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There are now dozens of diferent private courses available around the US and Canada - all offering practical plumbing courses and workshops - sometimes accredited, some leading to a recognised qualification, some short, some long - and unlike a vocational course in your local vocational college or evening class in a school, these private courses charge a a premium price but offer small classes, intensive tuition and a fast-track to your qualification. Some courses offer to train you in just a couple of weeks - however, these are really best as 'taster' courses. Some other courses are residential and last several months. As well as a difference in time, there's always a difference in price! Prices range from under $1000 up to $8000. If you enrol in a practical workshop course, make sure that you: 1. visit the course centre 2. ask if they are an accredited centre and the type of qualification they offer 3. ask if they help you find a job at the end of the course 4. provide a record of the materials, tools and workshop experience you gain to put together for your portfolio of evedence. 5. help you sit your accredited exams and provide tutor support at all stages 6. lastly, check the costs and make sure that there are no hidden extras (will you have to buy books, course materials or tools?) Practical workshop courses are a great way to learn about all aspects of plumbing and are the only way of gaining a full accredited qualification from a respected body. The private practical workshops and schools generally provide full training (for a cost) but ensure that you end the course with a qualification that is recognised in the trade. The alternative is to enrol for a vocational course in your local college. These normally require that you have a secondary school record (a rank is not normally required) and that's it! The cost is generally a lot lower, but it is often difficult to gain a place - and the courses will normally last a year (rather than the full-time, compressed courses offered by private workshop courses). The disadvantage of a practical course is that you will need to prepare yourself financially for the cost of paying for the course and not earning whilst training. 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.
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