How to become a plumber in California

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HOW TO BECOME A PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA
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A GUIDE ON PLUMBING IN CALIFORNIA

• As per data provided by the US Bureau of Labor
  Statistic (BLS), there are approximately 47,600
  plumbers in California. Situated in the Pacific
  region of the United States of America,
  California is the most populous US state.
  Californias economy stands at a whooping gross
  state product of 3.0 trillion. The diversified
  economy has also enhanced the scope for various
  occupations. Water use in California has a
  political angle too. In this distinctly
  interesting context, we wish to focus on the
  career prospects of a plumber and provide a
  detailed guide on plumbing in California.

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JOB OUTLOOK

• With 47,600 people working as plumbers,
  California has a higher number than any other
  state of the USA. 2.72 out of every 1000 persons
  are employed in this industry. The average annual
  salary of a plumber in California is 65,326.
  Wages typically start from 32,820 and can go up
  to 103,180. The top 3 cities in California in
  terms of highest wages for plumbers are El
  Cajon, Rancho Cucamonga and Riverside. Most
  plumbers usually opt for union contract jobs
  because these offer pension and health benefits
  in addition to guaranteed wages. The Covid-19
  pandemic has resulted in an economic fallout but
  the plumbing industry has been expected to
  accelerate in the coming five years.

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WHAT INSURANCE IS REQUIRED FOR PLUMBERS IN
CALIFORNIA

• The California Department of Insurance regulates
  insurance policies in this state. The Workers
  Compensation Insurance is the only type of
  insurance that is mandatory for businessowners.
  It covers the health expenditure of employees who
  get injured while on the job. However, there are
  various types of coverage that business owners
  are wise enough to invest in. The amount of
  coverage recommended varies depending on the size
  of the business.
• Plumbing Contractor General Liability To
  protect the business against costly lawsuits.
• Commercial Vehicle Insurance Auto insurance
  policy to protect the vehicle that that is used
  for work - related purposes.
• Property Insurance To protect the business
  property and tools of the trade.
• Pollution Liability Insurance It covers
  incidents connected to pollutants including legal
  and medical expenses.
• Plumbers Liability Insurance It is an extension
  of the general liability insurance and offers
  coverage for damages caused to the site of work
• Business Owners Policy- This type of insurance
  is tailored to suit the needs of different
  contractors allows them to carry on their
  business at peace without having to worry about
  unprecedented disasters.

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HOW TO BECOME A PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA

• A step-by-step guide
• High School or GED Certificate
• College Degree or Vocational Courses (Optional)
• Apprenticeship
• Journey-man experience
• Pass the Licensing Tests
• A high school diploma or GED is a mandatory
  educational requirement. There are also a number
  of trade schools and community colleges that
  teach plumbing courses. In order to work as a
  plumber in California, it is also mandatory to
  have work experience as an apprentice and be
  registered as a journeyman.

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HOW TO BECOME AN APPRENTICE PLUMBER IN CALIFORNIA

• Trade schools provide the resources that are
  required to join an apprenticeship program. These
  programs give plumbers an opportunity to work
  along with professional plumbers to learn the
  required skills. They usually work for 5-6 days a
  week. A number of unions also offer training
  programs. In California, the official website of
  the state government also lists out a number of
  apprenticeship programs. These programs last for
  about 2-3 years and the coursework includes
  formal classes as well as practical training.
  After the completion of their apprenticeship, a
  plumber must work as a journeyman for four years
  before they can apply for the master-plumber
  license.  

