How to Become a Plumber
Installing and repairing water supply, drainage, gas lines (where licensed) and fixtures in homes and commercial buildings.
Who it suits
People who like hands-on problem solving, can handle physical work and messy conditions, and want a long-term trade.
How people get started
Most plumbers start as apprentices, often after an aptitude test, and work under a licensed plumber while they log hours.
Step-by-step plan
- Read your state plumbing board's apprentice-to-master steps.
- Review math and measurement basics.
- Find apprenticeship programs and employers (apprenticeship.gov).
- Prepare for any aptitude test or interview.
- Start work under a licensed plumber and log hours as required.
- Study your local plumbing code.
- Prepare for the journeyman exam when eligible.
- Plan whether to pursue a master or contractor license.
Skills to learn first
Plumbing math, safety, local plumbing code and the apprenticeship application process.
- Plumbing math and measurement
- Local plumbing code
- Pipe materials and joining methods
- Drain, waste and vent basics
- Safety, including trenching and confined spaces
Licensing pointers
Plumbing licenses are issued by states and sometimes cities, usually in apprentice, journeyman and master levels. Check your state plumbing board and apprenticeship.gov.
OSHA construction safety resources: osha.gov/construction. Your state or city adopts its own plumbing code; ask which one applies.
Rules vary by state, county and city. Confirm with your state board or agency before you start. This isn't legal advice.
Insurance to ask about
- Ask your employer what coverage applies while you're an apprentice or employee
- If you go independent later: general liability, commercial auto, tools coverage, workers' compensation once you hire
- Ask about any license bond your state or city requires for contractors
Equipment and tools to research
- Starter tools your program lists
- Protective gear
- Reliable transportation
- Hour log
Week-by-week getting-started plan
Week 1
- Read board steps
- List programs
Week 2
- Math refresher
- Contact employers
Week 3
- Apply
- Gather documents
Week 4
- Interview prep
- Set up hour log
How people find their first customers
- Apprenticeship programs and union training centers
- Plumbing contractors hiring helpers
- Trade school placement
- Later: builders, property managers and referrals
Common beginner mistakes
- Not logging hours correctly
- Working beyond your license level
- Skipping code study
- Rushing inspections
Quality red flags
- Failed inspections
- Leaks after a job
- Unpermitted work
Questions to ask yourself before you commit
- Am I okay with physical and messy work?
- Residential, commercial or service focus?
- Do I want to run a business someday?
Questions to ask a licensing board
- Which license or registration do I need for exactly the work I plan to offer?
- What education, hours or exams are required, and in what order?
- What can I legally do while my application is pending?
Questions for an insurer
- Which coverages are required by law for my work in this state, and which are just recommended?
- What isn't covered by the policy you're quoting?
- Do I need different coverage when I hire my first employee or subcontractor?
Questions for a mentor
- What do you wish you'd known in your first year?
- What mistakes cost beginners the most time or customers?
- How did you find your first customers?
My worksheet
Use only your own numbers and research.
- My state plumbing board: ________
- Programs to apply to: ________
- Deadlines: ________
- Documents: ________
- Hour log method: ________
- Mentor: ________
- Questions for the board: ________
- Questions for employers: ________
My startup checklist
- State or local plumbing board's licensing steps read
- Apprenticeship programs compared (apprenticeship.gov)
- Aptitude test or entrance requirements checked
- Apprenticeship secured under a licensed plumber or contractor
- Apprentice registration filed if my state requires it
- Hours log kept the way my state requires
- Journeyman exam requirements and code edition confirmed with my board
- License renewal and continuing education rules noted
If you later go independent: business setup (structure, registration, EIN, bank account, bookkeeping and your own insurance) comes then. See Part one.
Your next step
Back to the free starter guide
General education only. Not legal, tax, financial or licensing advice. Rules vary by state, county and city, so confirm with the official sources named here and a qualified professional. No income, earnings or business results are promised or implied. Published by Ryan Via, doing business as The Collective.