Plumbers play a massive role in all of our lives, seeing as we need them to be able to enjoy a lot of the convenience that comes with adequate water and waste disposal systems.
Along with being responsible for installing these fixtures, plumbers can also repair and upgrade them and ensure that they align with necessary codes and regulations.
To become a plumber in Texas, a significant amount of training is required to stop. Below we look at how future plumbers in the state can obtain this training and what options they have in this regard.
We also discuss other critical steps in becoming a Texas plumber, including licensure and certification requirements and notable training programs.
How to Become a Plumber in Texas
Basic Requirements
Most states, including Texas, have a few basic requirements for skilled trade learners. In Texas, this includes the provision that interested individuals must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
The state also requires that candidates be able to read and write the English language proficiently and be fit enough to perform the duties their license authorizes them to do.
Training Requirements
Plumbers in Texas usually get their training from any of the three sources below:
College and Trade School
Colleges and trade schools in Texas boast of having some of the best training programs for plumbers nationwide. These programs are usually divided into various alternatives depending on how long the student is willing to spend in training.
The choices include certificate courses that last for a few months or associate and bachelor’s degrees that can take up to two to four years to complete.
Trade Union and Apprenticeship
Several trade unions and organizations in the state offer excellent training programs to allow individuals in Texas to pursue their dreams of becoming successful plumbers.
Training is always rigorous and incorporates a few classroom sessions to complement the primary hands-on training.
Candidates also receive teaching and mentorship from established professionals in the field.
Plumber’s Assistant
It is also possible to work directly under a master plumber in the state as an assistant to acquire all the knowledge and work experience needed to pursue a plumbing license and branch out as an individual capable of taking on contracts anywhere in the state.
Work Experience Requirements
Texas also has a specific work experience requirement for aspiring plumbers. Most of this can be fulfilled during training from any of the three training options above.
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Top Plumbing Schools in Texas
The following are some top plumbing schools in Texas:
1. Texas State Technical College
Aspiring plumbers in Texas can acquire their training from Texas State Technical College, an institution known for producing numerous successful plumbers yearly.
During the program, students become familiar with construction tools, pipe fitting, and blueprint reading, among other vital topics.
The program also notably combines multiple hands-on training with its classroom sessions.
2. Houston Community College
Houston Community College’s plumbing department allows aspiring plumbers in Texas to earn a higher diploma certificate through a 160-hour training program that can be completed in 6 weeks.
Notable Mentions
Other institutions offering high-quality plumbing training programs for individuals in Texas include:
- Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas,
- Winn’s Career Education, Inc. in Forney,
- Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors (PHCC) in Buda, and
- Blinn College District in Brenham.
Apprenticeship options include the Craft Training Center of the Coastal Bend in Corpus Christi.
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Licensure and Certification Requirements
All plumbers in Texas must be licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners before they can start working and taking on contracts in the state. The Board offers four types of plumbing licenses: the tradesman-plumber limited, journeyman license, master license, and plumbing inspector license.
All of these have a different scope of work.
Candidates must have completed a training or apprentice program to qualify for the tradesman plumber-limited license. They must also have 4000 hours of work experience and pass the specific licensing exam for this category.
To qualify for a journeyman plumber license, candidates must have the trademark lumber-limited license and complete more hours of work experience.
The master plumber license requires at least four years of experience as a journeyman plumber in Texas.
Salary and Job Outlook
Texas plumbers earn an annual salary of $57,918, practically the same as the national average. Entry-level plumbers in the state make closer to $33,386, while those who have been on the job for longer usually take home around $100,476 in annual average salary.
The highest-paying cities for plumbers in Texas include Saginaw, with an annual average salary of $92,497, Carrolton, with an average yearly salary of $85,254 and Austin, with an average annual wage of $65,258.
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