15 Best Plumbing Schools in Colorado in 2024

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If you want to become a plumber in Colorado, you’re probably wondering where to begin. There are a variety of training schools available to teach you everything you need to know about plumbing. These schools can also assist you in obtaining your plumbing license.

Colorado is expected to require 670 new plumbers each year. Plumbing is by far the most crucial sector of the construction industry and one of the highest paid. Plumbers with no experience can expect to start at $30,000, while those with experience and education earn $80,000 to $90,000.

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Consider becoming a plumber if you want a job that pays well, is always interesting and provides job security. Plumbers offer an essential service to both residential and commercial clients. 

A plumber may be thought of as someone who fixes leaks and unclogs toilets, but there’s more to the job than that. You’ll install and repair various types of pipes; read blueprints, adhere to state and local building codes; install plumbing fixtures, and troubleshoot problems with malfunctioning systems.

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In this article, you will be guided through various plumbing schools in Colorado. Consider some of the following plumbing schools in Colorado to expand your experience and earning potential.

See Also: Best Plumbing Schools In Arizona

Is Plumbing a Good Career Path an Colorado?

The general public may believe that a career in plumbing is nothing more than a blue-collar job, but it is lucrative. Plumbers have more job security than any other profession, and the pay is competitive. However, this trade requires professional training because Colorado has stringent licensing requirements for plumbing contractors.

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 Once accepted into an approved plumbing apprenticeship program, you will have an excellent opportunity for a career that will last the rest of your working life and provide you with a comfortable retirement.

Plumbers have a better job outlook than nearly all other professions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average growth rate for all occupations in the United States is 11 percent, but job growth for plumbers is expected to be 21 percent from 2012 to 2022, nearly double the national average. 

Analysts believe this extraordinary rate is due to the booming construction industry and the implementation of new water efficiency standards in cities across the country.

Are there Plumbing Schools in Colorado?

There are a few plumbing schools in Colorado where you can acquire a plumbing career. These schools are:

  • Colorado Northwestern Community College
  • Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado
  • Plumb-Tech Trade School LLC
  • Red Rocks Community College
  • Emily Griffith Technical College
  • IntelliTec College 
  • SoCo Trade Apprenticeship Program
  • Lincoln College of Technology
  • Pickens Technical College

How to Become a Licensed Plumber in Colorado

To obtain a Colorado plumbing license, you must first obtain pre-approval from the Colorado Examining Board of Plumbers before taking the exams. A master plumber’s license requires at least five years of documented work experience. For the journeyman plumbers’ license, you must have at least four years of practical experience or 6,800 hours. A residential plumber’s license requires at least two years or 3400 hours of practical plumbing experience.

In Colorado, there are several types of plumbing licenses, including:

5 years of work experience is required for the Master Plumbing License.

Journeyman Plumbers License: Have at least four years of documented experience or 6800 working hours.

In addition to the general requirements, you must have two years of experience or 3,400 working hours.

How io Renew Your Plumbing License In Colorado

The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies’ State Plumbing Board must renew your Colorado plumbing license. Colorado plumbing licenses expire on February 28 for odd-numbered years. You can renew your license up to 6 weeks before its expiration date.

How Much Do Plumbers Make in Colorado?

Plumbers have a lot of job opportunities in this state. A plumber in Colorado earns an annual salary of $57,309 on average. Several factors determine the amount you will earn.

You can expect a lower salary if you are an apprentice. However, your salary will rise as you gain more experience. If you work in one of Colorado’s larger cities, your salary will be higher than in rural areas.

Some plumbers decide to start their plumbing businesses to earn more money.

How Long is Plumbing School in Colorado?

It will take at least four years to qualify for the Colorado Specialty Contractors license exam and apply for your license. Still, you will most likely have spent some time taking classes first, or an apprenticeship will take five years.

You will be paid as an apprentice while you learn what you need to know to pass the state licensing exam. Similarly, if you begin by taking classes as part of a certificate program or earning an associate’s degree, you will still be required to gain four years of paid experience.

Best Plumbing Schools in Colorado

#1. Red Rocks Community College

This program’s courses will teach you basic job-entry skills. In addition to learning about service plumbing, maintenance, and heating repair, you will receive essential preparation for all state-mandated plumbing exams. This includes both written and practical exam sessions.

This program includes courses such as piping skills, plumbing service, soldering and brazing skills, residential plumbing, international plumbing code, and more that can prepare you for a plumbing career.

Certificates are available. Cross Connection Control Technician Training, Backflow Prevention Certification, and other specialized topics are covered in special job upgrade workshops and seminars.

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#2. Emily Griffith Technical College

Emily Griffith Technical College has collaborated with various unions and trade organizations to provide apprenticeship programs.

This is a program that will not break the bank. There is no tuition, so you are only responsible for your materials and any applicable book fees. Another beneficial aspect of this program is that it allows you to earn money while learning the trade.

While completing your coursework in the evenings, you will be able to learn plumbing from some of the industry’s top professionals. This apprenticeship will allow you to earn up to 45 credits, which can be transferred to other Colorado community colleges. You must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, and have reliable transportation to job sites and classes.

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See Also: 15 Best Plumbing Schools In Missouri

#3. Colorado Northwestern Community College

The Plumbers program at Colorado Northwestern Community College teaches students how to diagnose piping system problems, then figure out solutions and fix them. Students can work in small spaces with tools like saws, wrenches, pipe brushes, and specialized cutting tools. They will also understand and apply building and safety codes to comply with national and local regulations.

