To be a plumber in the United States, you need both the right kind of schooling and experience. While each state has its own regulations, there are certain general principles that you have to follow to become a plumber.
The first thing you have to do is complete high school and earn a diploma. You won’t qualify for training programs without one. Then, you need to gain education and experience. You can either participate in an accredited training and/or apprenticeship program or earn on-the-job experience. In some states, you can do both, and some of your real-world experience could apply when it comes to the apprenticeship program. You’ll have to talk to the licensing authority in your state to get further clarification.
The Exams
Before you take the exam, you’ll need a certain number of years of apprenticeship or other real-world experience. This test would be the journeyman’s exam. You have to pass it to qualify as a journeyman and earn the applicable license. After you gain a certain amount of experience as a journeyman, which varies by state, you can apply to take the master plumber’s exam. It’s much tougher than the journeyman’s exam. Passing means that you will be a master plumber and can supervise and/or train other plumbers.
Remember the Cost
You’ll have to pay for training unless you’re learning on the job. You’ll also have to pay licensing fees and to take the various examinations. If you join a union, then you will have to pay union dues as well. Still, these are all worthwhile things, so as long as you budget for them, you should have no troubles.
What About Insurance and Bonding?
As a plumber, both you and your plumbing company, even if you operate as a sole proprietorship, should have insurance in case something happens when you’re on a job. The idea is similar to that of doctors having malpractice insurance. It covers you in case you make a mistake without malice.
Bonding is a special kind of insurance. Rather than offer security to the plumbers themselves, bonding covers the customers. The concept of “bonding” involves taking out a plumbing surety bond. What that does is make the plumber liable for any breaches of law in the applicable state. If plumbers break the law, then they have to pay the surety. You can then contact company that provided the bond and collect damages. Being bonded is “motivation” for plumbers to pay their workers fairly, avoid damaging your property while working for you, and to complete all work quickly and with exacting attention to detail.
Moving
Let’s say that you’re licensed, bonded, and insured in the State of California, but you move to Wyoming. To set up shop in Wyoming, you’ll need to transfer your credentials. It’s also possible that you’ll have to retake one or both of the examinations and/or complete new paperwork. You might also have to cancel your old insurance policy and get a new one in your new state.
