i think you can sit the common exam straight away, but have to wait a year after becoming registered before you can sit the plumbing and or gasfitting exams

Actually I think it is one year from the time you become REGISTERED - not get the results of your registration exam.  And we know that once you get your results you then have to do all the paperwork and save the money to apply for registration, and then wait until the PGD Board meet and decide if you are a fit and proper person etc etc.   You can sit the exam after one year, but have to wait two years post registration to pick up the qualification.  I imagine the reason for this is simply that you gain experience, and that as the Certifying status is proof of an advanced knowledge then it is experience + knowledge that are being rewarded. 

This doesn't mean you can't use the time to study and be ready to hit the exams as soon as the time frame is up.  I think that it is laudable that you are heading towards certifying status, too many of our trainees don't see any further ahead than registration/licensed status which is a great shame. 

In the current environment "certifiers" are going to be like gold dust and that ticket should be worth a great deal in terms of remuneration.  Mind you it'll cost a pretty packet to get it too and to maintain it.  Good luck on your future.

Let me clarify the situation for you fellas.  I have just spent 3.5 years teaching at Unitec and 4 years re-qaulifying in this country having migrated from the UK and i know the rules almost word perfect because i have been a victim of the 'changing rules' and the PGDB since arriving in 2005.

You are not allowed to sit the Craftsman Common Paper until one full year has elapsed since the date of you being 'informed' that you have passed the Registration Exam of your choice

ie. you take the exam in November, are informed you have passed on 31st January by post, therefore you can only take the Common Exam in June of the following year.

It used to be the case that you could take the Common Exam alone in the year that you received confirmation that you had passed the Registration Exam, the idea behind this being that is encouraged you to continue with your professional development, but this changed in 07 when the Board got replaced. 

ie. you take the exam in November, are informed you have passed on 31st January by post, therefore you used to be able to take the Common Exam in November of that year.

I requested confirmation of that change in the form of the correspondence proving that it had occurred and was told that i would have to contact the Registrar with that request and we all know what happens when you contact the Regsitrar - sweet FA. 

Well i contacted the Registrar with a letter and it was totally ignored as have other letters and info i have sent to him.

My experiences with the PGDB have been long and painful and my advice to anyone is never trust any verbal conversation you have with them - ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING!!!!!!!!

Can you provide link

I havent heard about discarding the common ,

I have argued in the past that it should not be a requirement , no other industry that I know of has it ,

Of couse it is desirable for  anyone  seeking to run their own business , to be as savvy as possible about accountancy , but most of us employ accountants and business packages to help run our companies , it is stretching it a bit if the board believe they should control  this as well , I note they do not have any mandate to consider monetary issues in a dispute .   

If any one has any more info on the common paper re being scraped please let us all know as I'm in the same boat as the other guys above and I would hate to gift the PDGB money for nothing

Hello people

I can assure you that the common paper is being scrapped as of next year - dont ask me to tell you how i know i just do - im not being awkward im - i simply do not want to betray a confidence of someone who possibly should not have mentioned it to me in a conversation.

I spent one year swotting for it in 2007 having been told i could sit it and come sep 07 had my cheque sent back to me stating that i wasnt entitled to sit it because the rules had changed over when you could sit it during may of that year.  I was furious and with the publication of the OAG report this is part of a complaint i am laying with the PGDB for being disadvantaged