How to become a plumber in BC

The road in one paragraph

Becoming a plumber in British Columbia takes about four years and most of it is paid work. In Grade 11 you need a math course such as Foundations of Mathematics 11 or Workplace Mathematics 11, plus English 12 to graduate. After high school there are two ways in. You can take a Piping Foundation program at a public college or the Piping Industry College of BC, or you can be hired by a plumbing or mechanical contractor who registers you as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC.

The apprenticeship is 6,300 hours of work under certified plumbers plus four levels of technical training, about 30 weeks of school spread over the four years. After the last level and the hours are logged, you write the Interprovincial Red Seal exam. A pass of 70 percent gives you a Certificate of Qualification with Red Seal endorsement, which is recognized across Canada.

Getting in

Schools in our directory that teach plumbing include the British Columbia Institute of Technology, Camosun College, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Thompson Rivers University and the Piping Industry College of BC. Foundation programs usually ask for Grade 12 graduation with English 12 and a Grade 11 math. Each school's page is linked from this page.

If you go straight to an employer, the employer must sign an apprenticeship agreement with SkilledTradesBC. Employers prefer people who already hold basic safety tickets, a driver's licence, or a Foundation certificate.

What it costs and what it pays

In our directory, tuition for the plumbing programs we list is Not published. During the 6,300 hours you are a paid employee, and pay rises as you finish each level.

Pay comes from WorkBC data for plumbers. The median wage is $32.00 per hour. Entry-level pay is around $23.00 per hour and experienced plumbers earn around $48.00 per hour. WorkBC lists average annual pay of $65,745.

Common mistakes and shortcuts

• Taking the wrong Grade 11 math. A modified or non-academic math can block entry to a Foundation program until you upgrade. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Missing Youth Train in Trades. High school students can start Level 1 technical training while still in Grade 11 or 12 and earn credit toward both graduation and the apprenticeship. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Working hours that do not count. Hours only count when a registered apprenticeship agreement is on file with SkilledTradesBC. Get the paperwork done before you start. (Source: SkilledTradesBC)
• Using the Red Seal. With the Red Seal endorsement you can work as a plumber in any province or territory without another exam. (Source: Red Seal Program)