In order to become a plumber you need certain personal skills combined with professional academic and practical training. To begin with you should have good problem solving and good customer service skills. It is important to have a working knowledge of English and Maths as there are plenty of calculations involved. Plumbers usually work regular hours such as 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, however some may decide to do overtime or on-calls if they are available.

There are 2 routes to getting a nationally recognised qualification as a plumber, and they are to study or to find an apprenticeship.

Study:

a. Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Plumbing and Heating –

For those that decide on studying, if you are new to the construction industry you can start by taking the level 2 NVQ award in Plumbing and heating. During your study you will cover a range of knowledge and skills across areas including domestic hot and cold water systems, central heating systems, sanitation systems, environmental technologies and matters of gas safety. This course lasts 18 months and includes mandatory work experience

b. Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Domestic Plumbing and Heating –

Level 3 is ideal if you are working within the plumbing and heating trade and have a great deal of technical skills and knowledge. You work with minimum supervision and have a good record of safety, fault correction and ensuring that work meets the required standard. The level 3 Diploma has a range of options including hot and cold water systems, drainage, solar heating, oil and gas fired appliances and also water and recycling systems. It also covers the ACS safety assessment requirements . These are needed in order to register with the Gas Safe Register, which greatly improves your chances of getting more specialised jobs.

Apprenticeship:

An apprenticeship can also be a good route to take to becoming a qualified plumber. They provide the right balance between theory and practical work based experience. They involve both study and 30 – 37.5 hours a weeks work for 2 years. You usually spend one day learning in college four days working applying what you have learnt, in the end leading to either a level 2 or 3 NVQ qualification.

a. Intermediate Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeships –

This involves installing and maintaining domestic heating and plumbing systems.

b. Advanced Plumbing and Heating Apprenticeships –

This involves electrical work on domestic plumbing and heating systems and their components.

Newly qualified plumbers can expect to earn £18k on average with a Level 3 NVQ qualification. Then £25k per year on average after 5 years work experience. For those that are self employed they can expect to earn on average £30k per year. Having become a qualified plumber you can also progress into a variety of roles within the domestic plumbing and heating industry. These include: ventilation and heating engineer, specialized plumbing or heating engineer, and project development manager.

Working in the plumbing industry has its many rewards, however there are no short cuts to becoming a qualified plumber. It takes between 3 to 5 years of practical work and academic study. It is important to have a good understanding regulations as well as the practical skills to tackle potential jobs in order to be qualified as a plumber.