Are you in search of the best plumbing schools in San Diego? Search no more; we’ve got you covered.
This article fully reviews the best plumbing schools in San Diego, including the requirements, cost & how to apply to these schools.
Plumbing professionals are always in high demand to assemble, install, and repair residential and commercial pipe systems in accordance with plumbing rules.
As a plumber, you will install sinks, toilets, and other fixtures into water and sewage systems and maintain and repair existing plumbing systems.
However, plumbers are needed to replace old systems with newer, more energy-efficient ones as the industry moves toward more energy-efficient systems.
Adults attend plumbing schools in San Diego to prepare for entry-level jobs and journeyman-level exams.
Theory and practice cover blueprint reading, plumbing tools and equipment, national and local codes, plumbing safety, math, pipes and connections, installation, repairs, and troubleshooting, among other topics.
Keep reading to find out the best plumbing schools in San Diego.
See Also: 15 Best Plumbing Schools In Illinois|Ranking
Table of Contents
Are there Plumbing Schools in San Diego?
There are a good number of plumbing schools in San Diego. These plumbing schools include:
- Plumbing Heating College Contractors Association and Academy
- San Diego City College
- San Diego College of Continuing Education
- Ashworth College
- Penn Foster
- California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association
- San Diego State University
- Anderson Plumbing, Heating, and Air
- Plumbers & Pipefitters
How Does One Become a Plumber in San Diego?
The steps necessary to become a licensed plumber in the city of San Diego are as follows:
Step 1: Finish Your High School Education.
The first and most important requirement is a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate.
To pursue apprenticeship and job opportunities, you must pass technical subjects such as mathematics and sciences with distinction.
Step 2: Get a Vocational Education
A college degree is not required to become a licensed plumber in San Diego.
However, community colleges and technical schools offer required courses if you want to enter a good apprenticeship program.
Short-term courses, which typically last six months to a year, are available. The course covers piping, valves, water supply, drainage systems, and venting.
Step 3: Finish in an Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship programs provide in-depth training to prepare you to work as a professional plumber.
Plumbers’ unions and other contractors, such as the United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, offer such apprenticeship programs.
An apprenticeship program typically combines classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training. An apprenticeship program typically lasts 4-5 years.
Step 4: Obtain a License
After completing the apprenticeship program, you can work as a journeyman plumber, gas plumber, or service plumber in San Diego.
However, you must first obtain a license from the proper authorities before practicing.
You must first pass a three-part exam administered by the Texas State of Plumbing Examiners: one written and two hands-on.
You must have your high school diploma or GED certificate, a current Texas plumbers’ apprentice registration, a valid plumber experience document, a completed license exam/application form, and the applicable fee before taking this exam.
Step 5: Seek Employment.
After passing the exam in accordance with the state’s requirements, you can begin looking for work.
The following are the San Diego licensing requirements:
- Pass a three-part exam (one written, two hands-on).
- GED certificate or high school diploma
- A valid plumber experience document A current Texas plumber apprentice registration.
- A completed license exam/application form
- Before taking the exam, you must pay the applicable fee.
What are the Best Plumbing Schools in San Diego?
Below are the best plumbing schools in San Diego:
1. Plumbing Heating College Contractors Association and Academy
The US Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship has accredited the Journeymen Plumbing Apprenticeship Program at PHCC Academy of San Diego.
The program’s students will be federally registered apprentices. For each program’s four years, they will complete 156 hours of classroom instruction and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Apprentices will have worked 8,000 hours on the job and more than 600 hours in the classroom by the end of the program.
The curriculum will include an introduction to the plumbing trade, plumbing safety practices, plumbing tools and materials, plumbing math, drawings, etc.
It will also include local Code applications, reading commercial drawings, welding introduction, residential and commercial installation practices, portable water treatment, crew leadership fundamentals, etc.
Graduates will be able to sit for and pass the California PHCC Journey-Level Certification Exam to obtain their PHCC Journeyman Card.
They will also be OSHA-10 certified. Classes meet in the classroom one day per week. The program has a four-year duration.
2. San Diego City College
San Diego City College’s plumbing program combines theory and hands-on training to prepare students for entry-level jobs in the plumbing industry.
The course modules include an introduction to plumbing, intermediate plumbing, advanced plumbing, construction specialties, and plumbing code.
Students will participate in an apprenticeship that will encourage the practical application of classroom concepts.
They must be a state-registered trade apprentice. They will learn safety standards, how to read and interpret IAPMO uniform codes and residential drawings, how to identify plumbing lines and components, how to install DWV piping components and systems, how to read and interpret commercial plumbing drawings, how to locate buried lines, how to install and maintain waste pressure booster systems, and much more.