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HOW TO BECOME A LICENSED MASTER PLUMBER IN
CALIFORNIA

• In order to apply for a plumbing license, a
  plumber must be
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must hold a high school diploma or GED
• Must have knowledge of how to use computers
• Must submit a full set of fingerprints
• Must pass a substance abuse test
• Must undergo a criminal background check
• Must know basic math
• Must have journeyman, supervisor or foreman
  experience of 4 years
• Must have 1 year of practical experience

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LICENSING EXAM AND OTHER DETAILS

• Plumbers must take the California Plumbing
  License exam to work as a licensed contractor in
  California. There are two exams that a candidate
  needs to pass in order to acquire a license. One
  exam revolves around trade knowledge in the field
  of plumbing, while the other deals with law and
  business related to plumbing.
• The California Plumbing Exam has five major
  sections, dealing with various topics. 
• The licensing procedure is supervised by the
  California Contractors State Licensing Board. It
  is also this board that regulates plumbers
  throughout California. This board also provides
  up-to-date information about the licensing
  application process as well study materials that
  might benefit applicants. There is a fee of 480
  that must be paid.
• In the last step, in addition to the documents,
  applicants are also required to prove that they
  have working capital of a minimum of 250.
• A California Plumbing License is valid only in
  the state of California. It must be renewed every
  2 years and the fee for renewal is 400.

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PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN CALIFORNIA

• A number of trade schools and community colleges
  offer vocational courses in plumbing. These
  courses are not a mandatory requirement for
  becoming a plumber but they do add substantial
  weightage to a plumbers resume. These courses
  also enhance a candidates knowledge base and
  work as a referral while looking for an
  apprenticeship program.
• This section of the article will focus on the top
  plumbing schools in three of the biggest cities
  of California Los Angeles, San Diego and San
  Francisco.
•  

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BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN LOS ANGELES

• Los Angeles is the largest city in California
  with an estimated population of four million
  people. The city has a large and diversified
  economy and a sprawling metropolis.
• Los Angeles City College (LACC) offers an online
  course Foundations of Plumbing. It is a 1-year
  course. This course gives students an in-depth
  knowledge and the basic skills that are necessary
  to make them job-ready. By the end of the course,
  students gain the specialised skillset and
  technical knowledge necessary to start a career
  in the plumbing industry. The course fee for this
  program is 2,195.
• Another very well-known school for plumbing
  training is a community college by the name - Los
  Angeles Trade Technical College. The students who
  get enrolled in the Plumbing Degree and
  Certificate program, are required to devote 24
  hours a week in order to attend the hands-on
  training sessions with laboratory equipment.
  This 2-year program prepares students for
  employment in the field of plumbing. After the
  completion of the program, students are equipped
  with various skills.

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BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN SAN DIEGO

• San Diego is situated on the coast of the Pacific
  Ocean and with a population of 1,423,851, is the
  second largest city in California. This city is
  the economic centre of the region, opening up an
  array of possibilities for a number of
  professions.
• The San Diego City College offers a number of
  vocational courses in plumbing. The courses are
  of varying lengths, depending on the coursework
  and number of units. A vast range of topics are
  covered by these courses.
• An exact course like that offered by LACC, is
  also offered by the San Diego State University.
  The coursework and fee structure are the same
  too.
• San Diego Continuing Education is another college
  in the city that offers three courses in
  plumbing. The basic course deals with pipe
  installation, water distribution etc. The
  intermediary course deals with plumbing codes and
  the advanced training ultimately teaches
  designing of layouts, specialised systems,
  coding, safety requirements etc.

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BEST PLUMBING SCHOOLS IN SAN FRANCISO

• San Francisco (SF) is the fourth most populous
  city in California with a headcount of 881,549
  residents as of 2019. San Francisco is the
  cultural, commercial and financial centre of
  North California. San Francisco has been
  recognised as a global city. As of 2020, those
  working in San Francisco received the highest
  salaries and it was the seventh highest-income
  city in the USA.
• The City College of San Francisco offer an
  extremely reputed plumbing apprenticeship program
  that allows student to learn and earn
  simultaneously. It takes 60 months for the
  completion of the program where students receive
  classroom training in addition to practical
  experience.

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• Over the years the population of California has
  grown manifold and so has the economic sector.
  According to the official statistics provided by
  the Education and Development Department of the
  State of California, employment in the plumbing
  industry is expected to grow by 20.2 between
  2016 and 2026. It has also been projected by the
  BLS that a number of opportunities might be
  created in the construction industry. With a
  surge in the demand for environmentally sound
  remodelling, the demand for plumbing services are
  expected to grow.

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