Knowing how to become a plumber is more than buying a pipe wrench!
Professional plumbing profession can be a very wise career choice these days. Even in a slow economy qualified plumbers are always in demand. The profession has a lot of demand on their training schools and plumbing apprenticeship programs so there can be more competition for this training than there once was. So you must train to be a plumber and be prepared when you apply.
You must also decide on what level of plumbing license you would like to attain. There are different types of licenses that are offered by most states. For example, there is residential plumbing where you would handle the full range of plumbing from new installations to plumbing repairs that are needed in someone’s home. A commercial plumbing license would allow you handle larger projects where you would work in office building, motels, industrial plants and other larger buildings. Some plumbers also prefer to go for their master plumber license which allows them to work on very specialized projects, advanced plumbing and do plumbing inspections.
Regardless of which type of plumbing license you wish to get it will take a lot of hard work, study and training before you will become a high paid licensed plumber. You should prepare yourself for the journey before you. There is a reason a plumber can charge what they do, most earn the right just like other professional services you may need.Start preparing yourself as soon as think you want to pursue this profession.
One of the first steps in the process to become eligible for a plumbing apprenticeship is to finish your education. You will not need a college degree but you do need to finished high school and have the ability to pass a written exam given by your state and most exams will require excellent math skills dealing with metrics and geometry.
Many community colleges and technical schools offer plumbing classes and by enrolling in one of these courses it may help you get accepted by a local plumbing company or a local union into their plumbing apprenticeship programs. Most states will require that you have experience in some type of plumbing apprenticeship before they will allow you to take the state exam for your license.
Nearly every state or local government will have different requirements with the plumbing courses you have taken and the total amount of hours you have worked under licensed plumbers before you will be allowed to take their exams for your state license. This license is also required before you do any type of plumbing work on your own and not work under the direct supervision of another licensed plumber.
The basic steps are:
- Finished your education and become efficient at math skills.
- Enroll in a technical school or community college that offers plumbing related studies.
- Contact local plumbing companies or plumbing unions where you can apply to be accepted into their apprenticeship programs. Most do pay you a salary while you learn.
- Record and certify the amount of work hours you have in a plumbing related experience.
- Apply to your state or local government licensing agency to take and pass your exams and get your plumbing license.
Take you new license and be proud of your accomplishment because you now know how to become a plumber. Congratulations.