Image of a construction site laying pipes denoting how to be a pipelayer

The world itself has a lot of professions. And they are different from one another. So, it is basically up to you to decide on how you are going to proceed. Your talent as well as your choice matter in this regard. However, it is up to your choice for the most part. If you have a preference for something over the other, that is exactly what you should choose. In this article, our total focus is on how to be a pipelayer. The profession of a pipelayer would be among your interests when it comes to your ambitions. So, you can read this article and get to know all about it and about how to be a pipelayer.

What do Pipelayers do?

To start with, it is important to know what pipelayers do before getting to know how to be a pipelayer. Well, here is what pipelayers, the professionals of this career with good demand, basically do. 

A pipelayer assembles and connects pipes with the use of specific equipment. A pipelayer is responsible for installing pipe systems for water utilities, sewers, storm drainage, and other forms of infrastructure utilizing ditch-digging tools and equipment. Maintaining pipelines is also part of the job of the pipelayer. Basically, pipelayers can use magnetic and radio indicators in order to locate and install piping systems. 

However, it is not just the professional talent for such a type of job that a pipelayer would need to have. A pipelayer would need to have a basic understanding of hand tools, how to use them, weather conditions, water mines, and so on. So, it is pretty clear that a pipelayer needs to have knowledge of a lot of things in this regard. 

Also, there are lots of other characteristics that a pipelayer needs to have. Let us discuss them within this article. For now, let us move onto how to be a pipelayer.

A Career as a Pipelayer (Jobs for Rebuilding America) Paperback – August 15, 2018

The author of this book is  Amie Jane Leavitt. This book teaches pipelaying enthusiasts how to start up in this exciting and rewarding subset of contracting by showing them how to create a profession from the ground up. This book provides a wonderful look at a trade and profession that is not quite common in vocational training by combining useful industry data, interesting on-the-job pictures, and prospective situations, as well as safety and job-seeking suggestions.

Steps to be a pipelayer

Now, we are going to tell you how to be a pipelayer step by step. First, let us list them out. After that, we can move onto the descriptions. 

  1. Get a high school diploma or an equivalent
  2. Complete an apprenticeship program
  3. Get work experience and advance
  4. Start your own business

Alright. No doubt, you would be curious to know all these in detail. Do not worry. We are going to tell you all that. Here we go!

1. Get a high school diploma or an equivalent

Just like for most other professionals, it is important for a pipelayer to have a high school diploma in the first place. Obtaining industrial-level training in your field is, of course, critical. But getting a high school diploma or an equivalent mostly demonstrates that you have the requisite reading, writing, science, and arithmetic skills to enter the trade. That is why this is one of the most essential requirements for becoming a pipelayer.

By saying an equivalent, we refer to a General Education Development test. This is also enough and it resembles you having a high school diploma. So, either way, what you should have in the first place is a qualification that resembles this standard in general. 

Math abilities are the most important of all the talents you would need to become a pipelayer. Most of the time, you will have to apply your arithmetic skills to complete various jobs and tasks. It might be related to the planning or implementation of a project. If you have the necessary information, you should be able to figure it out without too much difficulty or confusion. But this does not mean that you must be a genius in the subject. Having the basic ability to figure out things is just enough. 

So, this is about completing your high school diploma. Yes, this is how you should initially proceed to be a pipelayer by profession. 

2. Complete an apprenticeship program

The next important step is to complete an apprenticeship program according to our list under ‘how to be a pipelayer.’ You would basically need an apprenticeship program to know your trade. Obviously, it is from this kind of program that you get to know what you should and all that. 

In particular, in an apprenticeship program, you will have the opportunity to work with and learn the art of pipelaying from a group of experts on this. 

During this time, you get a license indicating that you are undergoing training. This does not, however, imply that you have the freedom to perform your own pipelaying work and make money out of it. If an apprentice is caught working without supervision, both the trainee and the employer may face legal consequences such as fines and license revocation. 

