Introducing: Penn Foster’s Plumbing Career Diploma Program
While PCDI is no longer accepting enrollments in our Plumbing Career Diploma Program, we’re excited to introduce you to our partner school, Penn Foster.
If you're interested in an in-demand career that allows you to use your troubleshooting skills while offering a valuable service, then our online Plumber Career Diploma can help you prepare to take the first steps. With flexible online classes, you can build industry knowledge at your own pace, right from home.
LEARN MOREPipeline to a Great Plumbing Career
Explore our online Plumber Career Diploma to kickstart a rewarding career. Gain essential skills at your own pace with flexible classes from home. Prepare for entry-level roles and earn an average salary of $60,090 per year.*
Why Penn Foster?
Penn Foster has been on a mission to help people like you obtain skills and achieve their career goals for more than 130 years. We provide students with a quality education that fits their busy lifestyle and budget, offering over 100 self-paced, career-relevant programs across our College, Career School, and High School. Every course is designed to work with your schedule, anytime, anywhere you want to study. With a focus on relevant skills and career prep for the job you’re after, Penn Foster can help you graduate with confidence and help provide a guide towards your career goals.
What You'll Learn in Penn Foster’s Online Plumbing Career Diploma Program
- How to identify the skills needed to use plumbing tools on the common types of plumbing and piping systems, as well as the applicable codes, standards, and licensing procedures.
- How to remove old fixtures, choose and install new fixtures, and repair fixtures.
- How to recognize basics of the construction industry: the trades that compose it, tasks performed, skills needed, and its safe work practices.
- How to read piping drawings and use them in your daily work.
Penn Foster’s Online Plumbing Career Diploma Program
In Penn Foster's online Plumbing courses, you'll learn the skills and knowledge essential to prepare for an entry-level job as a plumber through interactive animations, simulations, and videos. The program is self-paced, meaning you can learn on your own schedule from home. Your online courses include:
- Modern Plumbing
- Introduction to Plumbing and Pipefitting
- Reading Piping Prints
Learn More About the Penn Foster Experience
At Penn Foster, we think online learning can make a big difference in people's lives, and it should be available to everyone. That's why we've made our programs affordable and tailored to fit your needs. You can learn and improve your skills for the job you want, all at your own pace and on your own schedule.
Plumbing Career Diploma Program FAQs
According to national averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for an entry-level plumber in 2020 was $59,880 per year or $28.78 per hour.* The average salary can vary based on experience, where you work, and the state in which you live.
Licensing and certification requirements for plumbers can vary from state to state. However, most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed. Although licensing requirements vary, states and localities often require workers to have 2 to 5 years of experience and to pass an exam that shows their knowledge of the trade before allowing plumbers to work independently. Entry-level plumbers may need to complete an apprenticeship under experienced workers or supervisors after graduating from a trade school or vocational program. Click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information. If you are looking to finish up high school and get a jumpstart on your career you can also enroll in our high school diploma with plumbing pathways program.
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters can find work in factories, homes, businesses, and other places where there are pipes and related systems. In these roles, you'll be expected to lift heavy materials, climb ladders, and work in tight spaces. Some plumbers travel to worksites every day and even work with other contractors. Outdoor work, in all types of weather conditions, may be required.
Learning to become a plumber usually combines a formal vocational education with an apprenticeship post-graduation. While the online plumber course from Penn Foster can be completed around your schedule, paid apprenticeships can take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to complete.
Sources:
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed October 2, 2023.
Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.