Goals of the Course:

  • Plumbing safety fundamentals and material and equipment safety procedures
  • The function of components needed to build standard piping and water supply systems.
  • The application and interpretation of construction detail specialty drawings.
  • The use and installation of standard plumbing fixtures.
  • To identify plumbing piping materials and fixture types.
  • To perform the essential math functions, calculations, and plumbing code interpretation required to complete standard plumbing services.

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#4. Plumb-Tech Trade School 

Plumb-Tech Trade School’s plumbing courses are designed to inspire students through innovative education and create plumbing leaders for future generations, contributing to training and career development in the plumbing and piping industry.

The goals and mission are to serve as a central hub for the plumbing industry in Southern Colorado, providing training, continuing education, support, mentorship, and job opportunities.

Their mission is to educate, elevate, motivate, and inspire the current and next generation of plumbers, to build a pipeline of future workers for the plumbing industry, and to help bring awareness and dignity to the plumbing trade in public discourse.

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See Also: 15 Best Plumbing Schools In Louisiana

#5. IntelliTec College

Students in IntelliTec College’s plumbing programs will learn about fixture installation, pipe threading, tools and equipment, water supply, drainage systems, fabrication and testing, maintenance and repair, and hydronic heating. These abilities are required for students to succeed in their future careers.

Students will also learn to read blueprints, plumbers’ math, the Colorado Plumbing Code, and trade knowledge as part of the program. IntelliTec graduates are prepared to enter the field as apprentices. There are numerous career paths available to graduates so that they can choose the best one.

When you enroll in IntelliTec’s Plumbing program, you will gain skills directly transferable to the workplace. Several employers in the Colorado area are looking for plumbers, including Masters Plumbing, Tradesmen International, Voss Plumbing and Heating, and others.

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#6. SoCo Trade Apprenticeship College 

Plumbers provide potable water and sanitary drain and vent systems for residential, commercial, and industrial projects. 

Through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction, you will learn the proper installation techniques for these systems in this program and gain the skills to install the associated piping, fittings, and fixtures and trade code knowledge. You’ll also learn how to plan and layout plumbing systems in conjunction with the work of other trades. 

This program includes paid and unpaid instruction, and you must be employed before beginning your on-the-job and classroom training.

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See Also: 15 Best Plumbing Schools In Maine

#7. Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado

576 hours of classroom instruction and 8000 hours of on-the-job training are required.

Plumbers build, install, and repair pipes, fittings, and fixtures in heating, water, and drainage systems by specifications and plumbing codes. They construct and maintain pipe networks transporting water, steam, air, or other liquids or gases.

Students will learn to perform tasks such as determining the need for installation, service, or repair, estimating the time or cost for installation, repair, or construction projects, etc.

Also, students will learn to assemble and install pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures; cut ends or thread pipe for gas, air, hydraulic, or water lines; and install underground storm, sanitation, or water piping systems.

Lastly, they will learn to install or repair household appliances; pressure testing piping systems or equipment for leaks; repairing or replacing pipe sections, fittings, or plumbing fixtures.

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#8. Lincoln College of Technology

Plumbing apprentices can plan, select, install, and maintain systems.

All aspects of plumbing and systems are serviced, commissioned, and maintained.

Plumbing apprentices may be required to work inside and outside a home. Customer service skills and being tidy and respectful are important qualities because they frequently work in customers’ homes and on construction sites.

Once trained as a competent Plumbing Technician, the apprentice can install plumbing systems, including accurate measuring, marking, cutting, bending, and jointing metallic and non-metallic pipework.

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See Also: Best Plumbing Schools In Canada For International Students

#9. Pickens Technical College

The plumbing course at Pickens Technical College will teach you the fundamental, job-ready skills required in the plumbing and piping industries. In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to work on modern plumbing systems using in-depth course material created by industry experts and employers. By the end of the course, you will have acquired the specialized skills and technical knowledge required to begin a career in plumbing.

Plumbing History, Codes, and Principles, Plumbing Tools and Equipment, First Aid and Security, Plumbing Fundamentals, Water Supply, Water Sources, Waste Disposal, and Sewage Disposal Mechanical Properties and Protection of Building Materials and Structure, Piping Materials Used in Plumbing Work, Joining Methods for DWV and Pressure Piping are the Plumbing courses covered in Pickens.

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How Much Do Plumbing Schools Cost in Colorado?

The Construction Industry Training Council in Colorado charges $710 per semester and $120 to $150 for books for the four-year apprenticeship program. The Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Union sponsors apprenticeships for a fee of $620 to cover books.

After completing your education, you can apply for a state plumbing license. Becoming licensed ranges between $75 and $300, and the process takes 1-2 years.

Plumbing Schools in Colorado FAQs

In Colorado, how long does it take to become a plumber?

It will take at least four years to qualify for the Colorado Specialty Contractors license exam and apply for your license. Still, you will most likely have spent some time taking classes first, or an apprenticeship will take five years.

How much do Colorado plumbers make?

Plumbers have a lot of job opportunities in this state. A plumber in Colorado earns an annual salary of $57,309 on average. Several factors determine the amount you will earn.

Do Colorado plumbers need a license?

A state license is required in Colorado for the electrical, asbestos removal, plumbers, and pesticide trades. There is, however, no State license for general contracting. Additional city or county licensing may be required depending on where you work.

Conclusion

Plumbing trade schools in Colorado will prepare you to work as a plumber in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. You’ll need trade-specific skills, training, licenses, and certifications to succeed as an aspiring plumber.

Those who enjoy working with their hands will find this one of the most rewarding career paths. A good associate degree focusing on practical and theoretical knowledge will help you excel as a professional plumber.

References

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