So, what types of things would you have to learn during the apprenticeship program? Basically, you will learn how to read blueprints and other schematic drawings, lay and connect pipes, and handle welding torches and other tools during your apprenticeship. Also, you learn plumbing norms and laws, as well as safety standards and procedures, apart from the practical elements of pipelaying.

Yes, this is pretty much in terms of what you would have to learn during the apprenticeship. This is how you must move ahead to be a pipelayer.


How to Start Your Own Apprenticeship Program Paperback – August 3, 2020

You might still be having problems with apprenticeship programs. Although you are now reading on how to be a pipelayer, you might still be having doubts about how you should proceed during your apprenticeship program. In this regard, this would be a very good guidebook for you to utilize that specific period of time effectively. 

The author of this book is Jessica Lewis. Apprenticeships are appropriate for any sector that provides official or informal education through trade, technical, or traditional institutions. And of course, you would be able to get to know a lot of things with regard to how you must proceed as an apprentice and how you must involve in it. 

There are lots of positive and goos feedbacks for this audiobook from its readers. So, we can recommend this audiobook.

3. Get work experience and advance

You may work your way up to being a master plumber. On the contrary, you may advance in your work by utilizing your intuitive abilities. Also, it is with the work experience that you gain you would be able to advance further. 

No doubt, by completing an apprenticeship program, you would get the complete theoretical awareness and knowledge of pipelaying. But that is not sufficient. You need to know how to work in the field. Of course, you would be able to brush up on your technical skills even during your apprenticeship program. However, with time and experience, you would eventually be able to learn a lot. Of course, you would be able to learn a lot more from engaging in your profession for some time than you would be able to learn from completing an apprenticeship program. 

Nonetheless, the fact that we need to stress here is that you can advance further even after becoming a pipelayer. You can possibly advance to a position like a supervisor. Also, you would be eligible for certain managerial positions after you grab some experience together with some learning in terms of management. Of course, it is a person who has actively engaged in a profession of the same sort who would be able to understand how things should be managed. Therefore, you probably have many other advancements even after becoming a pipelayer.

Although we are primarily focusing on how to be a pipelayer, we thought that it would be worth it if we would share what paths you can follow in terms of advancement in your career as a pipelayer. That is why we thought of telling you all this. 

Zen Your Work: Create Your Ideal Work Experience Through Mindful Self-Mastery: Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Alright. Here is how you must get going with regard to getting work experience. If you refer to this audiobook and do as it says, you can become a very successful professional in your career. The author of this is Karlyn Borysenko. And the narrator of this book is Judith Hoag. 

This audiobook explains how to build personal goals that help us to focus our energy and develop metrics of success. And this shows how to use mindfulness practices in a practical way to achieve professional success, build game-changing relationships (even with the most negative individuals in the workplace), reduce stress, and establish a better work-life balance. 

“Very helpful, I’ve already begun incorporating some into my workday”, says one of the happy customers on Amazon. It is not only this, there are many more positive comments and reviews on this product. So, we can recommend purchasing this. This surely would be helpful.

4. Start your own business

Alright. So, we have come to the final phase of our steps. It is starting up your own business. Of course, you should start things by working for a company or so. But after that, you can form your own company, start your own business, and grow.

If you succeed in making your company one of the best companies with regard to pipelaying, you would be able to accumulate a lot of wealth through it. Of course, it is through businesses that people have made the most money when considering the entire world as a whole. 

To begin, you must have a vision for your business. It enables you to dream big and then achieve your goals. You must also have the ambition and enthusiasm to keep going till you attain your objectives.

You must be willing to take chances. Make it a point to never pass up opportunities. If you miss one opportunity, you will lose money that you could have earned. Why is it so easy to give money away? Therefore, always make the most of the opportunities that come your way.

Make an effort to be a good manager. There are several parts of your organization that you must oversee. You must manage your time, your employees, your responsibilities, your assets, and all of your resources.

Another key element to consider is your level of self-assurance. What can you possibly achieve if you are not confident in yourself and your business? You must be able to put your faith in your own ability. Only then will you be able to make your company successful.

Yes, these are some tips that you can consider when starting your business. We hope that they will be useful for you.

