How To Become A Qualified Plumber!

Thinking about switching over to Plumbing? Whether you work in another trade at the moment or thinking of changing from an office based role, today we'll lay out the blueprint to becoming a fully qualified Plumber.

We'll start by giving you an option as to how you can begin your career before moving onto more advanced Plumbing Courses and explain what you need to get done out on site before you deem yourself as fully qualified.

So first thing first...

There are two ways to officially begin your career. Let's start with the most popular option from what we've experienced here at Able Skills. The Plumbing industry requires formal qualifications that prove your working towards becoming fully qualified and this is done via the world wide recognised City & Guilds Level 2 Plumbing Course.

This is a 6 week course that takes complete beginners to the trade and develops their skillset to the point which allows students to begin working out on site and gain initial Plumbing experience. It's a fully comprehensive course that employers like and with the variety of things taught on this course, it's no wonder why.

Now week 1 of this 6 week course is actually what's called 'The Introduction To Plumbing Course'. This pans across 5 days and gives students the perfect insight as to what they expect out in the real world and offers basic plumbing skills such as:

• Plumbing systems and fittings
• Soldering techniques
• Jointing, bending and pressure testing copper tube
• Dealing with valves, taps, cisterns
• Plumbing pipework

Flexibility Is Essential

Some students like to book this course first and then sign up to the Level 2 straight after and continue for another 5 weeks worth of training to make up for the remaining 6 weeks. Please note that we do offer the Level 2 on a Home Study Option which narrows the 6 weeks of training at our centre to 4 weeks.

These 4 weeks are done as and when you can fit them around your existing role/ commitments to make training that much more flexible than committing to 6 consecutive weeks. We simply send you out a 'home Study Pack' which contains everything you need to know in terms of the theory element of the trade and when you feel confident, only then do you give us a call and arrange your 4 practical weeks!

What's After That?

Next you'll need to gain industry experience working out on site and even offering private work to build up your skills and experience. When you feel confident enough and feel you're up to scratch, you then need to gain your NVQ Level 2 which is what you need to officially call yourself a qualified Plumber. What we're seeing now is that sites require Plumbers to have atleast NVQ Level 2 knowledge to be considered for higher pay.

Are There Any Plumbing Courses I Can Do After Those?

Good question. The answer is yes. Hot Water Storage Systems and Water Regulations are the Plumbing Courses offered to really help you stand out.

Here's what you'll be learning on the Hot Water Storage Systems:

Module 1 - Vented and unvented hot water systems and their operating principles

Module 2 - Design and Installation of vented and unvented

Module 3 - Maintenance of vented and unvented hot water systems

Module 4 - Other applicable building regulations

A learner pack will be issued to you ahead of the course as some pre-reading is recommended.

As for the Water Regulations...

This is a course designed for Plumbers who are looking at working for a local water company. The intended purpose of the course in a nutshell is to promote knowledge of the Water Regulations throughout the UK and to encourage their consistent interpretation and enforcement, for the prevention of waste, undue consumption, misuse, erroneous measurement or contamination of water. For more information on this course, please click here.

Another Common Step After Plumbing Courses..

..Gas Training Courses. Both of the trades go hand in hand out in the real world and so much so that we even knock two weeks off of the 7 week New Entrants Gas Training Course to make it the 5 week Qualified Plumber Gas Training Route. For more information on these Gas Training Courses, please click here.

There you have it! The journey to becoming a fully qualified Plumber! If you have any further questions about our Plumbing Courses and would like to speak to someone, give us a call! Or even come to the centre anytime between 8.30 and 4.30 ANY day of the week.