How to become a plumber?

You all like to have a stabilized economy, don’t you? The best option to stabilize your economy is to be employed and become a professional. At present, plumbing has become a quite popular career. Plumbing is a profession that gives you a good income, and you can increase your profits over the course of time with your work experience. Anyway, are you wondering how to become a plumber? In the first place, let us remind you that it is your interest in the profession that you need to have. If you have the passion, your dedication and hard work would eventually make you a successful plumber.  

Perhaps you may have had a keen interest in this field since you were a kid. It sometimes could have been your parental influence or your family background. If anyone from your family is engaged in plumbing, unquestionably you might have had the passion. Even if not, maybe a very little incident that happened in your childhood might have inspired you to engage in this profession. Sometimes, you may have developed your enthusiasm due to its current demand or because of the financial benefits that you can gain.

Nevertheless, your main goal must be to become a qualified plumber. You might have the skills. Yet, the value of your work increases with your qualifications. Hence, you need to follow the most effective procedure in becoming a professional in plumbing. If you follow the best methods, you undoubtedly can get to a very good position in your profession. The main objective of this article is to provide you the correct guidance to become a plumber.  Continue reading and get to know all about it.

Plumber as a professional

It is always vital that we have a good idea of what we are going to do. In other words, awareness of what you do is pretty important. Do you have a clear idea about plumbing? You might or you might not. It doesn’t matter. Let’s get to know about this profession better.

What does a plumber do? Is plumbing just about pipework? No, it’s a vast profession that has a wide area thrust upon it. Installing, repairing, and maintaining water, and gas supplies are major parts of this profession. Further, heating and cooling units, sanitary units of both domestic and commercial buildings are matters that need the concern of a plumber. 

However, there are many other professional skills that you need to have to excel as a plumber. Prior to your work, you need to assess the scenario and design what you must do. You must consider the best options and then choose the most effective one to fulfill your client’s necessity. Perhaps, you must have the ability to interpret a blueprint as well. You will have to provide an estimation for your client afterward. Then begins your work. You will have to install various fixtures. As a plumber, maintenance also becomes one of your jobs. So, you need to have knowledge of diagnosing issues and fixing them. You may have to use some technical apparatus as well. If you feel that you can handle all these, plumbing is one of the most perfect choices you can make to excel as a professional. 

It is a great profession that you can have a good social reputation and considerable pay. But still, you have to know how you should get into the profession in the right way. Continue reading, you can get to know all about that! 

Steps to be a plumber

As you know, you definitely should follow the most effective procedure to become a successful plumber. If not, you will not be able to get qualified properly or you will not be able to make as much money as you wish. So, let’s come to know step by step how you should make your dream of becoming a carpenter a reality. 

1. Graduate from high school or get an equivalent
2. Attend a Vocational School
3. Apply and complete an Apprenticeship
4. Get Journeyman License
5. Become a Master Plumber
6. Keep growing as a professional plumber
7. Run your own company

Now, it’s time we considered each of these steps. Let’s get to each of them in detail. You will be able to have complete knowledge of all the dos and don’ts to become a professional plumber.

1. Graduate from high school or get an equivalent

The first step in the journey of becoming a plumber is to get a high school diploma or an equivalent. This is of course pretty important to obtain specialized training in your career. This mainly shows that you have adequate reading, writing, science, and math competencies to enter the trade. Further, this is basically the fundamental qualification in becoming a plumber. 

It is indeed important that you try your maximum to go to higher grades as it matters when it comes to vocational or trade programs. In most vocational and trade programs, it is needed for you to have good ACT scores. So, putting all your efforts into completing the diploma successfully has value.  

The most vital of all the skills that you must have with regard to this profession is math skills. Most of the time, you will have to use mathematics knowledge to perform various tasks. It might be regarding planning out some work or its execution. If you have the specific knowledge, you can work it out pretty easily without getting into trouble or confusion. 

Through the period that you follow your diploma, you have to develop your decision-making skills as well. Needless to say, you will have to make an important lot of decisions in your job. You will have to make the right choice all the time. 

All the same, at present, you need to have proficiency in science and technology as well as in computing up to a certain extent. Further, if you get the opportunity to attend drafting classes, do not miss that chance. 

2. Attend a Vocational School

This is where you must focus next if you have already completed your diploma. As a matter of fact, your target must be to apply for an apprenticeship. But it is highly recommended to attend a trade or vocational school before applying for it. Attending a trade or vocational school has a lot of advantages for you.

• Helps you overcome the competitiveness of an apprenticeship – As you know, plumbing apprenticeships are immensely competitive. Hence, attending a vocational school would be a help in completing your apprenticeship
• Some apprenticeships require coursework and you can get it from the trade school – As some apprenticeships require coursework, it is important that you go ahead fulfilling this requirement before applying for an apprenticeship. This is another advantage that you can gain from attending a trade school.
• Many schools will help you get your further qualifications – Most of the time, trade schools will match you with a plumbing company or a master plumber offering apprenticeships. This helps you to acquire your qualifications.

