- A community college or vocational school trains you in the basics of plumbing technology. Classroom lectures introduce you to the basics of pipe installation, the interconnectivity of natural gas, electricity and plumbing systems, the most common problems associated with sewer lines, and also structural issues that have an impact on plumbing systems. One of the schools that offers a plumping career course--and subsequent Associate's degree--is WyoTech. See the Resources section for a link.
- Contact a union representative of the United Association of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (a link is placed in the resources section) and locate a plumber in your area who will accept you into an apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship lasts five years and is a prerequisite to joining the union and working as a plumber. Although prior training or a degree in plumbing technology is not needed to enter into an apprenticeship program, they are helpful for being accepted into one of the few open apprenticeship spots.
- Spend five years learning the plumbing trade from the ground up, and you will leave the apprenticeship as a journeyman. You have satisfied the steps for becoming a plumber and are entitled to join the union.
- You now have the opportunity to take the union regulated trade test as well as a state required licensing exam. There is no federal plumber licensing regulation, and each state has its own test. Check with the Contractor's License reference site (a link is in the Resources section) to learn about the licensing body in your state, as well as the costs associated with the exam.
