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We all need plumbers, and plumbers need extensive training to do the job right. There’s a lot to learn if you want to join this essential workforce, and training is accessible throughout the Beehive State.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s job search website, CareerOneStop, projects a 46% growth rate for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters over the next decade in Utah, and a 48% growth rate for Helpers of Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters.
There’s definitely evidence to support this on job boards. There are hundreds of plumbing jobs in Utah posted on Indeed.com and ZipRecruiter.com.
We’ve put together everything you need to know to get started.
Accredited Utah Plumber Training Programs
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “Most plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters learn on the job through an apprenticeship. Some attend a vocational-technical school before receiving on-the-job training. Most states require plumbers to be licensed.” All of that holds true in Utah, as a plumbing license is required to perform any type of plumbing work.
According to the BLS, some plumbers enter apprenticeship programs after working as a plumber’s helper. The Home Builders Institute offers a pre-apprenticeship certificate training (PACT) program for eight construction trades, including plumbing.
Utah licenses every level of this workforce at the state level — from apprentice plumbers to master plumbers — all of which require applicants to meet job experience and classroom instruction requirements. All Utah plumber’s licenses, including apprentices, are issued through the Utah State Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL).
The requirements to obtain your apprentice plumber license are:
Must be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate or have the GED equivalent.
Must be registered with the Utah Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL).
Must be enrolled in a plumbing apprenticeship program or be working for a licensed master plumber, licensed residential master plumber, licensed journeyman plumber, or licensed residential journeyman plumber.
May perform work only under the supervision of a licensed MP, RMP, JP, or RJP.
Must file an application and submit appropriate fees.
Apprenticing, whether through an official program or just working under a licensed plumber for four years, is required before taking the journeyman plumbing examination. After two years of supervisory plumbing experience as a licensed journeyman, or after one year as a journeyman plus earning an associate’s degree, plumbers may take the master plumber examination.
Most people entering the plumbing industry in Utah learn on the job as plumbing apprentices in a formal union or non-union apprenticeship or by working for a plumbing contractor and taking classes at a local community college.
The following community colleges and training centers offer plumbing classes in Utah:
Salt Lake Community College in Salt Lake City
Davis Technical College in Kaysville
Ogden-Weber Technical College in Ogden
Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) in Orem, Lehi
Bridgerland Technical College in Logan
Dixie Technical College in Saint George
Utah Apprenticeships
The Utah Career Center offers a five-year apprenticeship for plumbers. It’s a joint venture through Local 140 Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee in cooperation with UA Local 140 Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVAC&R, which offers a union apprenticeship at the training center as well.
Utah’s Department of Workforce Services also maintains a website of Registered Apprenticeships that meet national standards for registration with the U.S. Department of Labor. Apprenticeships through the Department of Labor are recognized nationwide, so your credentials will move with you.
Some Utah businesses provide the on-the-job training while relying on community colleges to provide the necessary classroom instruction to meet U.S. Department of Labor and/or DOPL apprenticeship standards.
Plumbing Degrees & Certificates
As you weigh the benefits of formal training at a trade school or technical college, you may want to speak with people in the field in the state where you intend to work. The licensing requirements vary from state to state, and some require a minimum amount of education, such as Utah.
There’s typically a range of degree and certificate programs, but again most plumbers enter an apprenticeship rather than a college program. Some plumbing contractors may allow you to get hands-on training with them while also attending a college program at night or on the weekend. If you choose to start at a technical college, the time it takes to complete each kind of program and the cost of each are the most significant differences. The most common programs are:
Certificate Program – three to six months
Associate’s Degree – two years
Bachelor’s Degree – four years
Some apprenticeship programs are very competitive, and you will need to find ways to move up the ranking list to be selected. There are often classes applicants can take in high school and college to help them prepare and perhaps be ranked higher on the candidate list. They include trade classes such as blueprint reading and construction classes, and math classes like Algebra I & II, Calculus, Geometry, and Trigonometry.
Very few plumbers choose to get a four-year bachelor’s degree unless they’re seeking a related engineering or building construction degree. If this is a path that interests you, you may want to explore the Mechanical Engineering degree programs at one of the four-year universities in Utah, such as:
As stated earlier, in many cases but not always, formal education pays off in the form of higher wages.
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Typical Courses in Technical College Programs
Plumbing programs at technical colleges are all intended to prepare students for careers in plumbing, pipefitting, and related fields. All class instruction combines theory and practical skills. Most develop academic, technical, and professional knowledge and skills required for job acquisition, retention, and advancement.
Among the classes you’ll take are:
Introduction to Plumbing Technology
Plumbing Blueprints and Codes
Drain, Waste, and Venting Systems
Water Supply and Distribution Systems
Plumbing Fixtures and Appliance Installation
Further along will be intermediate and advanced plumbing concepts, pipe fabrication, and welding technology fundamentals, among other courses, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) certification, too.
School Selection Criteria
There are a lot of things to consider when picking the apprenticeship or school and program that is right for you.
Cost
Cost is, of course, at the top of the list. According to Community College Review, tuition at Utah community colleges on average is $4,544 per year for in-state students and $13,647 for out-of-state students. There will be some variations in fees at each school, too, so be sure to review all of the costs involved.
You will also incur costs for books and tools, but those tools are yours to keep as you enter your chosen occupational field. All students who are interested in receiving federal (Pell Grant) and state grants can apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online.
Program Length
To complete an apprentice plumber program, it takes at least four years of full-time classroom training and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training, or applicants can complete the “Verification of Plumbing Experience” form documenting at least 16,000 hours of required training as an apprentice. Most require candidates to have a high school diploma or GED.
