Friday 30 November 2012

How To: Become A Plumber

By John Frank


Interested in becoming a professional plumber? While plumbers are often caught in a stereotypical mold created by the media, the are generally intelligent business men who have a lucrative career. Plumbers have to go through rigorous training to go from apprentice to journeyman and finally become a master plumber. Most states require you have at least a high-school diploma to begin your apprenticeship and begin your journey to becoming a master.

So what skills do you need to become a plumber? Generally speaking a plumber has an aptitude for working with numbers, has nimble hands and fingers and is able to work in tight spots. It also helps to have some general business knowledge if you want to be able to understand how to run your own business someday. In addition you need to able to work with other people. You will need to speak with customers on a regular basis and also with other tradesmen who might be working near or alongside you.

The path to master begins with becoming a plumbing apprentice. You can look for a union sponsored program through your state or for a government program intended to create an incentive for learning a trade. These programs combine job training with educational courses. The union sponsored programs often are in high demand and this can often lead to poor acceptance rates and long application times. Do some searching and engage the local union as to what your best opportunities are in the area.

It can be difficult to get accepted into a sponsored program. Thankfully there are alternatives to union-based programs. Look for a trade school or vocational school in your area that offers plumbing certifications. Make sure they are accredited and up-to-date with the state requirements before you enroll. Also try and look for a school with a successful job placement program. This can often take you right into a job someplace as you further your education.

It usually takes about four or five years to complete an apprentice program. Once you've completed the trade test you will become a journeyman plumber. In order to become a master plumber, you may have to have from four to five years of experience as a journeyman plumber. In addition, you will have to take a test. This test might cover topics such as federal state and local plumbing codes, plumbing systems, and more. Each state has different requirements and testing, so make sure that you work with your local licensing agency to find out specifically what you will need to do to get your master plumber's license.




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