Why Not Make A Career Change With A Plumber Course?

If you retrain and become certified as a plumber your skills will always be in demand. Construction sites may offer fewer opportunities, but domestic work is as buoyant as ever. How many times do you hear about the number of calls someone had to make to find a plumber who was free to stop their shower from leaking? There's also loads of work to be had putting in downstairs loos, new showers, en-suites etc. as people are moving less and up-grading more. All in all then, enrolling on a plumbing course can be a very smart career move.

Free In-Depth Information

The money will soon start coming in once you've undergone specialised training and built your knowledge. For a professional, unbiased understanding of the industry's requirements, you can download a free copy of our indispensable guide to plumbing certifications. The information in it will help you to compare what's on offer from the different training colleges.

We recommend you download the book first and take time to get to grips with its contents. And then return to this page to refer to any of the training companies offering plumbing courses. It might be an idea to bookmark it now so it's easy to find again.

Work For Yourself

The idea of self-employment is what attracts many men (and women for that matter) into the plumbing industry. It's true to say that just about all those who enter the industry as adults start working for themselves very quickly. When you look at the kind of jobs that are around for anyone who's got a decent work ethic, it's a sensible move.

The best plumbers get a big chunk of their work through word of mouth once their reputation's established. You'll learn your industry skills through a training college, but it's equally important to learn how to deal with people. Business sometimes comes in from the most unlikely people. Remembering to treat other people and their homes with respect will pay dividends down the road.

Plumbers working in the commercial environment usually work regular hours. You'd be wise to open that up a little though if you plan to work for yourself in private housing. Working people will want to get to know you first before leaving you in their homes unaccompanied.

Ongoing Security of Income

The great thing about plumbing skills is they'll set you up for life. Whether a house is ten years old or a hundred years old, it still needs water and heating! Emergency work makes you a hero, and everybody loves a new bathroom or kitchen so each job can be really satisfying. Every day brings new experiences and challenges, so you never need to be bored, and you're not restricted to working in one place all the time.

When you're working for yourself you have to know how to price jobs properly. This means allowing for your expenses as well as your time.

Although it can be a bit daunting at first, most plumbers get the hang of it pretty quickly. Some of the commercial training centres will give guidance on this.

Where Do You Start?

Both Further Education colleges and private training companies should feature basic plumber training in City & Guilds certifications. Young trainee plumbers in their teens tend to go for work experience as well as college to get practical NVQ certifications as well.

It's more common though for re-trainers to learn their trade part-time so they can still afford to pay their bills! This is where the private training companies score best, as they offer flexible programmes with courses that will cover the needs of the domestic plumbing market.

Even though students in commercial colleges train part-time, they can gain knowledge quickly by focusing on the level of training needed for the domestic work they'll be doing.

Bolt-On Extras

Whichever course you decide on, you should emerge with at least basic plumbing skills in sanitation systems, hot and cold water systems and more. You'll also be able to qualify in supplementary skills which will allow you to take on bigger jobs yourself. Popular courses cover domestic electrical work, tiling and plastering, unvented hot water storage systems, kitchen fitting, bathroom fitting, energy efficiency, water regulations and of course gas.

Having additional skills will make it easier to build your name. Everything you take on will be more lucrative. Householders much prefer taking on tradesmen and women with a multitude of skills.

If you're looking to change careers and want reliable, well-paid on-going work, this could well be the right choice for you.