Wondering how to become a plumber in Texas? Read on…
What is a Licensed Plumber?
Construction and building technology are continuously being updated. A licensed plumber is the one who is aware of what has changed and what needs to be done to ensure that your work remains in compliance with updated rules and regulations. A licensed plumber has a higher level of knowledge and experience than an ordinary, unlicensed plumber. A licensed plumber can issue a compliance certificate to clients that certify that the work complies with the relevant plumbing standards, codes and regulations.
Apart from a compliance certificate, a licensed plumber holds insurance that protects the customers in the case of defective plumbing work.
How to become a licensed plumber in the state of Texas
Following are the steps required to become a licensed plumber in the state of Texas:
Step 1: Complete your high school education
First and the most important of those all is to earn a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate. You MUST pass technical subjects like; mathematics and sciences with distinction if you want to go for apprenticeship and job prospects.
Step 2: Get a Vocational Training
In order to become a licensed plumber in the state of Texas, a college degree is not a MUST. But if you are looking to get into a good apprenticeship program, courses offered by community colleges and technical schools play a critical role. Those courses include short-term courses that usually take six months to one year to complete. The coursework includes; piping, valves, water supply, and drainage systems as well as venting. Here’s an extensive list of schools and courses for aspiring plumbers in Texas.
Step 3: Complete an Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship programs equip you with comprehensive training that leads you-to-be a professional plumber. Unions of plumbers as well as other contractors like the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada offer such apprenticeship programs. A typical apprenticeship program is a combination of theory and paid on-the-job training. It takes between 4-5 years to complete such apprenticeship program.
Step 4: Get Licensed
After the successful completion of apprenticeship program, you can start working as journeyman plumber, gas plumber or a service plumber in the state of Texas. But you need to acquire license from the pertinent authorities before stepping into practice. You MUST successfully pass a three-part exam-{one written & two hands-on} before you get your license which is administered by the Texas State of Plumbing Examiners. You need to have your high school diploma or GED certificate, a current-Texas plumbers’ apprentice registration, a valid-plumber-experience-document and a filled out license exam/ application form along with the applicable fee before taking this exam.
Step 5: Look for employment
After passing the exam as per the state’s requirements, you can start looking for job.
Plumber Licencing Requirements in the State of Texas
Following are the licensing requirements in the state of Texas:
- Successfully pass a three-part exam-{one written& two hands-on}
- High-school-diploma or GED certificate
- A current Texas plumber’s apprentice registration
- A valid-plumber-experience-document
- A filled out license exam/ application form
- Applicable fee before taking the exam.
What state body administers the process?
The Texas-State-Board of Plumbing Examiners administers all-license & registration process.
What schools/entities can assist one in obtaining a license?
A college degree in not a MUST in order to become a licensed plumber in the state of Texas. But if you are looking to get into a good apprenticeship program, courses offered by community colleges and technical schools play a critical role. Those courses include short-term courses that usually take six months to one year to complete. The coursework includes; piping, valves, water supply and drainage systems as well as venting.
Unions of plumbers as well as other contractors like the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada offer apprenticeship programs which are mandatory to get license. A typical apprenticeship program is a combination of theory and paid on-the-job training. It takes between 4-5 years to complete such apprenticeship program.
Website to apply for a license
Following is the website that one needs to go to apply for a plumbing license:
The above mentioned website is of Texas-State-Board of Plumbing Examiners that administers all-license & registration process.
What is the cost to get plumbing license?
There are different fees that are payable against each category. Following are the categories along with respective fee:
Initial Licenses, Endorsements, and Registrations
Responsible Master Plumber–$420;
Master Plumber license–$75;
Journeyman Plumber license–$40;
Plumbing inspector license–$55;
Tradesman Plumber-Limited License–$35;
Plumber’s Apprentice Registration/Application–$15;
Cost of Plumbing Examinations
- Master Plumber examination–$175;
- Journeyman Plumber examination–$40;
- Plumbing inspector examination–$55;
- Tradesman Plumber-Limited Licensee–$36;
Duration before you get a plumbing license in the state of Texas
At least 4,000 hours (about-2-years) of valid-plumber-experience-documented on Certified Employer Verification forms to get Texas Tradesman Plumber license.
At least 8,000 hours (about 4 years) of valid-plumber-experience-documented on Certified Employer Verification forms to get Texas-Journeyman-Plumber-license.
At-least 8,000 hours of experience as well as a current Journeyman Plumber license in-Texas or another state is needed to get Texas-Master-Plumber-license.
Type of training an applicant should possess
Following are MANDATORY training aspects that an applicant for Licensed Plumber should possess:
- Short-term courses usually takes six months to one year to complete. The coursework includes; piping, valves, water supply and drainage systems as well as venting.
- Successfully pass a three-part exam-{one written & two hands-on} which is administered by the-Texas-State of Plumbing Examiners.
- A current Texas Plumber’s Apprentice registration or have a valid-Journeyman or Master-Plumber-license from another-state and at-least 4,000hours of experience.
Aare there apprenticeship programs available?
Yes, there are apprenticeship programs available Unions of plumbers as well as other contractors like the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada offer such apprenticeship programs.
Plumber training courses in Texas
There are several options if you’re looking for training in the plumbing field. See this article for a list of plumbing courses and training in Texas.
How much can a plumber make in Texas?
Average salary of a plumber in the state of Texas is $44,580 per annum, starting from $26,020 and go up to $67,660. More plumber salary information here.
What cities pay plumbers the most in Texas?
Beaumont, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio are few cities in Texas that pay the most to licensed plumbers.
How many plumbers are licensed in Texas?
There are around 35,300 plumbers in Texas.
Texas plumbing license look up
Click on the following link to search for the licensed status for a plumbing licensee.
What is the demand for plumbers?
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for plumbers in US is 12% which faster than average.
Hope that this information is helpful in helping you establish your plumbing career in the great state of Texas!
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