How to become a plumber

It can take years of training to become a properly qualified plumber or heating engineer.

A career in plumbing calls for a dedication to lifelong learning, as the technology advances rapidly.

The plumbing industry holds diverse career paths, good wages and the opportunity for individuals to run their own business.

Many plumbers progress to design, consultancy, teaching and management, making the plumbing and heating industry a career with a long-term future.

However, an understanding of maths and science is vital and those on the tools need a head for heights, the ability to work in cramped conditions and the stamina to complete physically hard work day after day.  

WaterSafe is made up of six Approved Contractor Schemes, which all offer information and advice for people thinking of joining the industry.

The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE) has published fact sheets to support anyone thinking about joining the trade and you may also find the information below from CIPHE useful. 

We would suggest you select your training provider very carefully. Here are some trainers who offer water regulations training and other qualifications.

If you train with an independent trainer it's important to ask if the qualifications you obtain at the end of the programme would allow you to become a WaterSafe approved plumber, as these set a high standard for the industry. 

At a minimum you would require NVQ Level 2 in England and Wales, and SVQ Level 3 in Scotland (not just the technical certificate). Find out more about these with our full list of accepted qualifications.

You can find out more about the requirements to qualify for WaterSafe in our  membership section. If your training doesn't meet these requirements then your qualifications may not be recognised by the industry once you start work.

Training providers who tell you that you will be able to register but do not provide the correct qualifications may well be in breach of consumer legislation and could be subject to investigation by Trading Standards.

FAQs

Read our answers to frequently asked questions on joining the industry.