Plumbers (NOC 7251)

Education, training & qualifications

Completion of secondary school is typically required. Other requirements may include:

• trade certification (Certificate of Qualification, Gas B License and/or Interprovincial Red Seal Endorsement) or apprentice status
• a combination of work experience and in-school training
• completion of three six-week periods and one eight-week period, however, part-time and distance education is available through some institutions

Apprenticeships programs:

• may begin in secondary school, through entry-level training (foundation) programs at colleges and technical institutes or through direct entry to the workplace
• require workers to find a sponsor employer willing to participate in the program

Plumbers are eligible for Interprovincial Standard Endorsement (Red Seal) qualification through the Industry Training Authority, which allows holders to work in any province or territory. Once plumbers pass the final examination of their accredited training program, they will achieve certification and will automatically receive Red Seal qualification.

Plumbers with 8,430 hours of documented, directly related work experience can challenge the Interprovincial Red Seal examination. For more information, please see the Industry Training Authority website at www.itabc.ca.

Plumbers who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.

For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.

Contact the Industry Training Authority of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.

For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.

View a list of B.C. occupational regulators.

Education programs in B.C.

For more information about programs offered specifically for this career, visit EducationPlannerBC.

Trades training resources

Visit our trades training page at www.workbc.ca/trades to learn about apprenticeship and trades training in B.C.