Nonetheless, it would take more or less 2 years for you to complete this type of program. There are certain schools that offer you one-year programs as well.

In this phase, you will be able to learn especially about water delivery systems, pipe systems, soldering techniques, and codes and principles related to plumbing. 

Also, you can learn about how you should run your own business as a plumber if you decide to do so in the future. Moreover, you will get the ability to develop your management and budgeting skills specifically.

Where do they offer the best plumbing trade programs?

You might be eager to know about the best universities that you can attend for vocational training programs in plumbing. Get an idea about them.

If you still want to know about more universities that offer you trade programs and about their tuition fees, you can visit the website of the National Center for Education Statistics.

3. Apply and complete an Apprenticeship

After you complete your vocational training, you must apply for an apprenticeship and complete it. Basically, what happens in an apprenticeship program is that you get the physical training that you require to be a plumber. Specifically, in an apprenticeship program, you get the chance to work and master the art of plumbing from an expert or a group of experts. 

However, prior to applying for an apprenticeship program, you will have to pass an aptitude test. In addition, there are certain state requirements that you will have to fulfill such as a valid driving license, or ID, or proof of legal work status. Anyway, this might differ from state to state. 

Mainly, the easiest way of applying for an apprenticeship is through a local plumbers’ union. All the same, you can even contact a licensed master plumber in your area and make a request to take you on an apprenticeship. 

During this stage, you will receive a license that shows you are in training. Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that you can have the freedom to do plumbing on your own. Both the apprentice and the employer might face legal issues like fines and loss of licenses if an apprentice is found working without supervision. 

You might be pretty interested to know if you can earn money during your apprenticeship. Yes, you have the ability to earn about an average of $15 per hour. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you will have to learn your trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship. The salary you will receive also will annually increase. Hence, this is a time that you can practically indulge yourself in fieldwork while learning what you need to. 

4. Get Journeyman License

In fact, the next step of your procedure is to get licensed as a plumber. The initial license you should get is the journeyman license. Once you have gotten it, you don’t have to worry about working on your own. What you have to do in order to become a journeyman plumber is to get through the licensing test. However, the objective of having a test is to judge your training and experience in the field. Afterward, you become a totally independent plumber. You will not have to work under the supervision of a journeyman plumber or master plumber any further. Nonetheless, there are some states where it is only for master plumbers that the license is offered.

As a journeyman plumber, you should have knowledge of local plumbing codes, installation of various fixtures, and other necessary applications. As you are the ones who work independently in the field of plumbing, if there’s any small issue in a domestic water system, you are the ones to get the first call. Further, you will have to work in power plants and commercial settings as well. Thus, the training you get in your apprenticeships is vital for you to excel in your career as a journeyman plumber.

Moreover, you have the freedom to choose the path that you like in plumbing. It is completely up to you to decide whether it is the construction field, maintenance field, or the industrial field that you choose.

As a journeyman plumber, you can earn about $20 – $40 per hour. Unquestionably, you can earn more when you become experienced in your profession. 

Your career doesn’t end here. You can keep growing. You can probably become a master plumber afterward.  

5. Become a Master Plumber

You can never reach satiety in life. Similarly, not even in plumbing can you reach satiety. It is sufficient for you to be a journeyman plumber to call yourself a professional plumber. Yet, why should you stop there when there is a possibility for you to hold the status of a master plumber? 

After about two years of experience as a journeyman plumber, you are capable enough to become a master plumber. You will then have to get through an exam.

It is a requirement that you should have a little more advanced knowledge. You will have to know about local and national plumbing codes thoroughly. Further, you need to have proficiency in the installation and maintenance of advanced plumbing systems. Designing and planning will also be parts of your job as a master plumber. So, you need to have perfect knowledge of plumbing. 

As a master plumber, you must also possess the capability of leading a team as you will have to do so. You are more like an expert in your team. So, you should have the ability to run massive projects and control all other work staff. 

Actually, becoming a master plumber doesn’t mean that you are going for another employment position. It is precisely a professional rank in plumbing. Yet, it makes you special in your professional career. Further, it dignifies you. 

In terms of your income, you can go for an income of approximately $35 – $70 for an hour. Being a master plumber gives you the opportunity to start your own company as well.

So, once you become a journeyman plumber, never think that it is the ultimate position you can get into. Become a master plumber and grow in your profession.

6. Keep growing as a professional plumber

Becoming a master plumber is where you can eventually get to, as a plumber. On the contrary, by making use of your intuitive skills, you can flourish in your career.

What type of skills do you need to excel in your profession? As you may well know, you need to have some mathematical skills from the time you start learning to plumb. Also, you need to have problem-solving skills and logical thinking skills. 

