Plumbing Schools Near Me & Online 2023: Top 8 Choices

Enrolling in a plumbing school can open doors to a rewarding career that has high potential in the present and future. Plumbers are in high demand, and a well-experienced one earns about $61,100 annual salary. Although you don’t need a four-year degree to become a plumber, you do have to go through extensive on-the-job training to make you eligible for your state’s licensure exam.

To gain extra training before taking up an apprenticeship, you may decide to enroll in a plumbing certificate course or diploma program. In this article, you will find the best plumbing schools to get top-notch training in your field!

Best Plumbing Schools

Installing, maintaining, and repairing commercial and residential systems are essential skills that students learn in plumbing courses. These courses could teach students how to handle tools, follow safety procedures, and develop drainage schemes.

Moreover, the advantages of various materials for fittings and pipelines are also a necessary part of plumbing courses. A transcript of records, recommendation or reference letters, and other important documents are often needed to enroll in the programs. Here are some of the best plumbing schools in the United States.

Best Plumbing Schools

1. Northwood Technical College

Northwood Technical College is a well-regarded institution that offers a variety of accessible locations, professional degrees and certificate programs, tailored training for employers, and a large selection of personal and career enrichment courses in the northwest region of Wisconsin. Within six months, 95% of Northwood Tech graduates find work in their desired fields.

The college offers a state-certified Registered Apprenticeship program that includes on-the-job training and paid-related instruction. 90% of apprenticeships include learning while working on the site. Apprentices are full-time, salaried employees who are trained by the skilled personnel of their firm whose pay scale gradually rises throughout the apprenticeship. To assist their learning on the job, apprentices study theory and lab.

The college is one of Wisconsin’s most reasonably priced institutions. Northwood Tech’s tuition is thousands of dollars cheaper than that of four-year public or private institutions due to the low cost per credit. The tuition per credit of a course ranges from $157.65 to $229.38. The college offers a range of financial support modes for eligible candidates, including scholarships, work-study, and grants, among many other options.

2. Texas State Technical College

The coeducational Texas State Technical College System is a two-year institution of higher learning that offers programs in technical and vocational education that is in demand in the state of Texas. The only technical college in Texas with numerous campuses and state funding is TSTC.

TSTC offers a Plumbing and Pipefitting Technology associate degree, certificates, and skills awards. The programs include a rigorous, practical curriculum that will provide you with first-hand experience in piping, plumbing, building, fabrication, and other areas. The majority of the training time will be spent learning the necessary tools in laboratories.

You will complete an internship as a program participant to get relevant work experience. The estimated cost of the program, as stated by the official website of the college, ranges between $1,674 to $11,160. The college offers scholarships to financially support eligible students with learning expenses.

3. Macomb Community College

Macomb Community College offers an Applied Technology and Apprenticeship program that helps students gain practical knowledge by learning the tools and techniques of the plumbing field. The program includes fittings and valves, valve installation and maintenance, pressure gauges, drainage flow and proper venting, and pipe calculations, among others.

You can join their ranks and be eligible for an apprenticeship that is supported by your workplace by taking the course and receiving a general certificate. Experienced or working plumbers and pipe fitters are the instructors of the program.

The college aims to use the power of education, enrichment, and economic development to change people’s lives and the communities around them. Macomb is run by a Board of Trustees that is elected and is fully recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.

4. Cleveland Community College

Cleveland Community College offers plumbing certificate and diploma programs. The certificate is a short-term program that lasts between 3 to 12 months and requires 17 credit hours to graduate. By concentrating on drains, home venting, water systems, and fixture installation, the Plumbing certificate program provides a “faster track” for preparing to master residential plumbing abilities. This study also takes into account code requirements.

