Plumbing Schools in Idaho

Plumbers in Idaho enjoy respectable levels of flexibility in their work arrangements and environments. They can work as self-employed professionals or in a focused manufacturing and engineering construction industry.

Most plumbers in the state start by following the same proven successful steps. These steps are important to meet the requirements for licensing and certification. Still, they are also very valuable when it comes to facilitating career opportunities and helping candidates continue to pick up advanced skills for career advancement.

The article below explores these steps and provides other helpful resources, including a list of prominent plumbing programs for Idaho residents.

How to Become a Plumber in Idaho

The state of Idaho has the following requirements for prospective plumbers.

Educational Arrangements

Proper education is vital to becoming a successful plumber. In Idaho, Candidates must worry about two kinds of education to start their careers.

Academic Education

Academic education, or classroom training, is vital to understanding the theories behind modern plumbing tasks. An academic training program usually helps students develop a strong knowledge of these topics before they move on to real-world practice.

Many apprenticeship programs will have some provisions for classroom training as part of their overall arrangement.

On-the-Job Training

Hands-on and on-the-job training usually picks up where classroom training left off. They help students work with tools in a work-like setting to get a feel for what their duties will look like when they secure employment.

Many apprenticeship programs—including those offered by trade unions—emphasize hands-on training and on-the-job training. Most of these programs last 4 - 5 years.

Employment & Career Growth

Licensing and certification are important to start a career as a plumber and to be best placed for career opportunities, including networking, higher salary, continuing education, and more. We dive deeper into this issue below.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Become a CNC machinist in Idaho

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The Idaho Division of Building Safety oversees three plumbing licensing categories in Idaho. The first category is for apprentices, and the second is for journeyman plumbers.

In the third and highest category, we have the plumbing contractors in the state.

As an apprentice who has received the right levels of education, the journeyman license should be considered. To receive this license, candidates must have 8,000 hours of documented work experience under the supervision of a licensed plumber.

To further narrow the focus and set themselves apart, they may pursue specialty licenses, such as appliance plumbing, water pump, and mobile home setup.

The journeyman plumber license costs $22.5 application fee for the examination and $75 for the license. Applicants must also renew their credentials annually by paying a $21.60 renewal fee.

Those who have worked as journeyman plumbers may apply for a contractor license.

Top Plumbing Schools in Idaho

The schools below have excellent programs for aspiring plumbers in Idaho to consider.

Explore plumbing schools in Idaho by city:

• Plumbing schools in Boise

Salary & Career Outlook

As with all professions, the annual average salary of a plumber in Idaho depends greatly on several key factors. One of these is location.

In this regard, candidates may want to look to the most profitable locations in the state based on annual plumbing salaries. Data shows that they include:

• Coeur d’Alene, with an annual average salary of $122,407;
• Post Falls, with an annual average salary of $88,613 and
• Moscow, with an annual average salary of $62,282.

Other factors capable of altering the annual average salary of a plumber in Idaho include experience, employer, credentials, and specialty. Based on their annual earnings, these factors separate candidates into three broad categories.

• The bottom 10% earn an annual average salary of $38,048;
• the median earners who make an annual average salary of $56,918, and
• the top 10% managing an annual average salary of $85,146 or more.

Concerning career outlook and future projections, the BLS maintains that the employment rate for plumbers will increase yearly for the next decade.