Plumbing programs by type

Pick the kind of plumbing training that fits your budget and schedule.

• Plumbing programs at colleges and career centersCommunity colleges, technical colleges and career and technical centers teach plumbing in certificate and associate programs, usually in one to two years. Most are public, with in-district tuition well below private trade schools.
• Plumbing trade schools and training centersTrade schools and training centers focus on hands-on plumbing skills in short programs, from a few weeks of pre-apprenticeship classes to certificates that run under a year.
• Plumbing apprenticeship programsA plumbing apprenticeship pays you to learn. You work for a contractor under a licensed plumber and attend classes in the evening, typically for four to five years, and finish as a journey-level plumber.
• Union plumbing training centersUnited Association (UA) locals and their joint apprenticeship committees run some of the largest plumbing apprenticeships. Training is paid for by the union and its contractors, and apprentices earn wages from day one.
• Job Corps plumbing programsJob Corps is a free career training program for ages 16 to 24. Its Plumbing, Pre-Apprentice course prepares students for a registered apprenticeship.