Yet there are some skills that you need to develop once you start working professionally as a plumber. You have to develop your communication skills. Needless to say, you need to understand the expectation of your client clearly. If you don’t, how can you work on your task? So, always try to build up good and effective interpersonal relationships with your clients.

Punctuality is another key factor. Always, you have to make it a point to work on time. It is one way that you can impress your client. Further, just think whether you can expect your staff to be punctual and efficient if you are not punctual. So, undoubtedly, you need to be punctual.

Dedication is yet another. If you are not dedicated, you will not finish off your task. You definitely must have the dedication you need to make maximum use of your time and to perform your tasks much effectively.

Just the same, you must be physically strong and fit. You can never predict the situation that you will have to work in. And you can’t say no to the work you get either. Hence, you must be in good shape all the time. You must have the ability to work at any place that needs your service. 

7. Run your own company

Being a master plumber allows you to start a plumbing company on your own. However, what matters in your journey henceforth is your entrepreneurship qualities. You have grown as a plumber. But you can still earn more money as a businessman.

Firstly, you must have a vision for your company. It allows you to dream big and then to accomplish them. Also, you must have the motivation and passion to persevere till you achieve your goals. 

You must be able to take risks. Make it a point never to miss the chances you get. Missing one chance means you are missing dollars that you can earn. Why give away dollars so easily? So, always take maximum advantage of the chances you get.

Try to be a good manager. There are lots of aspects that you need to manage in the business you run. You have to manage your time, your staff, your tasks, your assets, and all the resources you have. 

Another very important factor is the self-confidence you must possess. If you are not confident about yourself and your business, how can you ever succeed? You must be able to trust your abilities and capabilities. Then only you will be able to make your business successful. 

Always try to come up with creative ideas. Think out of the box and think of new ways that other plumbers haven’t thought of. Try to come up with innovative solutions to solve the job-related problems that you had to face in your plumbing career.

Eventually, you can end up being a millionaire. Yes, a millionaire. Always stay hungry and dream big. But before all that, be a master plumber to start with, if this is the profession that you like.  

Has plumbing got a future?

Whatever you read, you might still be skeptical. You would still have doubts about your future if you choose this profession. As a matter of fact, you need not be paranoid about this. Your future is surely stable if you make the choice to become a plumber. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics points out that the employment of plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. So, you can obviously expect the job opportunities to be really good in times to come. Beyond a doubt, there are lots of construction projects to come. Hence, there will be a lot of good chances for plumbers as well. All you have is to utilize the chances that you get and grow in your profession.

Even now, plumbers make a lot of money. In the future, it would most likely increase. Among most of the trades, plumbing would certainly become one of the most money-making for sure.

Industry Trends of Plumbing

If you plan to be a carpenter, undoubtedly you must be aware of its future trends. While you indulge yourself in the profession, you must also think of how you are going to apply them in your industry. If you do so, you can be well ahead of your competitors in the profession.

Most importantly, you must access your customers online. When local customers search for plumbers online, your online presence would be a key factor. If you have a developed company, never hesitate to have a website. Even if not, try to promote you online through social media platforms. And it would be much beneficial if you could try some online advertising as well.

Another important factor is the positive online reviews you get. You must always try to ask satisfied customers to give you feedback online. It is a major aspect that could improve your demand. New customers will read those reviews and they might be an encouragement for them to choose you.

Currently, many people are interested in solar-powered water-heating solutions. So, if you are running a company, focus more on such items and try to increase the awareness of the public on such matters so that you can have more work.

Regardless of the field, every aspect of the world changes due to the advancement of technologies. So does plumbing. Always try to be the first to adapt to the latest technology. It might be an advantage for you. For instance, you can get used to self-diagnosing pipes as a measure of embracing newer technologies. 

By now, you may have understood that If you identify the future trends of plumbing, it would be so beneficial for you to grow fast in your trade.

Can you be happy as a plumber?

Undoubtedly, plumbing is indeed a very good career choice. Its demand is on the rise and you have a good lot of opportunities awaiting. So, in terms of your financial benefits, you have nothing to worry about. 

Nevertheless, the happiness of what you do depends on how passionate you are about that. So, whatever the field is, if you put your heart and soul into what you do, you can surely become successful.

Eventually, job satisfaction is certainly your happiness. If you work with passion, you can have job satisfaction. So, no doubt you can find happiness in plumbing.

Don’t waste your time! Start-up!

By now, you must be having a pretty good idea about what plumbing is and what you should do to be a plumber. Anyway, the most important factor is your preference. If you have other interests, get to know about them and give a shot. Maybe you feel that you have more passion for some other fields. If so, you must try them out. It might be to be a carpenter or to be an electrician. However, don’t waste your time. But make the right choice. Leave nothing to regret!

So, no doubt you have gotten to know all that you need to know to be a plumber. You know that you shouldn’t stop once you enter the job market as a plumber. Whatever the situation is, you must go ahead. Yes, end up being a millionaire plumber!