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Studies & Degrees in Plumbing

Plumbing is the trade of installing and repairing the pipe systems of buildings: drinking water, hot water, heating, drainage and, in many countries, gas. The UK's National Careers Service lists the day-to-day tasks of a plumber as installing and repairing water, heating and drainage systems, cutting, shaping and joining pipes and fittings, servicing central heating systems and answering emergency call-outs.

Training is practical. Students learn to read plans, to measure, cut and join pipes of different materials, to fit sanitary appliances, boilers and radiators, to test installations and to find faults. They also study the building and safety rules that apply to their work, because plumbers have to follow national and local building codes.

Qualifications and levels

Plumbing is learned through vocational training and apprenticeships, not through university degrees. The route depends on the country.

  • Spain. There is no vocational title called "plumbing" on its own. The closest official title is the intermediate-level Técnico en Instalaciones de Producción de Calor, a 2,000-hour cycle that includes a module on the assembly and maintenance of water installations, as well as heating, solar thermal and gas installations. Entry normally requires the compulsory secondary education certificate (ESO) or a higher qualification. Private centres also offer shorter courses linked to the professional certificate in basic plumbing and domestic heating and air-conditioning operations (IMAI0108).
  • United Kingdom. People enter the trade through a college course, an apprenticeship or work experience. The Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician apprenticeship in England is a Level 3 programme with a typical duration of 48 months, and it includes a Level 3 diploma in plumbing and domestic heating.
  • United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most plumbers learn the trade through a 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, with about 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training each year plus technical instruction. A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required, some people attend a vocational-technical school first, and most states require plumbers to be licensed.
  • Canada. Plumber is a Red Seal trade, with a national occupational standard that is the basis for the Red Seal exams. Colleges offer foundation programmes that prepare students for an apprenticeship.

Where to study plumbing

SpainExchange lists 11 schools for plumbing: four in Spain, three in the United States, two in the United Kingdom and one each in Canada and Ecuador. Courses are taught in the language of the country: Spanish in Spain and Ecuador, English elsewhere.

Some examples show how different the formats are. Cornwall College in England offers a Level 3 plumbing apprenticeship that lasts four years and is work-based, with practical training in workshops. Camosun College in Victoria, Canada, runs a Plumbing and Pipe Trades Foundation certificate of 30 weeks full time; credit for it may be applied to a four-year apprenticeship. In Spain, Campus Training offers a course in plumbing and heating installation with 350 hours of training and between 60 and 300 hours of work placement, which it describes as adapted to the professional certificate IMAI0108.

When comparing courses, look at the hours of workshop practice, whether a work placement is included, and what the course leads to: an official vocational title, a professional certificate, or a certificate from the school. If the school's page does not make this clear, ask the school what recognition the qualification has. Remember also that the right to work as a plumber is regulated country by country, so a qualification gained in one country does not automatically allow you to work in another.

Careers

Plumbers work for installation and maintenance companies, on construction sites and in the maintenance departments of hospitals, hotels and industry, and many are self-employed. In the United States, experienced plumbers who pass a further exam reach master status. With further training, plumbers move into related fields; the National Careers Service mentions heat pump engineering as one option. In Spain, the heat production cycle is linked to the professional cards for thermal installations in buildings and for gas installers.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 510,600 jobs for plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters in 2025 and projects growth of 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, which it describes as much faster than the average for all occupations. These figures refer to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to train as a plumber?

It depends on the country. Apprenticeships last 4 to 5 years in the United States and typically 48 months in England. The Spanish intermediate cycle in heat production installations lasts 2,000 hours. Short introductory courses take a few months.

Do I need a licence to work as a plumber?

That depends on where you work. In the United States, most states require plumbers to be licensed. Check the rules of the country or region where you plan to work.

Is there a vocational training title in plumbing in Spain?

Not under that name. Water installations are part of the official intermediate cycle Técnico en Instalaciones de Producción de Calor, and there is a professional certificate in basic plumbing and domestic heating and air-conditioning operations.

Can I study plumbing at university?

No. Plumbing is a trade learned through vocational courses and apprenticeships, which combine classes with paid or supervised work.