At USD 45,000 per year, the average income of a qualified plumber is much above the national average income. Add to it the fact that if you are interested, you can supplement your income by doing part time jobs. And not only is it a technical job, but it is also a people’s job where you have to interface with a lot of clients face to face. So if you are inclined towards all these attractive points, all these factors can combine to make plumbing one of the most appealing jobs for you. In this article I will give a brief overview of the career path of a professional plumber in the US, as well as mention the best plumbing courses for you.
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Career Roadmap for a Plumber
- The very first step towards a career in plumbing is getting a High School diploma. Some high schools offer vocational courses in plumbing, so if you are interested in plumbing at that time, you can join them right away.
- After finishing High school, you then have to complete a plumbing course from a college. This is the most important part of your career, and what actually makes you a plumber. You still have to get a license, but here is where you start learning about plumbing. I will cover the best courses later in the article. The interesting thing about plumbing is that you can start earning even as a student, with many of them starting at $12 an hour.
- After finishing your plumber’s course, you have to complete an apprenticeship program that may last between 4-5 years. As an example, check out this apprenticeship program from the Chicago chapter of the Plumbing Contractors Association. The apprentice is usually paid by the contractor at the applicable rates during the course of the program.
- The last step is getting a plumber’s license – different states have different rules in this regard, so you have to check with your state laws and regulations, as well as plumbing unions.
Community Colleges Offering Plumbing Courses
Community colleges are your best bet for some of the most affordable plumbing courses in
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the country. One of the best courses is offered by Wake Tech Community College in North Carolina. They have a number of campuses in different cities, so you should check out their site to see which one you prefer. They offer a plumbing diploma program where you have to complete at least 2,000 hours of training in plumbing.
Miami Dade College in Florida too offers an extensive array of courses in plumbing. Different courses will cover different subjects; one course covers soldering and allied techniques, whereas another may cover mathematical concepts used in plumbing.
Correspondence Course from Penn Foster
Penn Foster is the leading correspondence college in the US, and apart from other courses, it also allows you to study plumbing from home. So, if for any reason you are not able to join a live college of your choice, you can still learn plumbing affordably from home. The program will provide you with the tools required to complete the course, including pliers and wrenches. With a fee of USD $898 for the program, it is one of the most affordable programs you can join.
In this article I have covered not just the best community colleges offering plumbing courses, but also covered the roadmap you need to take to become a plumber. I now leave you with the following list of plumbing colleges, as well as a book that will help you pass the plumbing exams. Best of luck!
Plumbing Courses Resources
The definitive list of Colleges offering Plumbing Courses
List of Plumbing colleges, of both online and classroom types
Plumber’s Exam Preparation Guide by Howard C. Massey
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