Home Study Plumbing Course
Plumbing is one of the most stable and in demand of the building trades. At some time or another everyone needs a plumber and demand for plumbing professionals is predicted to grow 10% over the next 6 years. That's good news for anyone considering a career as plumber. However, getting the right education will be your key to success. Our home study plumbing courses can teach you how to how to install, maintain, specify and troubleshoot plumbing fixtures and systems in homes, apartments and a variety of commercial buildings. In addition you could learn how to:
- Interpret construction drawings and specifications.
- Assemble, install, test, and maintain plumbing systems.
- Repair and maintain water heating systems.
- Install and troubleshoot the plumbing for dishwashers and other appliances.
- Start your own plumbing business.
From bathroom rough-ins to ice maker installations, from kitchen renovations to sprinkler repair, from the toilet to waste water treatment plants, plumbers may be needed in almost every corner of society. So if this sounds like a career for you; find out more today by requesting a free no obligation information kit today.
Penn Foster Career School
Plumbers are primarily responsible for repairing and installing sinks, showers and bath tubs, toilets, dishwashers and other major home equipment that carries water. People depend on plumbers to keep their homes and businesses functioning properly, as an overflowing toilet or a shower that doesn't work can be a major inconvenience.
In your role as a plumber, you will first do troubleshooting work to determine the cause of the problem and then go about fixing it. For new installations, you need to be able to read blueprints so you can place the new sink, toilet or other piece of equipment in the correct place. Pipefitters, gasfitters, sprinklerfitters and steamfitters are four additional classifications of plumbers. These plumbers typically work in industrial settings, whereas general plumbers are more frequently dispatched to residential settings.
How Much Education is Required to Become a Plumber?
Since plumbing is such a hands-on profession, most of your learning takes place while in an apprenticeship role with another plumber. Technical and community colleges offer pluming coursework, but there is no specific degree or certificate awarded when you complete your classes. Before you can become a licensed plumber, you need to complete at least 144 hours of classroom training and four to five years of on-the-job training as an apprentice. During your formal plumbing coursework, you can expect to study plumbing codes, interpreting blueprints, chemistry, math, job safety, plumbing tools and working with pipes.
You need to arrange your plumbing apprenticeship through either a union or non-union contractor or through a plumbing company affiliated with a union. In addition to an apprenticeship, you must pass a plumbing certification exam before you can be considered a master plumber. Although each state sets its own requirements, you typically need to have a minimum of two years work experience before you can take the exam. This requirement can be met by your apprenticeship. Plumbers who plan to focus in a specialty area, such as working with gas lines, may need to take additional certification exams depending on state regulations.
What is the Job Outlook and Typical Pay for Plumbers?
All classifications of plumbers are expected to enjoy a career growth rate of 26 percent until at least 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Both residential and commercial new construction has resumed in the wake of the housing market recovery, and along with that comes the need for experienced plumbers to install new equipment. New government regulations that call for better energy efficiency standards and fire sprinkler systems is also behind the demand for skilled plumbers. Sprinklerfitters and pipefitters are expected to be in the highest demand, closely followed by plumbers experienced in construction work.
In 2010, the average annual salary for all classifications of plumbers was $47,000. The top 10 percent of plumbers earn an annual salary of $80,000 a year or higher, while the lowest 10 percent earned around $28,000. These salary figures include plumber apprentices as well as those with several years of experience. During the four to five years that you work as a plumber apprentice, your salary will be up to 50 percent as much as that earned by more experienced plumbers. If you are committed to learning as many unique skills as possible during your apprenticeship years, you can command a higher salary once you are fully certified as a master plumber.