How to Become a Plumber

How to Become a Plumber & What Courses are Available

The traditional route of how to become a plumber in the UK is via an apprenticeship. With two years study at college and working for a plumbing firm you will progress towards NVQ level 2 or level 3. This typically takes two to three years to complete.

With limited places available in colleges and the difficulty in getting apprenticeships from these, many people are turning to private companies to bridge the training gap and getting quality information on how to become a plumber.

How to become a plumber is down to you. We offer two routes to becoming a plumber:

This course teaches trainees how to become a plumber and accelerates the amount of time spent training to maximise your earning potential. Once you have completed the formal training you will then learn how to become a plumber with a practising plumber to build up your portfolio.

These courses must be adopted by all colleges and training providers from March 2011 in order to standardise industry training.

What jobs will you do once you have learnt how to become a plumber?

Once you have learnt how to become a plumber you will carry out duties such as install, maintain and repair water supplies, sanitation and waste disposal systems in domestic and commercial premises.

Plumbers work to plans and diagrams and all completed work must comply with strict building regulations.

Plumbers usually work a 40-hour week but lots of plumbers work overtime.

Personality Required

The best people who have learnt how to become a plumber are those that can think methodically. On a day-to-day level you will need to have a good head for heights and be able to carry out heavy-duty work on a daily basis.

Career prospects

How could we do without central heating and hot baths? Because of this, prospects for trainees who have learnt how to become a plumber are very good because of the need for skilled workers.

With the right skills and training plumbers can transfer into the ventilation, heating, electrical, refrigeration and air-conditioning industries.

Salaries vary nationally with the highest salaries in London and the south-east of England. Starting salaries of newly qualified plumbers range from £17,000 to £21,000.

Experienced plumbers can earn much more depending on workload.