Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum
The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

Becoming a certified plumber as a backup/secondary profession

HorusHorus Los AngelesRegistered User regular
edited April 2011 in Help / Advice Forum
This is just my curiosity if its doable considering I am a full time employed and want to attempt this during this summer. I am a part time grad student and work full time in advertisement industry. After purchasing my house and learning about the issue of one of my bathrooms. I realized my house is a school to learn some things and even pursue certification route. I am drawn towards plumbing but not sure how to find the process of getting educated, certified and other requirements needed. I am not sure how complex the process is to become a plumber.

So I come to you PA especially those who are in this industry is it over my head to do this for kicks or is it basically going back to get my BA?

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Horus on

Posts

  • MushroomStickMushroomStick Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Wikipedia doesn't have a lot of info on the subject, but it does say that it typically takes years of training/experience to become a plumber.

    MushroomStick on
  • KillgrimageKillgrimage Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    I think becoming a plumber requires an apprenticeship so you would have to be learning under another experienced plumber. Also, depending on where you are, you might need to be part of the plumber's union. I think they are going to expect a bigger time commitment from you than just a summer. My first step would be to just call up my local plumber and mine them for information on how they got their certification and go from there.

    Killgrimage on
  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    It's a bit more complex than say getting your open water certification. That's if you want to be a pro plumber; I suppose you could hang your hat out as a "handyman" and root through other people's pooh for pay sidestepping traditional plumbing trade development routes, but if you want to go pro you'll probably need trade school and likely have to associate with guilds/unions/brotherhoods to stay employed.

    Djeet on
  • SatanIsMyMotorSatanIsMyMotor Fuck Warren Ellis Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    Yeah, plumbing is a trade where you'll have to do a number of hours as an apprentice and then move up through the ranks to become certified. I think the turn-around time to get to the highest level is 4-5 years. That would be for Canada however so YMMV.

    SatanIsMyMotor on
  • Seattle ThreadSeattle Thread Registered User regular
    edited April 2011
    It's the same in Washington. 5000 certified training hours are required before you can even take the journeyman test. It won't be a backup/secondary profession--it will be your main profession (as it should be--the industry is full of shitheads and needs some dedicated individuals).

    Plumbing is much, much more than fixing leaky pipes or unclogging drains. It's a big job and it can be fatal if you fuck up.

    Seattle Thread on
    kofz2amsvqm3.png
Sign In or Register to comment.
Penny Arcade Forums› Help / Advice Forum