Although plumbing is a well paid construction field, yet it fails to attract people. The main reason is that the working condition of a plumber is quite backbreaking. The work of a plumber mostly involves installing and repairing gas, it also involves repairing waste and water system for residential, as well as industrial complexes. To become a plumber it is important that you undergo training. The training may be a three or four year degreed course or you can be trained to be a plumber at technical school. You can also get a formal or an informal apprenticeship in order to learn the tricks of the trade.
Whatever be the medium you chose, but one thing is for sure that to be a plumber you have to undergo training, it is not something that you can learn along the way while working, it is absolutely not fair to practice your bad plumbing skills at the expense of your customers. You can stat plumbing only when you are trained and you know what you are doing.
There are seven steps which if followed can lead you to become a plumber.
Step 1:
Complete your high school and take up subjects such as math, shops, science and also vocational courses such as plumbing and blue print reading.
Step 2:
Try and find out about local opportunities, you can seek the help of your guidance counsellor.
Step 3:
You can find out all the current information on plumbing on the internet, search for them.
Step 4:
In case you want to join the local plumber’s union, all you have to do is to apply for a four year apprenticeship; this will give you 2000 hours of training and 216 hours of classroom work. It is a good opportunity to polish your talents but it is important to keep in mind that only one out of every 20 applicants is chosen here.
Step 5:
You can consider attending a trade school, the biggest benefit of attending a trade school is that the school provides job placements for qualified students.
Step 6:
Try and grab any contracts for plumbing, heating or air conditioning. It does not ave to be a big contract, even a small contract where you work at the position of an assistant can give you exposure and on the job training.
Step 7:
Find out about the licensing requirement in your locality.
Other things that you must keep in mind are that you should not consider opting for this profession until you are physically strong and have good stamina.
To try and experience what you are getting in to, it is a good idea to spend a day with the local plumber. You must remember that union members have to pay one time initiation fees and also have monthly dues withdrawn from their pay.
Remember that construction related jobs are temporary in nature where as a service company provides permanent job.

Become a plumber, why not? There has never been a better time to enrol on one of the many plumbing training courses available throughout the UK. There is a general shortage of skilled plumbers in the UK and their skills are in high demand so your earnings potential has never been higher, a fully qualified plumber can earn up to £40,000 per year!

With the availability of purpose built training centres its never been easier to start a course and be on your way to becoming a plumber.

These intensive courses will train you to the level of a fully qualified plumber in as little as 6 weeks, you could actually be working as a self employed plumber when you successfully complete your course, and it does not matter what your previous job experiences are the training instructors will teach you everything you need to start on your new career.

Plumbing courses have little if any entry requirements other than an eagerness to learn your newly chosen career path. The average cost of these courses are between £3000 – £6000 which is a considerable amount but you should consider it an investment in your future and you should easily recoup these costs when you start working as a qualified plumber.

The plumbing courses take you through everything you will need to know to become a fully qualified plumber from the theory of plumbing through to putting what you’ve learned into practise. This process really helps you to quickly absorb what you are being taught, this is the unique way of learning with these intensive plumbing courses.

Plumbing courses are normally Monday to Friday am – 5pm and right from day one you will be learning the jobs that plumbers do day in day out, so when you complete your plumbing training you will be capable of tackling any job that may come your way once your in the workplace.

On successful completion of your plumbing course you will of gained the national recognised City & Guilds(6129) Plumbing Certificate. The next step to becoming fully qualified is to have a practical assessment of the plumbing skills you have learned, this will take place at a place of work by a City & Guilds examiner. If you pass this assessment you will have awarded to you the NVQ Level 2 Plumbing Diploma, you could now consider yourself a fully qualified plumber. (check with your plumbing course provider if they can arrange a place for you to be assessed.)