Plumbing is an important part of your day-to-day life. When you trust a plumber to clear your drains, fix your water heater or install a water softener, you'd expect the assurance of getting the job done right. While reading reviews and considering the company's years of experience can help, the main thing to look for is a plumbing license.
Only six states — Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania and Wyoming — don’t issue plumbing licenses at the state level. Instead, they use city and county governments to offer oversight and licensing. While the exact requirements to earn a plumbing license vary by city, you can be certain that hiring a licensed professional is the ideal way to reduce the risk of inferior workmanship, deception and health problems.
Educational Expectations for Plumbers
Here's a summary of what it takes to get a plumber's license:
- Education: Lots of vocational schools and community colleges offer plumbing certificates or degrees. This classroom training covers all the crucial skills plumbers use every day.
- Apprenticeship: Both union and non-union organizations have apprenticeship courses that bundle classroom learning with hands-on experience. These programs normally last four to five years, and apprentices receive wages during the course of their training.
- Licensing exam: Each state offers its own plumbing assessment, which candidates must pass to earn a license. The materials covered include things like plumbing fixtures, drainage systems, vents and venting, fabrication, pipe maintenance, administrative procedures and more. Requirements to take the exam vary state-to-state and licensing level.
Types of Plumbing Licenses and Certifications
Plumbers can earn different licenses and certifications based on their knowledge and experience. These vary by location, and not all are offered in every state, but the most common plumbing licenses and certifications include:
- Plumbing certificate: Many states only mandate plumbers to have a certificate to handle residential jobs with a minimal scope of work. This is effectively an apprentice-level plumber working with a certified supervisor.
- Journeyman plumber: In many states, plumbers can take the journeyman’s licensing exam after finishing an apprenticeship and having 4 - 5 years of practical experience.
- Master plumber: The prerequisites to qualify for the master plumber’s licensing exam vary significantly by location. Some states only demand one or two years working as a journeyman plumber, while others insist on four or five years of journeyman experience.
- ACE certification: Progressing to an Advanced Certified Expert demonstrates the top level of professionalism and experience. Attaining ACE certification is more stringent than most plumber licensing and usually requires annual recertification to guarantee that techs are up-to-date with the most current industry standards.
Rewards of Hiring a Licensed Plumber
Selecting an unlicensed plumber for the job may be cheaper initially, but that’s where the benefits stop. Why chance it? — only hire a licensed expert, no matter the job, to ensure all the perks of professional experience:
- Superb workmanship: Plumbing is not as simple as it may seem. Completing even the most straightforward projects, like snaking a drain, requires specialized equipment and years of experience. Because of the need to complete classroom education and hands-on training, you can rest assured that a licensed plumber has what it takes for a job well done.
- Liability insurance: A large number of states require plumbers to display proof of liability insurance as one component of the licensing process. This protects you, the homeowner, from being left responsible for property damage or medical bills if a plumber has an accident while working in your home.
- Authorized and code-compliant: Large plumbing jobs often require permits to ensure safety and legality. Unlicensed plumbers are regularly denied the necessary permits. If they go ahead with the job, you could confront code violations and subsequent penalties later on. Furthermore, you could face legal consequences if an unlicensed plumber harms the local waterways. Prevent these risks by only hiring a licensed professional.
- Preserved health and safety: A well-qualified plumber understands the proper strategies for working on water supply lines, sewer pipes and fuel lines. Years of hands-on experience are necessary to minimize the risk of water pollution, sewer backups and gas leaks.
- Reliable services: Not all plumbers have your best interest at heart. But a fully licensed team is much less likely to attempt to swindle you than an unlicensed company. In the end, homeowners can lodge a formal complaint with the state licensing board if they suspect deception, which might cost the plumber a severe fine or even causing them to forfeit their license. Knowing this provides extra peace of mind when hiring a plumber for the first time.
Set up Any Plumbing Services with a Licensed Professional
At Freschi Service Experts, we go above and beyond to offer the best plumbing services to our clients throughout North America. First, we are licensed, insured and ACE-certified. What’s more, everything we do is backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee. To schedule reliable plumbing services in your area, please contact a Freschi Service Experts office near you today!