of 375 hours (50 days).
Apprentices/trainees with a disability are entitled to work less than 15 hours per week when averaged over a 4 week cycle. They must be a holder of a disability pension and Pension concession card to be approved.
Apprentices identified as Elite/Professional Sportspersons are entitled to work less than 15 hours per week when averaged over a 4 week cycle. They must be the holder of an Elite Sportsperson Notification that has been endorsed by the authorised sporting body to be approved.
Other requirements for school-based:
School-based requirements
Students not enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12 may be eligible to enter a SAT provided there are exceptional circumstances warranting consideration and all other entry requirements are met, including being of an age where it is legal to undertake paid employment.
Before a student not in years 10, 11 or 12 commences a SAT, a business case supporting the arrangements must be provided to and approved by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).
Delivery of training to school-based apprentices
Limits have been imposed on the amount of institutional training which may be delivered to school-based apprentices, based on the nominal term of a full time training contract. The limit for this apprenticeship in a school-based mode is a maximum of 33.3% of the competencies.
Students not enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12 may be eligible to enter a SAT provided there are exceptional circumstances warranting consideration and all other entry requirements are met, including being of an age where it is legal to undertake paid employment.
Before a student not in years 10, 11 or 12 commences a SAT, a business case supporting the arrangements must be provided to and approved by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).
Delivery of training to school-based apprentices
Limits have been imposed on the amount of institutional training which may be delivered to school-based apprentices, based on the nominal term of a full time training contract. The limit for this apprenticeship in a school-based mode is a maximum of 33.3% of the competencies.
Funded Apprenticeship or Traineeship
Yes
Catalogue item
22850
Delta ID
4082
Priority
1
The Queensland Government funds Skills Assure suppliers (SRTOs) for the provision of services to eligible apprentices and trainees.
For more information, please visit the department's Apprenticeships and Traineeships website.
Full Price - Priority Population Groups
$16,010.00
Queensland Government Contribution - All Other Students including SATs
$0.00
Number of claimable units of competency/modules/points
96
Funding restrictions
N/A
Funding not available for new commencements from
N/A
Minimum education standard
Nil
Minimum entry age
13
The Child Employment Act states that the minimum age for apprentices and trainees is 13 years of age, unless otherwise stated.
Entry requirements
Students not enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12 may be eligible to enter a SAT.
As a general rule, only Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia.
Visa holders may engage in apprenticeships or traineeships provided their work rights allows this, based on information and advice provided by the Australian Government.
As a general rule, only Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia.
Visa holders may engage in apprenticeships or traineeships provided their work rights allows this, based on information and advice provided by the Australian Government.
Supervision requirements
Please refer to the Declaration policy, table 15 for the requirements on supervision.
The holder of a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Structural metal fabrication and erection licence may supervise an apprentice in this calling.
Modified supervision arrangements available: NO
Employers are required to provide, or arrange to provide the facilities, range of work, supervision and training as detailed in the training plan.
Qualified person for apprenticeships
1. A person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act, or
2. A person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling, or
3. An Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument, or
4. A New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling whose occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003, or
5. A person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling, or
6. A person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.
And, where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.
While there is no set ratio required for the number of supervisors to apprentices or trainees it is generally accepted for apprenticeships there is one supervisor to each apprentice, this may be relaxed as an apprentice gains skills and experience or where an apprentice commences with existing skills and experience.
Adequate supervision of apprentices and trainees cannot solely be provided from an offsite location by electronic means. Electronic means include, but are not limited to, telephones, radios and webcams.
The level of supervision will normally range between direct, general and broad as per the below guidelines:
- Direct - Close monitoring of work ensuring understanding and identifying potential risks and/or hazards
- General - Occasional monitoring to ensure progress is occurring
- Broad - Quality checking of completed tasks.
Licensing requirements - NIL
Please refer to the Declaration policy, table 15 for the requirements on supervision.
The holder of a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Structural metal fabrication and erection licence may supervise an apprentice in this calling.
Modified supervision arrangements available: NO
Employers are required to provide, or arrange to provide the facilities, range of work, supervision and training as detailed in the training plan.
Qualified person for apprenticeships
1. A person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act, or
2. A person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling, or
3. An Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument, or
4. A New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling whose occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003, or
5. A person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling, or
6. A person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.
And, where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.
While there is no set ratio required for the number of supervisors to apprentices or trainees it is generally accepted for apprenticeships there is one supervisor to each apprentice, this may be relaxed as an apprentice gains skills and experience or where an apprentice commences with existing skills and experience.
Adequate supervision of apprentices and trainees cannot solely be provided from an offsite location by electronic means. Electronic means include, but are not limited to, telephones, radios and webcams.
The level of supervision will normally range between direct, general and broad as per the below guidelines:
- Direct - Close monitoring of work ensuring understanding and identifying potential risks and/or hazards
- General - Occasional monitoring to ensure progress is occurring
- Broad - Quality checking of completed tasks.
Licensing requirements - NIL
Declaration Policy
This Policy outlines the regulatory requirements for parties involved in the training to ensure that the apprentice or trainee receives quality training as agreed under the training plan.
Norfolk Island Policy
Specific amendments to the Declaration Policy for apprenticeships and Traineeships on Norfolk Island.
School-based Policy
This policy sets out the requirements specific to school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) in Queensland and on Norfolk Island.
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Restricted callings
Restrictions apply to the rights of employers to appoint staff under the age of 18 to certain jobs, or "callings".
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Industrial relations
Industrial relations protect apprentices' rights, ensure fair wages, resolve disputes, and promote safe, supportive workplaces.
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User Choice in Qld
The User Choice program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees.
Last Updated: May 2026