Here are the basics you need to know about becoming a plumber in Utah.
Being a plumber can be is a very profitable career.
The average plumber makes anywhere from $39,000 to $69,000 a year.
But you can’t become a plumber overnight.
It can take up to 7 years to earn the title of a master plumber, though most aspiring plumbers spend 4-5 years learning the craft.
Education
Utah has many different levels of licensed plumbers. There are apprenticeship plumbers and master plumbers. Each level has its own educational level or job experience requirements. If you want to work independently doing Utah plumbing, you must have a high-level ranking and start your own contracts for plumbing installation and repair.
To become a journeyman plumber in Utah, you must complete an approved apprenticeship program and accumulate 8000 hours of supervised work within 4 years. You can also get this experience from military training. If you do not get these hours from an apprenticeship program, you could get 16,000 hours of experience over 8 years.
To become a residential journeyman plumber, you would need to complete an apprenticeship program with 6,000 hours over 3 years or 12,000 hours over 6 years for non-apprenticeship.
In order to gain the title of a master plumber, you would need two years of supervised licensed work as a journeyman plumber. A master plumber would also need a degree in applied science or a similar higher education degree program in apprenticeship, accounting, business management, engineering, communications, computer systems, and computer information systems, environmental technology, finance, marketing or human resources. A residential master plumber is similar to a master plumber except that the experience should be obtained as a residential plumber instead of a regular journeyman plumber. After completing the requirements for this type of license, you would then take a Utah Plumbing exam.
Many vocational schools offer plumbing programs. Though you do not need a college degree to become a plumber, you do need to have a high school diploma and understand math to become a plumber.
Apprenticeship
The most important part of your journey on becoming a plumber is apprenticing. Most apprenticeships last five years and are sponsored by a local union or trade organization, such as The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States. Though the apprenticeship can be laborious, and require many hours at work and taking classes, apprentices are paid for their services. It is during your apprenticeship that you’ll receive the first-hand experience and gain the skills and knowledge to become a master plumber.
License
Once you’ve completed your training, you must take and pass the Utahs plumbing license exam.
Now that you’re a fully licensed plumber, you can start your own business or apply to join an existing plumbing business. Being a plumber means you’ll always have steady work no matter which age you are or where you move to. In other words: It’s a wise career choice and a trade that never goes out of style.
Chuck Zitting, founder, and owner of All States Mechanical attended Salt Lake Community College to obtain his plumbing license. There he was taught by Rob Allen. Twenty years later, Chuck and Rob reunited at an X3 Tradesmen event. X3 provides quality plumber labor for companies like All States Mechanical.
Below are Chuck and Rob speaking together at the X3 event.