Start Your Own Business, 7th Edition: The Only Startup Book You’ll Ever Need: Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Okay. So, it is important to suggest a good book through which you would be able to get a good understanding about starting a business anew. Of course, as we told you, you can start up a business after you gain enough experience as a professional pipelayer. 

In fact, this book is a really good audiobook in this regard. This audiobook is by the Staff of Entrepreneur Media Inc. And we are so sure that this is a must-read for anyone like you. Needless to say, it is the creative entrepreneurs who changed the world. Of course, any professional can turn out to become a good entrepreneur if he or she has a good creative wit and eye. And perhaps, the best entrepreneur in the field of pipelaying might be you. 

So, take a read of this book. You will get to know a lot of things including the strategies that you would need. 

Further, there are so many positive reviews for this publication. Many people have admired the facts in this audiobook. And of course, this audiobook has influenced lots and lots of potential individuals to succeed as entrepreneurs. 

Important Qualities that a Pipelayer needs to have

We comprehensively told you the perfect pathway in terms of how to be a pipelayer previously. But that is not just enough. You possibly need to know the important qualities that you need to have in order to succeed in the profession. Of course, having talent is not sufficient. Having the experience is not sufficient. There are lots of things that matter. And those are the things that we are going to consider now. 

  1. Physical strength
  2. Physical stamina
  3. Time management skills
  4. Communication skills
  5. Detail-oriented
  6. Dexterity

Alright. These are mainly the skills that you need to have in this regard. If you possess these skills in general, there is a good future for your career as a pipelayer. Therefore, if you currently do not have them, do not worry. Try to improve them. That is how you can move ahead to be a successful pipelayer.

1. Physical strength

Physical strength refers to a person’s ability to exert force on physical things. And it appears that physical strength is necessary to work as a pipelayer. The importance of physical strength is of great length. It is clear that you have a significant problem if you cannot even carry the pipes. If that is the case, you won’t be able to work in the field. Hence, it is really necessary to be physically strong enough to work as a pipelayer. 

If you want to be a pipelayer, you would require physical strength, just like everyone else in the construction industry. If you do not think you are that type of person, you would not be able to engage in this profession productively. It is not a simple undertaking to lay pipes. So, before you decide to become a pipelayer, consider whether you are physically strong enough for the job.

If you need to increase your physical strength, the best possible pathway that you can follow up is strength training. With strength training, you would be able to be physically strong enough for occupation of this sort. 

If you are not physically strong enough, you would get tired even after doing a small amount of work. As a pipelayer, there is a lot of work for you to do as a pipelayer. And undoubtedly, physical strength is, therefore, an important factor. 

Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition

This is a book that you can try reading in order to improve your physical strength. If you follow the training procedure this book explains, doubtlessly, you would be able to arrive at really good results. As we told you, it is really important for a pipelayer to be physically strong. And that is why it is important for you to buy this book and follow it. You can improve your physical strength by doing so. Thus, let us take a look at this book.

The author of this book is Mark Rippetoe. Since 1978, he has been in the fitness sector, and since 1984, he has been the proprietor of the Wichita Falls Athletic Club. He earned a Bachelor of Science in geology with a minor in anthropology from Midwestern State University in 1983. In 1985, he was among the first set of people to be certified as a CSCS by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and he was also among the first to legally abandon that certificate in 2009. Rip competed in powerlifting for 10 years and has trained a large number of lifters and athletes, as well as tens of thousands of people who want to improve their strength and performance.

Many people have referred to this book and have become successful. So, we ask you to do so if you hope to be a pipelayer. “This is one of my all-time favorite books, and started me on the path of strength training through compound lifts.”, says one of the happy customers on Amazon, who has worked according to this book.

2. Physical stamina

First, let us look into what physical stamina is. We can define physical stamina as the capacity to maintain a certain physical or mental exertion for a certain amount of time. When it comes to pipelayers, it is the physical exertions that count the most. 