A student who earns this credential will be ready for residential rough-in and finish work. The diploma program requires 36 to 38 credits for graduation. It involves in-depth learning of plumbing techniques and codes. In addition to everything in the certificate program, students also learn LP gas, maintenance of piping fixtures and systems, waste removal, soldering, basic physics, and several other aspects.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) has granted associate degree-granting accreditation to Cleveland Community College. The college offers financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and work-study to cover expenses, including books, tuition, and supplies.

5. Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College is the largest and most ethnically diverse institution in Utah. The college offers a Plumber/Pipefitter JATC program that teaches remodeling, fabricating, and repairing all classes of piping systems. The local sponsors have embraced the national JATC curriculum. Before enrolling in classes, an apprentice needs the JATC’s approval.

The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing’s (DOPL) Plumber/Pipefitter JATC Apprenticeship is intended to prepare students to apply for professional licensing. For apprenticeship programs, the College offers classroom-related and supplementary teaching. Depending on the curriculum, classes are offered throughout the day, in the evenings, and on Weekends.

However, the college does not provide on-the-job training for the program. The Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training has registered this program, and it is highly recommended that apprentices register. The tuition fee per credit of the program ranges between $312.25 to $950.50, and the cost of an apprenticeship is $175.75.

6. Pennsylvania College of Technology

Pennsylvania College of Technology is one of the top technical colleges in the United States. The college uses state-of-the-art equipment to provide the best learning experience for its students. The college offers a plumbing certificate program that equips students to become in charge of installing and fixing pipes in both business and residential settings.

This comprehensive curriculum covers a wide range of topics in just one academic year, from learning electrical systems and discovering new technologies to comprehending code compliance and blueprints. The college houses more than 100 pieces of equipment, such as gas and oil appliances, water heaters, heat pumps, burners for heating steam or hot water, compressors, and more, at the lab.

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education has accredited the Pennsylvania College of Technology, which is also a member (MSCHE). Accreditation Reaffirmed describes the accreditation status of Pennsylvania College of Technology.

7. Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology is a leading, residential, two-year technical institution with accreditation. The college equips students with competitive employment in a varied, rapidly evolving workforce. The college offers a Plumbing Technology degree program. Designing, installing, and repairing residential, commercial, and hydronic heating systems are skills taught to students in the program.

A few of the skills learned include interpreting blueprints, plumbing fixtures, connecting various kinds of pipe materials, and installing and repairing faucets, boilers, and water heaters. Before enrolling in classes, each student must have earned their GED or high school diploma. All applicants except veterans must be Pennsylvania residents who have lived there for at least a year before being considered by Thaddeus Stevens Institute of Technology.

Grants, scholarships, and loans make up the three main types of financial help offered by the college. Since 1927, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education has continuously accredited the Stevens Institute of Technology. The tuition fee per semester of a program at the college is $4,200 on average.

8. SUNY Delhi

SUNY Delhi in New York has a long 100-year history of providing high-quality, hands-on teaching and learning. The faculty and staff are committed to supporting students’ different learning styles and assisting them in achieving their goals. The college offers certifications, non-credit or non-matriculated courses and programs, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, as well as a wide range of academic specializations.

The college offers an Associate Degree in Plumbing and Electrical Instrumentation, Associate Degree in Plumbing and Refrigeration, and Associate Degree in Electrical Construction and Plumbing. These 2-year courses teach students the maintenance, installation, and repair of electrical plumbing and heating systems. In addition, you will acquire knowledge of and become qualified to use the National Electric Code and the New York State Mechanical Code, making you employable in any sector that needs electricians.

With an apprenticeship model, you have lots of time to put your knowledge into practice and disassemble and reassemble systems. You also gain experience working with community partners on projects in the real world and the lab. Moreover, the college makes it easier to learn with fewer students in each class. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has approved the MSN program at SUNY Delhi.

Winding Up

Before applying for an apprenticeship, candidates may decide to register in a plumbing certificate or diploma program to have a better chance of getting hired. You might be able to enroll in one through your county’s tech center if you are still a high school student. You may also find community colleges, local trade schools, or unions tha