How to Become a Plumber in Utah

Plumbers hold a lucrative occupation, as there’s always a need for one.

If you consider becoming one in the State of Utah, this article will guide you through the steps you have to follow.

Plumber Job Description and Requirements

In Utah, plumbers are overseen by the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL).

These professionals also need to obey the Plumber Licensing Act in the Utah Administrative Code (AUC).

These tradesmen work with all sorts of pipes:

• For water supply
• For gas
• For waste

Their daily tasks include:

• Reading or drafting blueprints
• Installing the piping system
• Maintaining the water system
• Repairing the system whenever needed
• Ensuring the safety standards
• Meeting building regulations
• Using the appropriate devices to measure or solder

In Utah, plumbers cannot work without a license.

The licenses someone can earn in the plumbing field are:

• Apprentice
• Journeyman
• Master

Becoming a Plumber Apprentice

Those who want to become plumber apprentices in Utah need to:

• Fill out the application form
• Pay the fee – $116
• Show a high school diploma or GED
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a clean criminal record
• Know English
• Be allowed to work in the US
• Know math

To become an apprentice you can either:

• Join an apprenticeship program
• Get hired as an apprentice
• Enroll in a training school

All options will require you to:

• Accumulate enough hands-on experience
• Receive some education in a classroom setting

The difference is that those who get hired as apprentices need to accumulate 16,000 hours of experience in 8 years while in a training school you’ll need 8,000 hours in 4 years.

Those who choose the vocational school route will need to accumulate 576 hours of classroom education.

They have the option of earning an associate’s degree which is helpful to earn certain licenses later on.

Apprentices complete plumbing work while being under the supervision of a licensed plumber.

Becoming a Journeyman Plumber

Once the apprenticeship is completed, you can become a journeyman.

Journeymen have the right qualifications, training, experience, and technical knowledge to operate in the plumbing trade.

The process of becoming one involved filling out the application form, paying the application fee, and passing an exam.

The exam has 2 parts, one for the practical skills and one of the knowledge.

The fees associated with the exams are:

• $89 for the theory exam
• $103 for the practical exam

Becoming a Residential Journeyman Plumber

A residential journeyman plumber is allowed to only work on residential properties.

The requirements to become one are less strict compared to the journeyman plumber.

These are:

• 6,000 hours of training in 3 years, including 432 hours of classroom education
• Training and instruction in specific areas
• Passing the exams

If you can’t undergo this training, you can alternatively complete both of the following:

• 12,000 hours of experience in six years
• 9,000 hours minimum of experience directly involved in the plumbing trade

Becoming a Master Plumber

Journeymen plumbers have the option of becoming master plumbers.

The requirements are:

• Accumulate 4,000 hours of supervised experience including:
  • 700 hours of supervising employees;
  • 700 hour of supervising construction projects;
  • 300 hours of cost/price management;
  • 300 hours of miscellaneous construction experience.
• An Associate of Applied Sciences degree at one of the specified schools and courses in the UAC.
• Pass the skills and knowledge exams
• Pay the fees:
  • $103 for the skills test
  • $89 for the theory test

All the experience must be obtained with no more than 2,000 hours in a 12-month period.

Those who passed the skills test for the journeyman license, don’t need to re-take this exam.

Becoming a Residential Master Plumber

Just like the residential journeymen, residential master plumbers work only on residential properties.

Candidates for this license need to pass separate exams compared to master plumbers, but the fees are the same.

Plumber Salary Information

Apprentices are employees, but they receive a much lower salary than the more experienced plumbers.

Plumbers in Utah can earn the highest average salary in Saint George, though in cities like Salt Lake City, West Jordan, and Sandy, the average salary is also higher than the rest of the state.

Regional Salary in Utah

Additional Information

While you know how much you’ll earn and how to get there, there are a few other things you should be aware of

For instance, plumbers licensed in other states still need to meet the same educational requirements as the residents of the state.

They also need to pass the same exams as the resident future plumbers.

Schools Offering Plumbing Programs in Utah

Plumbing License by City

Plumbing License by State