How to Get a Plumbing Apprenticeship
To get a plumbing apprenticeship, apply through a program sponsor: a UA union local’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC), a PHCC or ABC chapter, a community college trade program, or a licensed shop hiring directly. You must be 18 with a high school diploma or GED, and most union programs add an aptitude test and interview. Programs run 4 to 5 years and pay you from day one.
What is a plumbing apprenticeship?
A plumbing apprenticeship is a paid, 4 to 5 year training path that combines about 7,200 to 9,000 hours of supervised on-the-job work with classroom instruction. You earn a wage the entire time, so you finish with no student debt and a clear route to your journeyman license. It is the standard way to enter the trade.
An apprentice works under licensed journeymen and masters, learning code, installation, and repair on real jobs. The classroom side, often 144 to 246 hours a year, covers math, blueprint reading, and local code. This page is written for the applicant. For the industry side of hiring and the shortage that drives it, see the full plumber career path.
How do you get a plumbing apprenticeship? (step by step)
You get a plumbing apprenticeship by choosing a sponsor, meeting the basic entry requirements, passing any aptitude test and interview, and getting placed with an employer. Union programs rank applicants and hire from an eligibility list, while shops and open-shop programs often hire helpers directly and register them after start. Follow this order to give yourself the best shot.
- Confirm you meet the basics: age 18, high school diploma or GED, and usually a valid driver’s license.
- Pick your route: a UA local JATC, a PHCC or ABC chapter program, a college pre-apprenticeship, or a licensed shop hiring helpers.
- Find open programs: search Apprenticeship.gov by ZIP code and your local JATC site. Union portals often open only once a year.
- Submit the application during the open window with your transcript or GED and any required documents.
- Take the aptitude test: math (algebra, fractions, conversions), reading, and often mechanical reasoning.
- Interview: your test score plus interview set your rank on the eligibility list.
- Get placed and registered: a sponsor or shop hires you, and your hours and classroom credits start counting.
What are the requirements to apply for a plumbing apprenticeship?
Every registered plumbing apprenticeship requires you to be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, and often carry a valid driver’s license. Union JATC programs add an aptitude test and interview. Some require a physical, a drug screen, or algebra credit. Requirements vary by state and program, so read each sponsor’s posting before you apply.
- Age: 18 or older for any registered program.
- Education: high school diploma or GED; some programs want a passing algebra grade.
- Aptitude test: math and reading, sometimes mechanical and spatial sections (mainly union JATC).
- Transportation: a valid driver’s license and reliable way to reach job sites.
- Other: physical ability to do the work, and in some areas a drug screen or clean background check.
How much does a plumbing apprentice get paid?
Apprentice pay is a percentage of the local journeyman scale, not a flat rate, and it steps up every 1,000 hours. First-year apprentices typically start near 40 to 50 percent of scale and climb to about 85 to 90 percent by the final year. In dollars, a first-year apprentice often earns roughly $30,000 to $46,000, varying by state and local market.
Because pay tracks the local journeyman rate, the same year of training can pay about $19 an hour in one market and $31 in another. The table below shows a typical progression. If your local journeyman scale is $40 an hour, multiply each percentage to estimate your rate. See how much plumbers make for full earnings by level.
| Apprentice year | Typical % of journeyman scale | Example if scale is $40/hr |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 40 to 50% | $16 to $20/hr |
| Year 2 | 50 to 60% | $20 to $24/hr |
| Year 3 | 60 to 70% | $24 to $28/hr |
| Year 4 | 70 to 80% | $28 to $32/hr |
| Year 5 | 85 to 90% | $34 to $36/hr |
Exact percentages come from the local Collective Bargaining Agreement (union) or the employer (non-union) and vary by state and local. Union programs usually add health insurance and a pension on top of the hourly wage.
Union vs non-union plumbing apprenticeship: which should you pick?
