You may be unsure of where to start if you want to work as a plumber in Colorado. You may learn everything you need to know about plumbing at a variety of training institutions. You can use these colleges to help you finish your plumbing schooling as well.
Each year, Colorado is anticipated to need 670 new plumbers. The building industry’s plumbing sector is both one of the most important and highly compensated. Beginner plumbers should anticipate starting at $30,000. Experienced and educated plumbers can expect to make $80,000 to $90,000.
If you want a job that pays well, is constantly entertaining, and offers job stability, think about becoming a plumber. For both home and commercial customers, plumbers provide a crucial service.
A plumber’s profession entails more than just clearing clogs from toilets and fixing leaks, despite popular perception. You’ll put in and fix different kinds of pipes, interpret blueprints, follow local and state building regulations, put in plumbing fixtures, and diagnose issues with broken systems.
You will be led through the many plumbing schools in Colorado in this post. To increase your experience and earning potential, think about enrolling in some of the plumbing schools in Colorado listed below.
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How Long is Plumbing School in Colorado?
To be eligible to sit for the Colorado Specialty Contractors license exam and submit an application, it will take at least four years. The likelihood is that you will have taken some classes initially, or an apprenticeship will last five years.
While you are studying for the state licensure exam, you will be compensated as an apprentice. Similarly, you must accrue four years of paid experience even if you start off by enrolling in classes as part of a certificate program or receiving an associate’s degree.
Is a Career in Plumbing a Good Fit for Colorado?
Although the general public would think that a career in plumbing is just another low-paying blue-collar profession, it can be very lucrative. More than any other career, plumbing offers greater job security and competitive income. However, because Colorado has strict licensing requirements for plumbing contractors, this occupation requires professional training.
Once you’ve been accepted into a plumbing apprenticeship program that has been approved, you’ll have a great chance to start a profession that will last the rest of your working life and give you a comfortable retirement.
How Much Money Do Colorado Plumbers Make?
In this state, there are numerous career chances for plumbers. In Colorado, a plumber typically makes $57,309 per year. The total amount you will make is based on a number of things.
If you are an apprentice, you should anticipate a lower income. However, when you get more expertise, your pay will increase. Your pay will be more in Colorado’s larger cities than it will be in the state’s rural areas.
To increase their income, some plumbers choose to launch their own plumbing enterprises.
Top Plumbing Schools in Colorado
1. Red Rocks Community College
Your basic job-entry skills will be taught to you in the program’s courses. You will acquire crucial plumbing test preparation skills in addition to studying about service plumbing, maintenance, and heating repair. Exam sessions for both written and practical exams are included.
This program offers classes that can help you get ready for a job in plumbing, including ones in residential plumbing, international plumbing code, soldering and brazing, and piping skills.
There are certificates available. Special career upgrading workshops and seminars address topics including cross connection control technician training, backflow prevention certification, and other specialist subjects.
2. Emily Griffith Technical College
To offer apprenticeship programs, Emily Griffith Technical College has partnered with a number of unions and trade associations.
The cost of this program won’t be prohibitive. You are simply accountable for your supplies and any necessary book payments because there is no tuition. This program’s ability to let you make money while learning the trade is another positive feature.
You may learn plumbing from some of the best experts in the field while doing your studies in the evenings. Up to 45 credits from this apprenticeship may be applied toward other community colleges in Colorado. You have to be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or a GED, and be able to go to work locations and classes with ease.
3. Colorado Northwestern Community College
The Colorado Northwestern Community College’s plumbers curriculum teaches students how to identify plumbing system issues, come up with fixes, and then solve them. With tools like saws, wrenches, pipe brushes, and specialized cutting tools, students can work in confined locations. Additionally, they will comprehend and use building and safety codes to adhere to local and federal laws.
Course Objectives:
- foundations of plumbing safety and procedures for material and equipment safety
- the purpose of the parts required to construct typical piping and water delivery systems.
- application and interpretation of specialist construction-related drawings.
- using and installing typical plumbing fixtures.
- to specify the sorts of fixtures and pipelines used in plumbing.
- to carry out the necessary mathematical operations, computations, and code interpretation for typical plumbing services.
4. Plumb-Tech Trade School
The plumbing programs at Plumb-Tech Trade School are created to inspire students with cutting-edge instruction and produce plumbing leaders for future generations, advancing education and career opportunities in the plumbing and piping industry.
The organization’s objectives and mission are to act as a focal point for the Southern Colorado plumbing sector, offering possibilities for employment as well as training and ongoing education.
Their goal is to create a pipeline of potential employees for the plumbing business, raise the status of the present and upcoming generations of plumbers, inspire and motivate them, and help elevate the plumbing profession in the eyes of the general public.
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5. IntelliTec College
Fixture installation, pipe threading, tools and equipment, water supply, drainage systems, fabrication and testing, maintenance and repair, and hydronic heating are among the topics covered in IntelliTec College’s plumbing curriculum. Students who want to excel in their future occupations must possess these skills.
As part of the program, students will also learn how to interpret blueprints, plumbers’ math, the Colorado Plumbing Code, and trade knowledge. Graduates of IntelliTec are prepared to work as apprentices in their chosen fields. Graduates can choose from a variety of job options to choose the ideal one for them.