When you work as a pipelayer, you will have to work long hours. If you cannot, pipelaying is not probably a good fit for you. You must pursue a different career path if so. All construction-related vocations, on the other hand, need a high level of physical stamina. That is a must. Otherwise, neither your employer nor you would benefit from your efforts. Hence, do consider physical stamina as an important characteristic that you must have if you need to advance as a pipelayer in your career. 

When it comes to pipelaying, you may have to repeat the same process over and over again. Of course, a pipelayer would have to go on laying pipes for some time at a stretch. It is almost all the same scope of work that you would have to repeat. As a result, if you lack physical stamina, this is going to be a major issue. 

Increasing your stamina allows you to persevere through discomfort or stress while participating in an activity. It also helps to alleviate weariness and weariness. Needless to say, you must try to increase your physical stamina if you hope to go ahead as a pipelayer by profession. 

How to Increase Stamina and Cardiovascular Endurance: An Essential Guide for Enhanced Athletic Performance 

As we told you, it is important to have physical stamina if you are reading this article on how to be a pipelayer and you seriously want to be one. And for that, this is the best book that we can recommend. If you refer to this book and follow its exercises and workouts, you will easily be able to have physical stamina and become a perfect fit for the profession that you like. 

The author of this book is Ashton Temple. He distinguishes between strength and stamina rapidly in his book, so distinguishing this short book from others in its class. It is jam-packed with helpful hints and practices for anybody wishing to significantly improve their body’s endurance. It is predominantly important for anyone who wishes to enter the field of pipelaying. 

This book is in a conversational tone. Yet, it still manages to include a lot of important information for anybody trying to improve their stamina. Running receives the most emphasis, but there is also a decent chapter on endurance workouts. The author has also included advice on appropriate clothing and safety, as well as motivational suggestions.

Most readers of this book have commented on Amazon that this book really helped them improve their stamina. And we suggest that even you should go ahead and buy this and improve your physical stamina. 

3. Time management skills

So, in order to be a pipelayer, you must understand that time management skills also count a lot. If you do not have proper time management skills, you would be at a loss. As a pipelayer, you would initially have to plan out the scope of work that you have been assigned to do. Simultaneously, you would have to sketch out how you are going to spend your work hours for that. Well, this does not actually require very special time management skills as a matter of fact. Yet, it is necessary that you manage your time properly. This, however, is very important for a pipelayer.

Strategies & Tips for Time Management: Secrets to Organizing Yourself and Ending Procrastination: Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

We told you that it is important for you to be sound in time management when you are going ahead in a profession like pipelaying. And that is why we are suggesting you purchase this audiobook and refer to it. 

The author of this book is Jack Barrett. And the narrator of this book is Jack Powell. You will obtain a better knowledge of efficient time management and how it may help you increase your productivity by reading this book. Also, you will learn how to overcome procrastination and master the art of time management. This book seeks to explain why individuals delay and how it affects productivity. In addition, you will learn why delegating chores is such an important time management method.

So, it is really worth it to refer to this audiobook and getting to know how to improve your time management skills. “I truly enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and the techniques are easy to adopt. I recommended for anyone who is seeking a different method for managing their time.” A reader of this book has appreciated this on Amazon. Other than this, many others have also recommended this book on Amazon. Most of them have read this book and started using the strategies this book tells. And they have gained really good results from that. 

4. Communication skills

In fact, a pipelayer must possess very good communication skills as well. By any chance, if you lack communication skills, you would not be able to get what your client needs you to do. Then, you would ultimately end up doing something else other than the original expectation. That does no good for any party. Therefore, make it a point that you improve your communication skills as a precaution to enter construction field professions, especially a profession like this.

Communication skills are even more important when you start up a business on your own. You need to understand the requirements of your clients first hand. Then you can proceed and do the needful accordingly. 

Communication Skills Training: The Ultimate Guide for Public Speaking and Conversation, Persuasion Relationship, Workplace, Interviews: Effective Communication for Business Professional and Nonviolent: Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Here is another audiobook that we can recommend for you. And this is to improve your communication skills. No matter how good you are at work. If you are ineffective in what you converse, you would fail in all aspects. There would be no use of your skills and talents either. 

