| There are many sources of plumbing training, not all of | | | | reading, drafting basics, applied chemistry and physics, |
| which is classroom. Standard residential or commercial | | | | math, local plumbing codes, plumbing and contracting |
| plumbers, pipe layers, steam fitters and pipe fitters all | | | | safety, and legislated contracting and plumbing |
| vary their training in one or many of a variety of | | | | regulations. |
| methods. Most residential and commercial / industrial | | | | The on-the-job part of the plumbing training includes |
| plumbing training is offered in technical schools or | | | | basic plumbing skills such as learning to recognize the |
| community colleges. This classroom plumbing training is | | | | various types and grades of pipe, using the essential |
| almost always supplemented by on-the-job training. | | | | plumbing tools, and unloading plumbing materials safely. |
| Steam fitters, pipe layers, pipe fitters and plumbers that | | | | As the apprenticeship continues and the apprentice |
| work primarily in commercial settings usually get their | | | | progresses in her or his experience, she can learn how |
| training through very formalized apprenticeship | | | | to work with and install the various pipes, plumbing |
| programs. | | | | fixtures and piping systems. |
| Apprenticeships are generally the best plumbing training | | | | Those who want to apply for apprenticeship plumbing |
| in terms of a comprehensive look at what the job | | | | training have to be a minimum of 18 years old and |
| constitutes. These apprenticeship training programs for | | | | must be in good health. An applicant may have to |
| plumbers and other pipe specialists are administered | | | | have a GED or high school education. Someone who |
| by local labour unions and the companies with which | | | | has military plumbing training is considered a great |
| they are affiliated or by organizations that represent | | | | apprenticeship applicant. In fact, they may be credited |
| non-union contractors. Examples of organizations | | | | for the experience. Other suggested training that can |
| through which one can get plumbing apprenticeship | | | | grease the plumbing apprenticeship application wheels |
| training include the Mechanical Contractors Association | | | | is drafting, general math, reading blueprints, computer |
| of America, the United Association of Journeymen and | | | | skills and physics. |
| Apprentices - part of the Plumbing and Pipefitting | | | | While there is no uniform standard plumbing license, |
| Industry of the U.S. and Canada; The National Fire | | | | most municipal and state governments in the United |
| Sprinkler Association; the National Association of | | | | States require that plumbers acquire a license. Passing |
| Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors; and the | | | | an examination that tests how well they absorbed their |
| Home Builders Institute. The latter is a subsidiary of the | | | | plumbing training and how well they can carry out their |
| National Association of Home Builders. | | | | plumbing tasks is common in many areas. With |
| Apprenticeship plumbing training lasts four to five years | | | | additional training beyond the basic plumbing courses, |
| whether its union or not. Primarily on the job training it | | | | plumbers can go on to become supervisors of other |
| also includes a minimum of 144 annual hours in the | | | | construction and plumbing employees, can go into |
| classroom. The subjects for which the apprentice | | | | business for themselves or find work as a building |
| plumbers receive classroom training include blue print | | | | inspector. |