Enrolling in IntelliTec’s Plumbing program will provide you skills that are immediately employable. Plumbers are needed by a number of businesses in the Colorado region, including Masters Plumbing, Tradesmen International, Voss Plumbing and Heating, and others.
6. SoCo Trade Apprenticeship College
For residential, commercial, and industrial applications, plumbers supply sanitary drain and vent systems in addition to potable water.
In this program, you will study the correct installation methods for these systems, acquire the abilities to install the related pipework, fittings, and fixtures, and develop trade code knowledge through a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. Additionally, planning and organizing plumbing systems in combination with the work of other trades will be covered.
You must be employed before starting this program’s paid and unpaid classroom and on-the-job training, and there are both paid and unpaid components to it.
7. Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado
It takes 8000 hours of on-the-job training in addition to 576 hours of classroom instruction.
According to specifications and plumbing codes, plumbers construct, install, and repair pipes, fittings, and fixtures in heating, water, and drainage systems. They build and maintain networks of pipes that transmit liquids and gases such as water, steam, and air.
Students will learn how to carry out duties like figuring out whether an installation, service, or repair is necessary, as well as how to estimate the duration and cost of installation, repair, or building projects.
Additionally, students will learn how to put together and install pipe pieces, fittings, or plumbing fixtures; thread or cut gas, air, hydraulic, or water pipe; and install storm, sewage, or water piping systems underground.
They will also learn how to replace or repair pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures, as well as how to pressure test piping systems or equipment for leaks.
8. Lincoln College of Technology
Apprentices in plumbing can design, pick, install, and maintain systems.
Plumbing and system components are serviced, installed, and maintained in all respects.
Apprentice plumbers might have to perform both interior and exterior tasks. Because they regularly operate in clients’ homes and on building sites, having good customer service skills as well as being orderly and considerate is essential.
The apprentice may install plumbing systems and perform precise measuring, marking, cutting, bending, and jointing of metallic and non-metallic piping after completing training to become a proficient plumbing technician.
9. Pickens Technical College
You will learn the fundamental, employable skills necessary in the plumbing and piping sectors in the plumbing course at Pickens Technical College. You will learn how to operate on contemporary plumbing systems in this self-paced course using in-depth course content prepared by employers and industry professionals. You will have obtained the technical know-how and specialized abilities necessary to start a career in plumbing by the end of the course.
History, principles, and codes of plumbing equipment and tools for plumbing, security and first aid, Water supply, water sources, waste disposal, and sewage disposal are all important aspects of plumbing. Mechanical characteristics and construction materials’ and structures’ protection, Plumbing courses presented at Pickens include Pressure Piping, Joining Methods for DWV, and Piping Materials Used in Plumbing Work.
How Much Do Plumbing Schools in Colorado Cost?
For the four-year apprenticeship program, the Colorado Construction Industry Training Council costs $710 per semester and between $120 and $150 for books. For a $620 book fee, the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union provides apprenticeships.
You can submit an application for a state plumbing license after completing your schooling. It costs between $75 and $300 to become licensed, and the procedure takes one to two years.
How to Obtain a Colorado Plumbing License
Before sitting for the tests to become a licensed plumber in Colorado, you must first receive pre-approval from the Colorado Examining Board of Plumbers. At least five years of proven professional experience are necessary for a master plumber’s license. You need to have at least 6,800 hours, or four years, of practical experience, to qualify for the journeyman plumbers’ license. A minimum of two years or 3400 hours of actual plumbing experience are needed to obtain a home plumber’s license.
There are various plumbing licenses available in Colorado, including:
- Master Plumbing License: The Master Plumbing License requires five years of professional experience.
- Journeyman Plumbers License: Obtain a journeyman plumber’s license after working for at least 6800 hours or four years, whichever comes first.
You also need two years of experience, which equates to 3,400 hours of labor, in addition to the standard criteria.
How to Renew Your Colorado Plumbing License
Your Colorado plumbing license must be renewed by the State Plumbing Board of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. For years with odd numbers, the deadline for renewing a Colorado plumbing license is February 28. Your license may be renewed up to six weeks before it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a plumber in Colorado?
To be eligible to sit for the Colorado Specialty Contractors license exam and submit an application, it will take at least four years. The likelihood is that you will have taken some classes initially, or an apprenticeship will last five years.
How much do plumbers in Colorado make?
In this state, there are numerous career chances for plumbers. In Colorado, a plumber typically makes $57,309 per year. The total amount you will make is based on a number of things.
Do plumbers in Colorado require a license?
Electrical, asbestos removal, plumbing, and pesticide trades in Colorado call for a state license. However, general contracting does not have a State license. Depending on where you work, further city or county licensing may be necessary.
Conclusion
You may get the training you need to become a plumber in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors by attending plumbing trade schools in Colorado. To flourish as a future plumber, you’ll need industry-specific training, qualifications, licenses, and skills.
This is one of the most fulfilling career opportunities for those who appreciate working with their hands. You will succeed as a professional plumber if you have a strong associate degree that emphasizes both academic and practical expertise.
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