Developing excellent communication skills is not easy, especially if you do not know where to start when it comes to self-improvement. The development of an efficient communication skill set and the enhancement of current interaction abilities are extremely beneficial stages for everybody. And for workers in the field of construction, they are even more important. That is why pipelayers should definitely enhance their communication skills and abilities first hand. 

Anyone, at any stage of life, may benefit from effective communication skills. Soft talents like these are in high demand for jobs, especially for workers like pipelayers. “Quick read. Extremely informative. The information given is clear, concise, and immediately applicable.” So says on Amazon, one of the happy customers who has read this book and applied its strategies. 

5. Detail-oriented

Alright. Now, you are reading on how to be a pipelayer. As you would know, a pipelayer is a professional who needs to focus on even the slightest aspect during work. Therefore, you basically need to be detail-oriented in all aspects. 

It is especially the smallest details that matter. If you miss out on them, that might adversely affect the entire process of pipelaying ultimately. So, although it is not necessary to highlight being detail-oriented at great length, it is yet pretty important for you as a professional. 

You would not be able to amend your mistakes once you make them on most occasions. As a result, being detail-oriented is unquestionably important if you want to work as a pipelayer.

Improve Attention To Detail: A straightforward system to develop attention to detail in yourself, employees, and across an organization. Paperback – April 17, 2019

As we told you previously, it is of vital importance for a pipelayer to be attentive even to the slightest detail. If you are not there yet, we suggest you read this book by  Chris Denny and understand how to improve attention even to the slightest detail. That is why this is going to be a must-read for all the professionals who are willing to work in the construction field.

This book uses a straightforward manner and progresses swiftly. There is no fluff in this 125-page book. Chris Denny, the author, keeps things moving and stays on track with the content’s goal: to assist you to build and/or improve your attention to detail. The book’s straightforward and clear form is easy to grasp and empathize with, whether you are trying to improve attention to detail in yourself or others. 

This book has got good ratings and reviews in general. For a professional like a pipelayer, reading a book like this would be a great help to improve your ability to give attention to detail. Perhaps, you may be missing your focus on certain things as of now. Notwithstanding, we can never regard it as a problem. You can go through this book. Then, you can try to get the stuff this book says into your life and improve. We are so sure that this book would really be a great helping hand for you in all aspects to make you focus on things that you have not focused on, before.

6. Dexterity

Okay. So, what exactly is dexterity? We are using our hands every day at every moment for a variety of reasons. Dexterity is what lets us use our hands at our commands to perform various tasks. A pipelayer would have to use the hands for pipelaying tasks in the main. And that, of course, is possibly more than any other individual would. So, having dexterity is, therefore, pretty important. 

Jump Rope MASTERY DVD – Jump Rope DVD With Routines, Exercises & Techniques To Improve Fitness, Agility, Cardio & To Tone Body

This DVD is really helpful for you to improve dexterity. As a whole, this is helpful for you to improve your fitness, agility, cardio, and so on. But here in this regard, this is obviously helpful for you to improve your dexterity a lot. So, as you would have figured out by now, this DVD shows you how to improve your dexterity by engaging in jump rope exercises. 

Many customers are basically pretty happy with this product. They say that this helped them to persevere in their dreams in terms of physical fitness. And for you, if your goal is to improve dexterity, this will definitely be a very good helping hand for you. Engage in these jump rope exercises. Refer to this DVD and engage in them accordingly. You would get very good results. We assure.

Conclusion

Throughout this article, we told you how to be a pipelayer. Of course, it is not just that we told you how to be a pipelayer, we told you how to be a successful pipelayer. We told you how you must improve particular characteristics in order to be a pipelayer. And we hope that they were pretty useful for you. Sometimes, you may have an interest in getting to know about the pathways to becoming certain other professionals in the field of construction. Of course, you can read about becoming a plumber, electrician, mason, HVAC technician, ironworker, glazier, solar installer, boilermaker, painter, and so on. Happy and successful pipelaying!