How Long Is Plumbing School? (2023 Analysis)
Becoming a plumber isn’t an overnight task, as it involves various steps for starting out professionally.
Working as a plumber requires specific skills, sufficient training, and certification courses of a few years, as it’s a highly skillful job. Here we’ve covered every detail of plumbing schools and the time required to become a professional plumber.
Plumbers install and repair fittings, pipes, and other units that have gas, water, or any other fluids. It’s much more than just playing around with pipes and drains. It’s a versatile profession needed everywhere, from schools to offices, buildings, hospitals, etc. And above all, it pays really well.
How Long is Plumbing School?
There are multiple paths you can take to become a skilled plumber. It takes generally 4-5 years to become eligible to work professionally in plumbing. The first path is to apply for a plumbing school, the following measure is to enroll in a plumbing apprenticeship or take short certificate programs. You must pass your state licensing exam to become a licensed plumber.
Is Plumbing School Worth It?
Plumbing is an excellent steady career as it’s always needed, but without proper training, it won’t get you your desired wage. Employers are always looking for plumbing school-educated workers because of their learned skills. Companies prefer already-trained professionals instead of hiring newbies and teaching them basic skills. A good education takes you to good pay and required technical tools skills and experience.
Should you register at a Plumbing trade school?
Yes, registering yourself at a trade school opens numerous opportunities for you. The school provides you with all the fundamental education and crafts about plumbing, along with better training in a period of 3-4 years. There are a great many jobs and career opportunities in the field as skilled workers are highly in demand.
Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeships are job-related education programs along with work-based programs and on-site training, all along earning a wage during the process. It lasts about 2-5 years and enables the learners to get skilled in all techniques and take the licensing faster.
Average Plumber Salary by State
Here we’ve laid down the average annual salary a plumber makes across all US major States.
Classifications of Plumbing Contractors & Licenses
A plumbing contractor is either an individual or a company that handles plumbing, renovation, construction, etc. There are a few classifications of plumbers and respective contractors.
- Construction plumbing contractors
- Water supply
- Residential
- Sanitary
- Commercial
- Repair
P-1 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber Exam
P-1 is a master plumbing exam for all contractor licenses, which requires five years of experience in master’s, two years for residential, and four years of a journeyman. The master plumbing exam includes about 80 questions with a 3-hour time limit. The license includes infinite plumbing work.
P-2 Unlimited Journeyperson Plumber Exam
The P-2 are plumber exams necessary to get your plumbing license which covers unlimited plumbing work, such as water supply, gas piping, etc., under the vigil of a master plumber. A four-year experience is required for the test, along with specific test fees. The exam consists of 70 questions and a time limit of approximately 2.5 hours. A minimum of 70% is required to pass both exams.
Journeyperson Plumber Status
A journeyman plumber is a skilled and licensed worker who is trained in all manners of plumbing to work in commercial and residential settings. Journeyman plumbers are hired by numerous companies and pay well. They can train apprenticeship plumbers and later upgrade to master plumbers as well.
Master Plumber Status
Master plumbers are at the highest plumber levels and can open their own plumbing businesses and supervise other plumbers. They are the highest in demand among contractors and companies because of their proficient skills in plumbing. Master plumbers make the highest earnings as per their demands & are mostly hired on large-scale commercial projects.
Plumbing Licensing Fees by State
Here’s how much it’ll cost to get licensed as a plumber as per your state.
where Teacher’s get Paid the most | Annual Average Salary |
---|---|
Washington, DC | $76,455 |
New York | $76,455 |
California | $70,132 |
Virginia | $63,200 |
New Jersey | $63,109 |
Alaska | $62,100 |
Ohio | $60,344 |
Michigan | $57,567 |
New Mexico | $54,357 |
Benefits of Attending a Plumbing Trade School for Apprenticeship
There are numerous benefits of attending a plumbing school, such as,
- Quicker education
- Paid training
- Plumbing skills
- Basic techniques
- Instructions for the next career step
Is it Mandatory to Attend a Plumbing School to Become a Plumber?
No, it is not compulsory to attend a plumbing school to become a plumber. There are several other paths that most plumbers take to start their journeys, such as apprenticeships, short programs, diplomas, or certificates. However, a school education makes you highlighted among other applicants because it teaches you all the basic skills and instructions of plumbing.
Who Should I Contact for a Plumbing License?
We’ve listed below all the governing bodies you should contact to get your plumbing license.
- Texas (Texas state board of plumbing examiners)
- New York (The department of buildings)
- Pennsylvania (The Department of Commonwealth)
- California (Contractors state license board)
- Washington (Washington state plumber certification)
- New Jersey (NewJersey state board of examiners)
- Georgia (Georgia professional licensing board division)
- Illinois (The Illinois department of public health)
- Virginia (Professional and occupational regulation department )
- Michigan (Licensing and regulatory affairs department )
Is Plumbing a promising career?
Yes, plumbing is a good career option, as it will always be in need. There is always demand for skilled plumbers as every building, from schools to offices, hospitals, etc., has piping and drainage systems that require repairing and maintenance from time to time. Moreover, plumbers in almost every state make a good annual salary, which is also predicted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to be increased by 4%.
What should I bring to the plumber exam?
You should remember a few things before taking your plumber exam. The first thing to consider is to arrive at least 10-15 minutes before your exam starting time. The candidates must bring their state code book, water systems handbooks, valid government-issued identification cards, plumbing math books, the fuel gas code of your state, and a few more things. Moreover, your testing agency will further inform you about what items to bring and what not to.
Do plumbers make good money?
Yes, plumbers make more money yearly than many high-paying white-collar jobs because skilled plumbers are in high demand and always needed somewhere. The annual salary varies from state to state, but the average amount plumbers can make in the US is about $50,602 annually.
What type of plumber makes the most money?
The highest-paying plumbing engineers make around $75,000 to $98,000 per year. Plumbing designers earn the 2nd highest wages ($60,000-$84,000). The next are residential and master plumbers making about $50,000 to $78,000 annually.
Plumbing is a diverse field that keeps on growing. Every contractor demands an educated and experienced plumber. It’s a good career option for skillful people who urge to earn a handsome salary annually. And above al it’s skilled labor, so whatever happens to the economy, you’ll always be in demand.