A few steps are involved in becoming a plumber in New York. The purpose of all of the steps is to ensure that the state’s plumbers are adept at installing, maintaining, and upgrading plumbing fixtures and following codes and regulations to ensure the safety of individuals in both commercial and residential settings.
Starting a career as a plumber in the state requires familiarity with all the necessary steps and requirements. Thankfully, that is what the resource below provides - an in-depth exploration of everything you need to know before you start your career as a plumber in New York, including possible education alternatives, licensing requirements, and more.
How to Become a Plumber in New York
The following are the steps involved in becoming a plumber in New York.
Step 1: Meeting the Basic Requirements
The state of New York asks that aspiring plumbers must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent, and possess good moral character.
Proficiency in reading and writing the English language and being physically fit is also mandatory.
Step 2: Obtaining Training
When it comes to obtaining training for future plumbers in New York, there are usually three different approaches: enrolling in a formal training program, enrolling in an apprenticeship program, and learning as a plumber’s apprentice.
- Formal Training Program - New York is home to many beautiful colleges and technical schools offering various plumbing programs, all hoping to produce sound plumbers with enough experience to begin entry-level duties.
- Apprenticeship Program - New York also boasts many excellent apprenticeship training programs for plumbers. Most of these programs are run by trade unions and organizations. They allow students to train under the tutelage and mentorship of experienced plumbers.
- Plumber’s Assistants - it is also possible to become a plumber in New York by working directly under a licensed plumber as a plumber’s assistant. Doing this for a few years usually equates to achieving the technical know-how and work experience required for individual projects.
Individuals who want a more robust form of training can achieve this goal by combining two or more options above. For example, many plumbers in the state have been known to complete a training program and then acquire more hands-on experience by working as assistants or apprentices.
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Top Plumbing Schools in New York
Below are some of the most prominent Plumbing Schools in New York:
1. New York City College of Technology
New York City College of Technology remains one of the foremost destinations for high-quality plumbing training in New York City and the entire state. The program is known for its high-quality instructors and high graduate placement rate.
2. Apex Technical College
Apex Technical College adds a great deal of shop/laboratory training to complement its classroom training so that plumbing graduates are sound in theoretical knowledge and practical applications.
The program has a full-time option that can be completed in 6 months and a part-time option that takes 13 months.
Notable Mentions
The following are some other notable alternatives for high-quality plumbing training programs in New York:
- SUNY Delhi in Delhi Drive,
- LaGuardia Community College in Long Island,
- Alfred State College of Technology in Alfred,
- SUNY Canton in Canton,
- Erie Community College in Buffalo, and
- NYU School of Professional Studies in New York.
Apprenticeship options include:
- Masters Plumber Council of the City of New York at Queens, and
- The UA Local 200 Plumbers Training Center in Bohemia.
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Licensure and Certification Requirements
To become licensed, New York plumbers must consult their various counties and municipalities’ plumbing regulation bodies. For plumbers in New York City, the department in question is the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB).
Different municipalities have their requirements, including work experience requirements and degree requirements. Generally, to become a journeyman plumber, most counties require at least five years of work experience and the satisfactory completion of a state licensing exam.
In Albany, the body responsible for licensing plumbers is the Examining Board of Plumbers. Many cities in Onondaga County fall under the Plumbing Control Agency.
Salary and Job Outlook
An aspiring plumber in New York can look forward to an annual average salary of $60,387, which is significantly higher than the national average. This figure can get as high as $108,529 for the highest-earning plumbers in the state.
The lowest earners are usually those who are just starting, and they still get to take home around $33,600 per year in annual salary.
Manhattan (with an annual average salary of $107,150), Astoria ($71,239), and Brooklyn ($65,780) are the highest-paying locations for plumbers in New York.
New York City and the Bronx round up the top 5 with annual average salaries of $64,290 and $63,873, respectively.
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