How To Become a Journeyman Plumber in Canada

Jan 2 2023

The demand for qualified plumbers is always great, especially if it is a journeyman plumber. Journeyman plumbers come to clients’ homes to address plumbing issues. Some plumbers are experts at doing very specific jobs, like installing fire suppression systems. However, they need a lot of experience as well as a license to become licensed journeymen. If you want to become a journeyman plumber, first you need to pay attention to the specificities of this service work.

Who exactly is a journeyman plumber?

A certified plumber, known as a journeyman plumber, is competent to do plumbing tasks independently. They should attend a qualifying course and pass a licensing procedure to make sure they have the education required to do plumbing fixtures. They can work on their own or for a company in residential or business settings earning competitive wages.

In the plumbing industry, there is an apprenticeship program followed by journeyman and master levels.

What is the job of a journeyman plumber?

The work of journeyman plumbers is to install or fix plumbing fixtures. They know how plumbing systems work and how to provide plumbing services in homes and businesses. Some things a plumber with experience might do are repair a leaky water supply network, and clean out drainage systems.

They are responsible for installing garbage disposal and air conditioning units, setting up a new bathroom for a homeowner and putting in a plumbing system for a basement or other addition to a house. Journeyman plumbers can design and install commercial plumbing systems with their expertise in handling various tools. They could also provide immediate service to home or commercial clients about malfunctioning plumbing problems, such as a shower that doesn’t provide hot water.

How to Become a Journeyman Plumber in 5 Easy Steps

Gaining the skills and experience to become a journeyman plumber can lead to a rewarding career. Even if you’re just curious about the plumbing industry and think you would enjoy doing journeyman plumber jobs, you’ll have to do some research to find out how to get started.

Every state has its requirements for becoming a licensed journeyman plumber. There are, nevertheless, some basic prerequisites that are common. If you are a prospective applicant seeking the job of a journeyman plumber, read this blog to learn more.

1. Earn a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma

Getting an education is the initial and most fundamental step toward achieving your goal of becoming a registered journeyman plumber. Because of their proficiency in English, mathematics, and applied physics, graduates of high schools have the best chance of securing a plumbing traineeship. These abilities will be of use to them when they take the aptitude test for completing it.

In almost all programs, a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) certificate will suffice in place of a high school diploma in the absence of such. It is not necessary to acquire a GED; but, having one is a significant advantage when searching for a decent job and putting together a résumé.

2. Sign up for an apprenticeship program in plumbing

If you want to advance in your plumbing career, the next step you should take is to enrol in an apprenticeship program. After you have found a local program or a local union, you will need to ensure that you are qualified to participate and meet the prerequisites. To be sponsored in such a program, you must be employed by a plumber who is actively seeking new clients.

In addition, applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, have access to reliable transportation, and pass a possible drug test to be accepted into the program. After having been approved as an intern/ apprentice by a plumbing union or a private practice, you will next be required to work for a predetermined number of years under the supervision of a master plumber or a journeyman. This period often lasts between 4 to 5 years and consists of both classroom instruction and on-job learning.

3. Completion of the Required Hours of Classroom as well as On-the-Job Training

The minimal amount of time spent in the classroom and on the job will vary depending on the plumbing course you register for. A journeyman plumber will typically work alone or will supervise an apprentice. To be eligible for the journeyman’s plumbing exam, you will need to complete the requirements for on-job training. Because of this, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s regulations.

In general, you should plan on completing a minimum of 2000 hours of work experience in a year. This is in addition to the 250 hours of classroom time that you will need to complete each year. These figures are not fixed; rather, they represent an approximate average of what several states can anticipate. Besides, you should familiarize yourself with the job description.

You could become disheartened if you believe that the program would take a significant amount of time. This is correct, but the bright side is that an apprentice plumber may expect extremely good pay for their work. The income of an apprentice is half that of a journeyman plumber. The upper 30s per hour is a possible hourly wage for plumbers. Given this information, you should anticipate earning between $16 and $20 for an hour based on the skills you possess.

4. Take the Journeyman’s Plumbing Exam

After you have finished all of your required schoolings, you should be able to sit for the journeyman’s plumbing exam offered by your state. Make some inquiries at the labour department in your state or at the local chapter of the labour union to find out where and when you may take the test. You must qualify for the exam to send applications for journeyman plumber jobs.

Obtaining an affidavit stating you have satisfied the state’s criteria and are qualified is necessary if your plumbing course was done by a private plumbing company. You can’t take the journeyman’s exam if you haven’t finished both the hours of classroom education and the hours of training on the job.

5. Obtain the Journeyman Plumber’s License of the State

After demonstrating that you have the necessary knowledge and skills, the state will issue you a license that is specific to plumbing, in addition to a certification that qualifies you as a journeyman plumber. A license is mandatory when it comes to journeyman plumber jobs. This license will be subject to an associated price, and in addition, it will need to be renewed on an annual basis. The charge is really little, but you must ensure that your certification is always up to date.

Depending on the requirements in your state, once you get the journeyman license, you might need to renew it every one to three years. It’s a good idea to know about any new plumbing rules that your state passes so that you can make sure your work is legal.

If you have five years of experience and want to undertake advanced plumbing work or teach others, consider getting a Master Plumber exam qualified. Plumbing, like any other technical job, is an ever-evolving field and you have to equip yourself accordingly.