There are plumbing courses held in local colleges around the country, so you’re never far from a plumbing school! Local colleges offer a range of practical plumbing courses and workshops to take students from complete beginner right through to qualified plumber and degree-level. The colleges will also often help you apply for a grant from the government to help towards the course fees (but these are normally only for younger students and school-leavers).
Plumbing schools
Schools and courses are either full-time – generally taking up to a year – or part-time/evening vocational courses (that is, you can continue your existing job whilst training to be a plumber). The latter are good if you want to continue working in your existing job whilst training, however they can take a long time to complete!
The facilities and tutors in your local plumbing schools are normally excellent and the colleges where the courses are held always have good links to local plumbing companies to help you find a job or paid apprentice work once you have finished your course and qualified.
The school will help arrange for your examination at the end of the course and will help you towards gaining your full qualification.
Lastly, the price of attending a local college is very, very much cheaper than a private practical workshop.
The disadvantages are two-fold: one, it is very difficult to get a place (some colleges report 3000 applications for 100 places!), and the course will take longer than a private college…so increasing the time it will take you to get qualified.
Of course, if you want to minimise the gap between leaving your current job and working as an earning plumber (and who doesn’t!), home-study allows you to continue in your existing job whilst studying at home in the evenings. If you take a home-study theory course and attend a local college in the evenings, you can still gain a full qualification.
Recommended sites to help you choose the right college, university and course:
