Get Your High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent

Complete Pre-Apprenticeship Training

While finding an employer sponsor right away is an option, many aspiring tradespeople wonder how to get into plumbing with no experience. The answer is to enroll in a dedicated pre-apprenticeship program.

Graduating from a plumbing pre-apprenticeship program proves your competency to future employers, helping you bypass the experience barrier and secure a sponsor much faster. At Skilled Trades College, our Plumber Pre-Apprentice Course is intentionally designed to give you a competitive head start. In just 12 weeks, students get immersive, hands-on instruction to master the use of hand and power tools, plus classroom training in the basics of plumbing systems, workplace safety, and the Ontario Building Code.

Courses are led by plumbing industry professionals who are dedicated to preparing the next generation of plumbing contractors in Ontario. Think of a pre-apprenticeship program as a launchpad to hone your skills development and confidence, so you’re ready to go on day one of your formal apprenticeship.

Plumbing Pre-Apprenticeship Course

Gain Work Experience (Plumbing Apprenticeship)

Becoming a plumber in Ontario requires you to complete a formal apprenticeship administered by Skilled Trades Ontario. Once you find a qualified employer sponsor, you’ll sign a Registered Training Agreement.

An apprenticeship in the plumbing trade takes approximately 4-5 years to complete and consists of a total of 9,000 hours:

• On-the-Job Training: 8,280 hours of practical, paid experience guided by a licensed mentor.

• In-School Technical Training: 720 hours split across three progressive levels of classroom learning (Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced) at an approved Training Delivery Agent.

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Plumbing Pre-Apprenticeship Course

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Get Your High School Diploma - Skilled Trades College

Roadmap to Becoming a Plumber in Ontario

Launching a rewarding plumbing career requires passing through precise professional milestones. This definitive roadmap outlines every critical phase you must navigate to securing your provincial trade license and beyond.

Get your high school diploma or GED equivalent

Fast-track your hands-on skill development through a 12-week plumbing course at Skilled Trades College

Find a licensed plumbing contractor or union to hire and sponsor you as an apprentice & register your training agreement

Become a licensed plumber after passing the C of Q certification exam

Expand your credentials with a Red Seal certification and work anywhere in Canada

Plumber Salary in Canada

Plumbing is one of the highest-paying and most economically stable skilled trades. Registered apprentices earn a scaled percentage of a journeyperson's wage, meaning you receive consistent raises as you acquire hours. Fully licensed plumbers in Ontario enjoy highly competitive salaries, with additional earning potential available through overtime shifts, union benefits, or launching an independent plumbing contracting business.

⮕ Commercial Plumber: $80,000+
⮕ Residential Service & Repair Plumber: $75,000+
⮕ Steamfitter/Pipefitter: $90,000+
⮕ Plumber Inspector or Foreman: $85,000+
⮕ Plumbing Business Owner: $100,000+

Plumbing Pre-Apprenticeship Course

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Benefits of Becoming a Plumber

Diverse Employment Opportunities

Exceptional Financial Stability

Pride & Quality of Work

Benefits of Becoming a Plumber - Skilled Trades College

Kickstart Your Trades Career with Hands-On Training at STC!

Discover how to become a plumber in Ontario by enrolling in our intensive, 12-week pre-apprenticeship training program. At Skilled Trades College, we provide the practical, foundational skills you need to secure a sponsor, accumulate your apprenticeship hours, and fast-track your journey toward challenging the provincial exam.

Start your path to becoming a highly paid, fully certified plumber and open doors to earning your national Red Seal endorsement. Your career in the trades begins right here!

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FAQs

How long does it take to become a plumber?

In Ontario, it typically takes approximately 4-5 years to fully transition from a beginner to a licensed plumber. This encompasses the mandatory 9,000 total training hours required by Skilled Trades Ontario.

How hard is it to become a plumber?

Becoming a plumber requires you to be physically fit, dedicated, and possess sharp critical-thinking abilities. While mastering advanced plumbing codes, construction drawings, and geometric calculations can be challenging, completing a structured foundational program like Skilled Trades College's pre-apprenticeship plumbing training makes the overall learning curve much more manageable.

Do I need to be good at math to be a plumber?

Yes, basic math is a daily requirement for plumbers. You don't need advanced calculus, but you will routinely use practical geometry, fractions, and algebra to calculate pipe angles, offsets, water pressure differentials, and material measurements. Pre-apprenticeship programs are excellent for teaching you the exact trade math formulas you'll need on the job!

Is it possible to get into plumbing with no experience?

If you have zero prior experience, the most effective path is to enroll in a pre-apprenticeship program. Practical training teaches you basic safety protocols, tools, foundational plumbing systems and plumbing theory, giving you the hands-on confidence and portfolio necessary to attract an employer sponsor.

What is the difference between a residential and commercial plumber?

Residential plumbers work primarily in homes and small apartments, dealing with standard water pipes, water heating systems, and household plumbing fixtures. Commercial plumbers work in large structures like hospitals or malls, managing massive, multi-story industrial piping systems, commercial waste removal, and public water infrastructure.

Get Job-Ready
in 12 weeks

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9,281+

LIVES CHANGED

Young man wearing a UFC hard hat and orange safety vest working with electrical wires in a workshop.

12,481+

WIRES PULLED

85,382+

2X4'S CUT

9,756+

PIPES LAYED

Two construction workers wearing orange safety vests and white helmets installing black pipes in a wooden framed building interior.

9,281+

LIVES CHANGED

12,481+

WIRES PULLED

85,382+

2X4'S CUT

9,756+

PIPES LAYED

9,281+

LIVES CHANGED

12,481+

WIRES PULLED

85,382+

2X4'S CUT

9,756+

PIPES LAYED

get Job-Ready in only
Twelve Weeks

How to Become a
‍plumber

What Is a Plumber?

Get Your High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent

Complete Pre-Apprenticeship Training

Gain Work Experience (Plumbing Apprenticeship)

Get Your License

Roadmap to Becoming a Plumber in Ontario

Plumber Salary in Canada