A union apprenticeship, run by a UA local JATC, gives standardized pay steps, benefits, and free classroom training, but openings are limited and selective. A non-union program, run by a shop or an ABC or PHCC chapter, hires year-round with easier entry, though pay and benefits depend on the employer. The right choice depends on how strong the union is where you live.
| Factor | Union (UA local JATC) | Non-union (shop, ABC, PHCC) |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor | UA local’s Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee | Licensed shop, ABC chapter, or PHCC chapter |
| Pay scale | Set % of scale from a Collective Bargaining Agreement, uniform across signatory shops | Set by the employer; strong shops match union pay, others lag |
| Classroom | Usually free through the JATC training center | Sometimes employer-paid, sometimes on you |
| Cost to you | Little to none; books and tools mainly | $0 to about $1,000 depending on program and tuition |
| Entry | Competitive; aptitude test, interview, ranked list, often one annual window | More open; apply and interview year-round |
| Benefits | Health insurance and pension common | Vary widely by employer |
In union-heavy metros the union route usually pays more over a career. In open-shop regions a good contractor can offer more openings and comparable pay. Both routes lead to the same journeyman plumber license when you finish your hours.
How long is a plumbing apprenticeship and how many hours?
A plumbing apprenticeship runs 4 to 5 years. You complete about 7,200 to 9,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus roughly 144 to 246 classroom hours a year, often 576 to 1,000 total. Progress is measured in hours, not semesters, so working steady hours keeps you on schedule for the journeyman exam where your state requires one.
Miss work and your timeline stretches, because you advance and get raises every 1,000 hours. Programs and hour counts vary by state and sponsor. A short pre-apprenticeship at a plumbing trade school does not replace these hours, but it can raise your test score and ranking before you apply.
Where to find open plumbing apprenticeships near you
Find open plumbing apprenticeships through registered sponsors and direct hiring. Union JATC portals often open once a year, so track the deadline and apply the day the window opens. Non-union shops and chapter programs post spots throughout the year. Cast a wide net across all four channels below to improve your odds.
- UA local JATCs: search your area’s United Association local and its apprenticeship or training center page for the application window.
- PHCC and ABC chapters: the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors run registered programs in many states.
- Community and technical colleges: many run pre-apprenticeships that feed sponsors and count toward classroom hours.
- Licensed shops directly: apply as a helper; a shop can register you as an apprentice after you start.
- Apprenticeship.gov: the federal tool lists registered programs by ZIP code and trade.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get a plumbing apprenticeship?
The paperwork bar is low: age 18, a high school diploma or GED, and a valid driver’s license. Getting selected is the hard part. Union JATC programs rank applicants on an aptitude test and interview, then take from the top of the list, so many strong candidates wait for the next annual opening. Non-union and shop-direct spots are easier to land year-round.
Do you get paid during a plumbing apprenticeship?
Yes. You earn wages from your first day on the job. Apprentice pay starts near 40 to 50 percent of the local journeyman scale and steps up every 1,000 hours, reaching roughly 85 to 90 percent by the final year. A first-year apprentice often earns about $30,000 to $46,000 a year, varying by state and local market.
What test do you take for a plumbing apprenticeship?
Most union JATC programs require an aptitude test covering math (algebra, fractions, unit conversions) and reading comprehension, sometimes with mechanical reasoning and spatial sections. A common format runs about 140 questions across timed sections in roughly two hours. You typically need a passing score to advance to the interview, where your ranking on the eligibility list is set.
How long is a plumbing apprenticeship?
Most run 4 to 5 years. You complete about 7,200 to 9,000 hours of paid on-the-job training plus roughly 144 to 246 classroom hours each year, often near 576 to 1,000 total. The exact hour count and length depend on your state and the program sponsor. Finishing qualifies you to sit for the journeyman exam where your state requires one.
Do you need trade school before a plumbing apprenticeship?
No. An apprenticeship is the training, so you do not need a diploma from a school first. A pre-apprenticeship or trade school program can raise your aptitude test score and move you up the eligibility list, and some feed graduates directly to sponsors. Compare the routes on our plumbing trade school guide before you pay any tuition.
Is a union or non-union apprenticeship better?
It depends on your local market. Union JATC programs offer standardized pay steps, health insurance, and a pension, but openings are limited and competitive. Non-union and shop-direct programs hire year-round with more flexible entry, though benefits vary by employer. In union-heavy metros the union route usually pays more; in open-shop regions a strong contractor can match it.
How do I find a plumbing apprenticeship near me?
Search your area’s UA local JATC website, contact PHCC and ABC chapters, ask community college trade programs, and apply directly to licensed shops that are hiring helpers. Apprenticeship.gov lists registered programs by ZIP code. Union application windows often open only once a year, so note the deadline and apply the day the portal opens.
Last reviewed: September 2026.