Late-night calls, sewage baths, and dark tunnels are all part and parcel of the trade of plumbing, yet the potential to earn a good living on your own terms might outweigh the drawbacks. Plumbers earned a median salary of $55,160 per year according to a 2019 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those in large cities like Chicago can earn upwards of $76,500. Self-employed plumbers can earn much more. Apart from a positive job outlook, the profession offers job security as plumbing will always be a basic necessity in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Since improper plumbing can be detrimental to public health due to the escape of pathogenic organisms or toxic materials into drinking water, the Illinois Department of Public Health regulates plumbers and the plumbing trade through the maintenance of a minimum code of standards. The standards do not call for a college degree but prospective plumbers must undergo extensive training before applying for a license to work. Apprenticeship programs are affordable and can require up to five years of theory and job training under the direct supervision of a licensed plumber. You must apply for an apprenticeship license and complete the requirements within four years but not more than six years. At the conclusion of your apprenticeship, you may apply for the licensing exam to become a licensed plumber in Illinois.
Illinois Plumbing Consultants
Illinois Plumbing Consultants use hands-on activities to prepare for success on the Illinois State Plumbing Exam. Expert instructors, who are practicing plumbers in Chicago, will combine classroom teaching with practical experiences to give graduates the confidence to assume a career as a plumber. Skills training will include troubleshooting and repair, natural gas piping and installation, residential water and waste system installation, and waste, sewer, and vent system installation. Classroom sessions will cover plumbing fundamentals, OSHA safety training, state code, drafting and reading blueprints, and applied mathematics, physics, and chemistry.
Program overview:
Illinois Plumbing License Prep
Duration: 2 semesters
Prerequisites:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must be a high school graduate or equivalent
- Complete the application for admission and enrollment agreement
Program cost:
The cost of the program is $1,300 for students who complete the requirements in the normal time. Students must also purchase tools, supplies, and textbook.
Website: https://illinoisplumbingconsultants.com/plumbing-school-chicago
Address: 3548 35th Street Suite C, Rockford, IL 61109
Phone: 866-608-9523
City College of Chicago – Kennedy-King
The Plumbing and Fire Protection certificate program offered by Kennedy-King prepares students for the Illinois State Plumbing Exam. Theory and practical instruction will cover Basic Computer Technology, Construction Safety, Basic Arc Welding, Introduction to Plumbing, Plumbing Tools and Equipment, Plumbing Codes, Basic Plumbing Related Math, Intro to Fire Protection, Home Plumbing System, and Vocational Physical Training I, II, and III. Graduates will qualify for entry-level employment as pipelayers, plumber’s assistant, pipefitters, and steamfitters.
Program overview:
Plumbing and Fire Protection – Basic Certificate
Duration: 1 semester
Credit hours: 20
Prerequisites:
- Must be 18 years or older
- Submit proof of completing high school or GED
- Submit a completed application online and sign the enrollment agreement
Program cost:
Tuition costs $146 per credit for in-district students and $384 per credit for out-of-district students. Additional expenses for tools, supplies, and the textbook are not reflected in the cost.
Website: https://www.ccc.edu/colleges/kennedy/programs/Pages/Plumbing-and-Fire-Protection-Basic-Certificate.aspx
Address: 6301 South Halsted St Chicago, IL 60621
Phone: (773) 602-5000
UA Local 130
The Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC) of Local 130 trains adults through classroom instruction and job field training to enter the plumbing industry. Apprentices will learn how to read plans and install and maintain underground water supply, storm water, sewer drainage, fixtures, and vent piping and other plumbing systems in commercial and residential buildings. The first three years of training will include four days on the job and one day in the classroom and the final two years will require 5 days of training on the job in the daytime with some night school classes from September through June. Graduates of the approved Apprenticeship Program will be prepared to apply for a Journeyman license in Illinois.
Program overview:
Plumbing Apprenticeship Program
Duration: 5 years
Credit hours: 20
Prerequisites:
- Complete an application on-site or download and complete the application at home
- Must have a valid driver’s license, birth certificate, or US passport
- Provide proof of completing high school – submit an original high school diploma, GED certificate, or college diploma with transcripts
- Must have an apprentice plumbing license – current or expired
- Pay the non-refundable fee of $25
- Take and pass an aptitude test, physical exam, drug screen, and agility test
- Must be 18 years or older
Program cost:
Contact the school’s administration for a current schedule of classes and fees.
Website: http://plumberslu130ua.com/plumbers-training.aspx
Address: 1340 West Washington Boulevard, Chicago, IL. 60607
Phone: (312) 421-1010
Fax: (312) 421-9633
Building and Fire Code Academy
The Plumbing Apprenticeship Education (PAE) conducted by the Building and Fire Code Academy prepares adults for the Illinois State Licensing Exam and to meet their role and responsibilities in their career as a plumber. Classroom lectures and job training will cover State of Illinois Law, State of Illinois Plumbing Code, Practical Application of Codes and Standards, Blueprint Reading and Drawing, Construction Document Production and Permits, Hydrodynamic Theory, and First Aid and Safety Procedures. Other topics include Industry Updates, Construction and Plumbing Mathematics and Geometry, Hands-on Shop Instruction and Practical Assembly Techniques, and Illinois Plumbing license Preparation. New apprentices are admitted two a year. Students meet Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for 15 weeks each semester.
Program overview:
Plumbing Apprenticeship Education
Duration: 4 years
Credit hours: 90
Prerequisites:
- Complete an application for entry
- Must have a valid driver’s license, birth certificate, or US passport
- Provide proof of completing high school
- Must have an apprentice plumbing license
- Pay the non-refundable fee of $25
- Must be 18 years or older
- Must demonstrate satisfactory reading comprehension and basic mathematical skills
Program cost:
Participation in the Plumbing Apprenticeship is $725 per semester and includes the lab fee of $20.
Website: http://www.bfcacademy.com/plumbing-pae/
Address: 2420 Vantage Drive, Elgin, IL 60124
Phone: 847-428-2951