Benefits
There are many benefits to formal education if you want to join the plumbing profession. Many employers will choose an applicant with a certificate or pre-apprenticeship over one without. Those credentials can also give you an edge in the selection process for an apprenticeship. Having some basic knowledge helps you to hit the ground running and secure your place in a shop full of professionals.
Online vs. in-person
You may choose to get that jump on plumbing training through an online certificate program. Only you know if this type of independent curriculum will work for you.
Penn Foster and Ashworth College are two of the most recognizable online plumbing programs. Bob Vila’s website and the CPA Accounting Institute for Success both list them at the top of their posts about the Best Online Courses for Plumbing.
If you know your learning style relies more on personal instruction, the traditional in-person classes and accredited programs listed above are fairly accessible throughout the state.
Level of difficulty
Plumbing programs are designed to prepare graduates for entry-level positions in the plumbing trade in commercial, industrial, or residential sectors. Curriculum includes an understanding of mathematics and physics. Plumbers must learn to do a lot of different things to be successful, including: how to follow blueprints or other design specifications to install or repair plumbing systems (including water heaters); troubleshoot issues at residences or commercial properties; execute on remodels or new installations that involve running all water, gas and sewage lines; know how and when to use different material pipes and how to fit them together properly; understand the plumbing code; and keep accurate records of work performed. And, of course, especially in residential work, customer service is key.
School Comparison: At a Glance
The technical and community schools listed above offer students financial aid in the form of grants and loans and have a 100% acceptance rate.
Offers the required 576 hours of classroom instruction needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Offers an Associate of Applied Science in Plumber/Pipefitter, 63 credits minimum
Offers the required 576 hours of classroom instruction needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Students may also apply to the Associate of Applied Science in Apprenticeship degree program at Weber State University or Salt Lake Community College and receive credit for completion of the Plumber Apprentice related instruction program at Ogden.
Offers the required 576 hours of classroom instruction needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Mountainland Technical College
Offers the required 576 hours of classroom instruction needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Offers the required 576 hours of classroom instruction needed to complete an apprenticeship.
Offers a Residential Plumbing program: Graduates receive the required classroom training and hands-on work experience needed to take journeyman licensing exam.
Steps for Enrollment in Utah
Every college has its own way of doing things, but in general the process begins with visiting the school’s website and applying for admission online. Some require that you pay an application fee and provide several documents. In general, the application process has the following steps:
Complete your application.
Pay the application fee (if applicable).
Provide proof of residency to qualify for in-state tuition.
Have sealed official high school transcript or GED scores sent.
Submit placement test scores.
If applicable, apply for on-campus housing.
If you choose to start with an apprenticeship, you will want to contact the Local Union or non-union trade organization chapter closest to you. Each organization has a slightly different application process, but the application requirements in general are:
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be a high school graduate, senior scheduled to graduate or have earned a GED certificate. Applicants will be required to provide a copy of their diploma or GED certificate, and an official transcript of their grades following submission of the application.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better or pass an aptitude test.
Pass a drug screen and criminal background checks.
Plumbing Career Requirements in Utah
In the state of Utah, you must be licensed to legally perform plumbing work of any kind. Utah issues plumbing licenses at every level—apprentice, journeyman, master, and contractor—and each requires varying levels of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. All Utah plumbers’ licenses are issued through the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL).
To apply for a journeyman plumber license you must have completed a plumbing apprenticeship consisting of at least four years of full-time on-the-job training (8,000 hours) and classroom instruction or complete “Verification of Plumbing Experience” form documenting at least 16,000 hours of required training as an apprentice and take the statewide exam and pass with a score of at least 70% on the written portion and also pass all parts of the practical exam.
For a detailed explanation of Utah’s plumbing licensing requirements and how to fulfill them, check out our essential guide to getting your Utah Plumbing License.
Salaries for Plumbers in Utah
Before paying for technical education and getting started in the plumbing field, you’ll want some idea of what you can expect in terms of the return on your investment of time, effort, energy, and money. In other words, what can you expect to make as a plumbing professional in Utah? Payscale.com data provides an answer based on your experience. The median plumber salary in Utah for 2023 is:
Entry level <2 years: $47,400
Intermediate 2-4 years: $57,400
Senior 4-6 years: $61,800
For more information about plumber salaries, visit this state-by-state guide.
Industry Apprenticeships
Most apprenticeships are four to five years long and combine hands-on training with classroom instruction. To meet U.S. Department of Labor standards, you must accumulate 8,000 hours of on-the-job training and 576 hours of classroom instruction over four years. Most also require you to be at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma or a GED, a valid driver’s license and have passed high school algebra or an equivalent post-high school algebra class with a “C” or better.
Interested Utah applicants should apply directly to the company with which they’d like to apprentice. Remember, apprenticeship—or working under the supervision of a licensed plumber—is required to become a licensed plumber in Utah.
Utah’s Department of Workforce Services maintains a list of companies offering apprenticeships for all trades, including plumbers.
For more information on Utah plumbing apprenticeship programs, visit the UA Local 140 Plumbers, Pipefitters, HVAC&R website.
Other School Options
In addition to the training programs and schools already mentioned, there are training centers in neighboring Oregon and Idaho:
Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, OR
North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, ID
In addition to the online options of Ashworth College and Penn Foster listed above, the Stratford Career Institute has a remote plumbing course, as does the Plumbers Training Institute.
You can find the training you need to excel in a career as a plumber in Utah. The opportunities are all around you.
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