How to Choose the Best Plumbing School Near Me
1. Ask Yourself: What Do You Want to Learn?
Before you start looking for schools, consider where you want your career as a plumber to go. Do you want to learn general plumbing, then begin an apprenticeship and see where it takes you? Or are you planning on learning a specialty, like pipefitting, welding, or service and repair? Other options include careers in backflow prevention, venting, well drilling, medical gas, and more. In addition, you may want to start your own business—more on that later.
2. Determine a General Location
Before you make any decisions or even begin your research, your first step is to determine a general location where you want to go to school. Do you want to stay close to home? If so, start searching for a "plumbing school near me." Find one that offers a quality program for your chosen specialty or career aspirations.
Or, perhaps you would consider moving to another town or state so you can go to your first-choice school or a better program than is available to you in your hometown. What type of familial or work obligations will limit your choices? Consider all these factors when picking a general location.
3. Perform Thorough Research
If you're reading this article, then you already know a crucial step in finding a plumbing trade school: research, research, research. Start by making a master list of all the schools you're considering, then narrow it down based on your personal requirements. Another great way to research schools is by visiting websites and requesting an informational or promotional packet.
4. Consider the School's Qualifications and Reputation
Finding a reputable and well-established trade school is crucial. The better school you can afford, the better chance you'll get an excellent education and land your dream job—like starting your own plumbing business. Look for trade schools with accreditation, licensing, and a stellar reputation. Find school statistics regarding graduation rates, how many people get jobs after graduating, if they offer apprenticeship or job placement assistance, etc.
One more tip: spend some extra time researching a school's reputation. Unfortunately, you may encounter unethical or unaccredited trade or plumbing schools that promise potential students the world, then don't deliver. Look online for reviews from real students, visit the campus if possible, and use websites like Indeed or the Better Business Bureau for research/comparison.
5. Review Class Options and Course Flexibility
The best plumbing schools give students plenty of options and flexibility regarding classes and course schedules. Many plumbing students have busy schedules, including current jobs, family obligations, etc. Look for schools that offer morning, afternoon, and night classes. Also, consider program requirements: How many months or years will it take to finish? Do you want to attend part-time or full-time? All these factors will determine your journey toward becoming a successful plumber.
6. Define Your Budget
Of course, you already know that learning how to become a plumber will cost tuition money. Budget constraints are one of the most significant limitations for people who want to learn a trade, plumbing included. Your tuition cost will vary based on where you go to school, the program you enroll in, and whether you want to attend full-time or part-time.
According to Vocational Training HQ, here are the average tuition costs for three different plumbing school options:
- Online Training: $800 to $1,000
- Plumbing Certification: $1,250 to $3,000
- Associate's Degree: $3,000 to $23,000
7. Look for Hands-On Experience Opportunities and Apprenticeship Programs
As you already know, you'll need to complete a plumbing apprenticeship before obtaining your official license. After you finish school, you'll enter your apprenticeship, then eventually become a journeyman and master plumber or general contractor. The best plumbing schools offer plenty of hands-on learning experiences for students. They will also have an apprenticeship placement program to help you take the next step after you finish.
8. Consider Your Future Career Moves
Another critical part of finding the right trade school that will help you become a successful plumber is future planning. AS already said, you'll have to pick what type of specialty or plumbing career you want. One of the most popular options for plumbing students is starting their own plumbing business.
Starting a Plumbing Business the Right Way
Owning a plumbing business is a lucrative career choice, but nobody said it was easy. After you earn your official plumbing license, you'll need to consider all the factors involved in managing and running a company. For example, plumbers have numerous business needs, including:
- Administration and paperwork
- Marketing and advertising
- Accounting and business software
- Scheduling and appointments
- Emergency/on-call service and dispatch
- Estimates and job quotes
- Investing in vans/trucks and tools
- Invoicing and billing
- Business loans and financing 
- Income tax requirements
- Licensing and insurance fees
- Inventory management
One of the best ways to build, manage, and run a successful plumbing business is to optimize your workflow using advanced software. Here at ServiceBox, we provide software solutions for small businesses, including plumbers. Our web-based ServiceBox program allows you to streamline your operations, manage your workflow efficiently, and gives you the necessary tools to run a successful plumbing business using our user-friendly, affordable, and cloud-based app.
9. Create a Ten-Year Plan
Our last piece of advice for people who want to start a career as a plumber: take the time to create a ten-year plan. What's your endgame? What do you want to achieve in your life and career? If you're not sure where you want to end up yet, that's okay, but try to pick a general area or industry. Having an outline of how you want your life to go will help you immensely in the long run.
Have you been looking for the "best plumbing school near me"? Instead of searching aimlessly, use our expert advice to narrow down your school of choice. At ServiceBox, we're passionate about helping small businesses become successful. Our software will help you optimize and streamline your workflow, making it a valuable tool for plumbers. Call ServiceBox today at (855) 314-0895 or fill out our online form to schedule a demo and learn how we can drive success for your plumbing business.
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