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How to become a plumber in California

<br>With a whooping gross state product of $3 trillion, California has emerged as a global trendsetter in politics, economics, culture and development. This diversified economy has a political angle in consumption of water too. Those interested in the line of plumbing need to know the ins and out of the industry. Head to our detailed article on plumbing and the requirements for one at Smarter Plumber

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How to become a plumber in California

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  1. HOW TO BECOME A PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA

  2. A GUIDE ON PLUMBING IN CALIFORNIA • As per data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), there are approximately 47,600 plumbers in California. Situated in the Pacific region of the United States of America, California is the most populous US state. California’s economy stands at a whooping gross state product of $3.0 trillion. The diversified economy has also enhanced the scope for various occupations. Water use in California has a political angle too. In this distinctly interesting context, we wish to focus on the career prospects of a plumber and provide a detailed guide on plumbing in California.

  3. JOB OUTLOOK With 47,600 people working as plumbers, California has a higher number than any other state of the USA. 2.72 out of every 1000 persons are employed in this industry. The average annual salary of a plumber in California is $65,326. Wages typically start from $32,820 and can go up to $103,180. The top 3 cities in California in terms of highest wages for plumbers are; El Cajon, Rancho Cucamonga and Riverside. Most plumbers usually opt for union contract jobs because these offer pension and health benefits in addition to guaranteed wages. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an economic fallout but the plumbing industry has been expected to accelerate in the coming five years.

  4. WHAT INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR PLUMBERS IN CALIFORNIA • The California Department of Insurance regulates insurance policies in this state. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance is the only type of insurance that is mandatory for businessowners. It covers the health expenditure of employees who get injured while on the job. However, there are various types of coverage that business owners are wise enough to invest in. The amount of coverage recommended varies depending on the size of the business. • Plumbing Contractor General Liability – To protect the business against costly lawsuits. • Commercial Vehicle Insurance – Auto insurance policy to protect the vehicle that that is used for work - related purposes. • Property Insurance – To protect the business property and tools of the trade. • Pollution Liability Insurance – It covers incidents connected to pollutants including legal and medical expenses. • Plumbers Liability Insurance – It is an extension of the general liability insurance and offers coverage for damages caused to the site of work • Business Owners’ Policy- This type of insurance is tailored to suit the needs of different contractors allows them to carry on their business at peace without having to worry about unprecedented disasters.

  5. HOW TO BECOME A PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA • A step-by-step guide: • High School or GED Certificate • College Degree or Vocational Courses (Optional) • Apprenticeship • Journey-man experience • Pass the Licensing Tests • A high school diploma or GED is a mandatory educational requirement. There are also a number of trade schools and community colleges that teach plumbing courses. In order to work as a plumber in California, it is also mandatory to have work experience as an apprentice and be registered as a journeyman.

  6. HOW TO BECOME AN APPRENTICE PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA • Trade schools provide the resources that are required to join an apprenticeship program. These programs give plumbers an opportunity to work along with professional plumbers to learn the required skills. They usually work for 5-6 days a week. A number of unions also offer training programs. In California, the official website of the state government also lists out a number of apprenticeship programs. These programs last for about 2-3 years and the coursework includes formal classes as well as practical training. After the completion of their apprenticeship, a plumber must work as a journeyman for four years before they can apply for the master-plumber license.  

  7. HOW TO BECOME A LICENSED MASTER PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA • In order to apply for a plumbing license, a plumber must be: • Must be at least 18 years of age • Must hold a high school diploma or GED • Must have knowledge of how to use computers • Must submit a full set of fingerprints • Must pass a substance abuse test • Must undergo a criminal background check • Must know basic math • Must have journeyman, supervisor or foreman experience of 4 years • Must have 1 year of practical experience

  8. LICENSING EXAM AND OTHER DETAILS • Plumbers must take the California Plumbing License exam to work as a licensed contractor in California. There are two exams that a candidate needs to pass in order to acquire a license. One exam revolves around trade knowledge in the field of plumbing, while the other deals with law and business related to plumbing. • The California Plumbing Exam has five major sections, dealing with various topics.  • The licensing procedure is supervised by the California Contractors’ State Licensing Board. It is also this board that regulates plumbers throughout California. This board also provides up-to-date information about the licensing application process as well study materials that might benefit applicants. There is a fee of $480 that must be paid. • In the last step, in addition to the documents, applicants are also required to prove that they have working capital of a minimum of $250. • A California Plumbing License is valid only in the state of California. It must be renewed every 2 years and the fee for renewal is $400.

  9. PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA • A number of trade schools and community colleges offer vocational courses in plumbing. These courses are not a mandatory requirement for becoming a plumber but they do add substantial weightage to a plumber’s resume. These courses also enhance a candidate’s knowledge base and work as a referral while looking for an apprenticeship program. • This section of the article will focus on the top plumbing schools in three of the biggest cities of California – Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco.

  10. BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES • Los Angeles is the largest city in California with an estimated population of four million people. The city has a large and diversified economy and a sprawling metropolis. • Los Angeles City College (LACC) offers an online course – Foundations of Plumbing. It is a 1-year course. This course gives students an in-depth knowledge and the basic skills that are necessary to make them job-ready. By the end of the course, students gain the specialised skillset and technical knowledge necessary to start a career in the plumbing industry. The course fee for this program is $2,195. • Another very well-known school for plumbing training is a community college by the name - Los Angeles Trade Technical College. The students who get enrolled in the Plumbing Degree and Certificate program, are required to devote 24 hours a week in order to attend the hands-on training sessions with laboratory equipment. This 2-year program prepares students for employment in the field of plumbing. After the completion of the program, students are equipped with various skills.

  11. BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN SAN DIEGO • San Diego is situated on the coast of the Pacific Ocean and with a population of 1,423,851, is the second largest city in California. This city is the economic centre of the region, opening up an array of possibilities for a number of professions. • The San Diego City College offers a number of vocational courses in plumbing. The courses are of varying lengths, depending on the coursework and number of units. A vast range of topics are covered by these courses. • An exact course like that offered by LACC, is also offered by the San Diego State University. The coursework and fee structure are the same too. • San Diego Continuing Education is another college in the city that offers three courses in plumbing. The basic course deals with pipe installation, water distribution etc. The intermediary course deals with plumbing codes and the advanced training ultimately teaches designing of layouts, specialised systems, coding, safety requirements etc.

  12. BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN SAN FRANCISO • San Francisco (SF) is the fourth most populous city in California with a headcount of 881,549 residents as of 2019. San Francisco is the cultural, commercial and financial centre of North California. San Francisco has been recognised as a “global city”. As of 2020, those working in San Francisco received the highest salaries and it was the seventh highest-income city in the USA. • The City College of San Francisco offer an extremely reputed plumbing apprenticeship program that allows student to learn and earn simultaneously. It takes 60 months for the completion of the program where students receive classroom training in addition to practical experience.

  13. Over the years the population of California has grown manifold and so has the economic sector. According to the official statistics provided by the Education and Development Department of the State of California, employment in the plumbing industry is expected to grow by 20.2% between 2016 and 2026. It has also been projected by the BLS that a number of opportunities might be created in the construction industry. With a surge in the demand for environmentally sound remodelling, the demand for plumbing services are expected to grow.

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