Online Vocational Degrees in Plumbing

Actually, the word "plumber" comes from the Latin word for lead, which is what was used to join sewer pipes in ancient Rome. And joining and repairing pipes is fundamental to the plumbing profession. Plumbers are responsible for installing and repairing water pipes, drain pipes, and gas and oil line pipes, as well as the fixtures--toilets, faucets, gas stoves and heaters--that attach to these pipes. They work with pipes made from an array of materials--clay, concrete, plastic, corrugated steel or cast-iron, for example--and join them together with glue, cement, or chemical solvents, or through techniques such as welding or soldering.

Plumbing Training Programs

Career training in plumbing is available through high school vocational programs, technical schools, community colleges, or via online certification or degree programs. Formal career training is a great option if you're looking for a way to enter the industry. It's also an ideal choice if you want to hasten your graduation from apprentice to become a journeyman plumber.

Many plumbers learn their trade through a combination of classroom or online career training and experience on the jobsite as an apprentice. Through classroom or online studies, you can earn a certificate or associate's degree in plumbing technology. As a student in a plumbing certification or degree program, your course load will typically include classes such as blueprint reading, drafting, applied physics and chemistry, safe work practices, and local plumbing codes and regulations.

Plumbing Apprenticeships

A typical plumbing apprenticeship includes four to five years of paid, on-the-job training and covers the gamut of applied skills a plumber will need. Skill include identifying types of pipe, installing plumbing fixtures, and how to join various types of pipes. Apprenticeships are typically sponsored by plumbers unions, contractor or other building trade unions, and building trade groups.

Unions will also typically set standards for designation as a journeyman or master plumber. Although there are no national standards, most states and/or localities require that plumbers be licensed, a process that typically requires you to have two to five years of experience and pass a licensing exam.

Career Opportunities for Plumbers

The job market for plumbers is expected to be very good over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Opportunities for plumbers with welding experience will be particularly good. Although the increase in jobs for plumbers will only be average, the job market will nevertheless be fertile for well-trained plumbers because the number of people entering apprenticeships is not keeping pace with the growth in the number of jobs.

Plumbers are among the best-paid workers in the building trades, earning an average annual salary of $47,350 in 2007 according to the BLS. Many plumbing students may also choose to focus on pipefitting or steamfitting--a subcategory of plumbers and HVAC mechanics who install piping.

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