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3. San Diego College of Continuing Education
San Diego College of Continuing Education’s plumbing programs is progressive, taking adults from essential to advanced plumbing training.
In addition to the necessary career skills, the curriculum includes career preparation so that students can function as professionals throughout their careers.
Blueprint reading, pipe installation, welding and soldering, technical math, plumbing code, specialized systems, safety requirements, use of hand and power tools, installation and repair, and other topics are covered in the course.
Also, communication, interpersonal skills, problem-solving, and workplace technology are all covered in career training.
4. Ashworth College
Ashworth College is an online college that provides a plumbing course that can be completed at your own pace.
You will learn everything you need to know about working with valves, pipes, and fittings. You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals to prepare for more advanced procedures.
This course can be completed in as little as four months.
Read More: 15 Best Plumbing Schools in Georgia|Ranking
5. Penn Foster
Penn Foster University also has an online plumbing program.
The classes are designed to make you feel at ease and confident as you embark on your plumbing career.
You can study anytime because the student portal is available 24 hours a day.
6. California Apprenticeship Coordinators Association
This apprenticeship program lasts five years.
The apprentice will receive 9,000 hours of on-the-job training and over 1,000 hours of classroom training over five years.
You must be able to attend classes two nights per week, according to the schedule you are given.
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7. San Diego State University
Foundations of Plumbing is a course offered by San Diego State University.
This course teaches you all the fundamental skills you’ll need to be job-ready and can be completed on your schedule.
The 145 class hours should be completed in as little as 12 months.
8. Anderson Plumbing, Heating, and Air
Anderson has a Career Builder Institute, established in response to a national shortage of qualified plumbers.
After completing the program, you will be offered full-time employment with Anderson Plumbing, Heating, and Air or one of their partners.
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9. Plumbers and Pipefitters
This San Diego training center provides an apprenticeship to individuals interested in learning all aspects of pipefitting and plumbing for industrial, residential, and commercial construction.
To be considered for this apprenticeship program, you must pass an Aptitude Test at San Diego City College.
Also Read-Â 15 Best Plumbing Schools In Illinois|Ranking
How Long are Plumbing Schools in San Diego?
Traditionally, learning and qualifying in a trade like plumbing require years of college, followed by a few years of training and apprenticeships.
When it comes to becoming a qualified plumber, there are numerous paths one can take.
If you are pursuing an NVQ Diploma Level 2, it will typically take you 1 to 2 years to obtain all necessary plumbing qualifications. An apprenticeship typically lasts between 2 and 5 years.
How Much are Plumbing Schools in San Diego?
Plumbers are educated in technical schools, community colleges, and programs that offer on-the-job training.
For example, a one-year certificate program in plumbing teaches students how to install and repair plumbing systems. A two-year associate’s degree program in plumbing might include coursework in pipefitting, fundamental electricity, pump system design, and fundamental heating.
This additional coursework may pave the way for advanced plumbing, pipefitting, and heating and gas technology careers.
Students may be paid while they gain work experience on the job, despite the longer completion times of apprenticeship training programs.
Below are the typical costs:
- The cost of an online plumbing training course is between $800 and $1,000.
- The cost of certificates in plumbing ranges from $1,250 to $3,000.
- The cost of an associate’s degree in plumbing technology can range from $3,000 to $23,000.
- Apprenticeships in plumbing last 4-5 years and range in cost from $0 to $1,000.
- The state-issued plumbing licenses for one to two years cost $75 to $300.
- Depending on the applicant’s membership status and previous employment, certification through the American Society of Plumbing Engineers can cost anywhere between $300 and $625.
How Much Do Plumbers Make in San Diego?
In the San Diego, CA, Area, the estimated total pay for a Plumber is $73,918 per year, with an average salary of $50,310 per year.
These figures represent the median, the midpoint of the salary ranges calculated by our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries submitted by our users.
The extra pay is estimated to be $23,609 per year. Additional compensation may include a cash bonus, a commission, tips, and profit sharing.
The “Most Likely Range” represents values between the 25th and 75th percentiles of all available pay data for this role.
Conclusion
Do you want to work as a plumber in San Diego?
It all begins with proper education. Take a look at some of the fantastic options available to you above.
FAQs
What license do you need to be a plumber in San Diego?
There are four plumbing licenses: Tradesman Plumber-Limited, Journeyman, Master, and Plumbing Inspector.Â
To obtain a license, you must meet all eligibility requirements, take and pass an examination, and pay a fee.
Is plumbing a promising career in San Diego?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plumber employment is expected to grow by more than 14 percent by 2028, with plenty of job opportunities. That means plumbers are in short supply and in high demand.
How much does a plumber make per hour in San Diego?
In San Diego, CA, the average hourly wage for a plumber is $30.62, with an annual bonus of $6,750.
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