Presuming you’ve come across this article because you’re looking for a new job, you’ll be glad to hear that there is lots of work available at the moment for trained plumbers. The process of becoming a plumber is pretty simple.
You just need to commit a couple of years and attend a suitable college course. Of course, you can also learn on the job, which is preferable for most people. Getting an apprenticeship in the plumbing trade is easy if you are between the ages of 16 and 24.
However, there are not as many opportunities for older people. With that in mind, all you have to do is follow the guide on this page, and you could be employed in your dream job very soon.
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Are you a suitable candidate?
Before you do anything else, it’s important to ask yourself if you are an appropriate candidate. Plumbers need a decent level of intelligence, and a certain level of fitness to perform their jobs effectively. As your assessments will determine how much someone pays when there are pipe or boiler problems, it’s essential that you get things right.
Also, it is incredibly important that you have good eyesight. While people with minor defects can simply wear glasses, those who suffer from color blindness will never get insured. That is the case for anyone who wishes to become an electrician too.
The education bit
You’re going to need official qualifications before you can register as a professional plumber. Presuming you’re over the age of 24, it’s a good idea to attend college rather than attempt to learn on the job. Don’t worry though, your course will see you sent on placements from time to time. Also, most of what you do will involve practical elements. So, don’t worry too much about spending your days sat at a desk. Research has proven that is not the best way to learn a trade, and so most colleges have altered their approach. Standard courses can run from two to three years.
The training and employment bit
As we just mentioned, you will have the opportunity to engage in work placements during your college course. That will help to give you a bit of experience and some extra training. Depending on which college you attended, the placements might be arranged for you. In that case, all you have to do is turn up.
Sometimes you have to find your placements through, and so it’s a good idea to start networking with relevant tradesmen as soon as possible. You’ll need some general contractors insurance from the onset to ensure you are covered if anything goes wrong. That will also help when the time comes to get a job.
Once you are fully qualified, and you have some basic experience, you can start applying for positions. There should be lots of companies in your home country looking for people in your position. If you don’t have any luck after a few weeks, register yourself as self-employed and go it alone. You’ll make a lot more money that way, and you’ll have the freedom to choose your working hours.
