So you want to get a plumbing apprenticeship. How can I be a plumber’s apprentice? This is a question I often get asked. How to get an apprenticeship can be done in different ways. Plumbing is a great industry to get in to especially with the economy the way it is. However plumbing is not just toilets and sinks as some people seem to believe it is. Plumbing can take you in a variety of different paths not just toilets and sinks. Typically plumbers can be paid a good living wage.
How To Find an Apprenticeship
The easiest and fastest way to become a plumber is to obtain an apprenticeship. To find an apprenticeship you just simply print out some resumes and go to every plumbing company around even if there not hiring an apprentice still drop off a resume and ask them to keep it on file for when they are hiring. I always recommend dropping off a resume as opposed to emailing it. Make sure you go to the plumbing shop early, you have a better chance at getting seen by someone in charge, and it will look good on you that you can get up before the crack of noon. Make sure to include in your resumé any plumbing knowledge that you may have that could help you in getting an apprenticeship. Do not lie about this, should you get a job with the company they might put your plumbing knowledge to the test. A master plumber wont mind teaching an apprentice that knows nothing, they have a clean slate which is good.
Go To a Trade School
If you have exhausted your search for an apprenticeship, and you have been to all your local plumbing shop and still would like to be a plumber, then you could try a trade school. These schools teach plumbing and usually offer a 1-2 year program. These schools are great for beginner’s that need a full introduction into general plumbing. What a trade school can do for you is provide you with some knowledge of plumbing. Typically the trade school will also knock off some hours that you will need in your apprenticeship. Going to a trade school will not make you a plumber however and you will still need to obtain an apprenticeship from a licensed plumbing company. What a Trade School will do is help dramatically in finding you a plumbing company that will take you on as a plumbing apprentice.
In conclusion the best way to become a plumber and really the only way is to find a plumbing company to take you on and give you an apprenticeship. Even if they wont give you an apprenticeship its good to get your foot in the door and learn a few things. You may find that finding a plumbing company to apprentice you difficult but do not give up. I personally took my resume to over 10 plumbing company’s before I finally found one to give me an apprenticeship.
