PIPE – Plumbing Industry Professional Education

ABC Central Florida

Plumbing Apprenticeship Training Program

The P.I.P.E. program is provided in conjunction with local contractors and construction associations and utilizes NCCER curriculum. This curriculum is nationally recognized, standardized and portable, and incorporates both formal classroom instruction and hands-on training. In additional, instructors are required to have a journeyman's license or higher and have at least 6 years field experience. The plumbing program is governed by an apprenticeship committee representing the participating contractors.

Term of Apprenticeship

The term of apprenticeship consists of four years which includes 8,000 on-the-job training hours and 720 hours of classroom instruction.

Eligibility

Apprentices must be at least 18 years of age, be employed by a licensed plumbing contractor participating in the apprenticeship program. Apprentices must be physically able to perform the work of the trade and have a satisfactory mode of transportation to work and school. Apprentices must be able to read and understand English.

Credit

If the following conditions are met, an apprentice may advance up to two (2) years in the program. Provide documentation of a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training per level being advanced. Pass the advancement test required for each level with a score of 80% of better. There is a charge to take the advanced placement test.

Wages

Beginning apprentices start at 50% of the journeyman-level wage. Upon successful completion of the required class work and on-the-job hours, wages increase usually every six months, until the average journeyman-level rate is achieved.

Class Schedule

Classes are available at two locations.

Orange Technical College - Westside Campus
2010 Ocoee Apopka Road
Ocoee, FL 34761
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 pm

Orange Technical College - Eatonville Campus
230 South College Avenue
Eatonville, FL 32751
Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:00-9:00 pm

Course Descriptions

Level One
Intro to the Plumbing Profession | Plumbing Safety | Tools of the Plumbing Trade | Intro to Plumbing Math | Intro to Plumbing Drawings | Plastic Pipe & Fittings | Copper Tube & Fittings | Cast Iron Pipe & Fittings | Steel Pipe & Fittings | Intro to Plumbing Fixtures | Intro to DWV Systems | Intro to Water Distribution Systems

Level Two
Plumbing Math Two | Reading Commercial Drawings | Structural Penetrations, Insulation & Fire Stopping | Installing & Testing DWV Piping | Installing Roof, Floors, & Area Drains | Installing & Testing Water Supply Piping | Types of Valves | Installing Fixtures & Valves | Installing Water Heaters | Basic Electricity | Fuel Gas & Fuel Oil Systems 

Level Three
Applied Math | Service Plumbing | Sizing & Protecting the Water Supply System | Potable Water Supply Treatment | Types of Venting | Sizing DWV & Storm Systems | Sewage Pumps & Sump Pumps | Corrosive Resistant Waste Piping | Compressed Air | Service Plumbing

Level Four
Business Principles for Plumbers | Fundamentals of Crew Leadership | Water Pressure Booster & Recirculation Systems | Indirect & Special Waste | Hydronic & Solar Heating Systems | Codes | Private Water Supply Well Systems | Private Waste-Disposal Systems | Swimming Pools & Hot Tubs | Plumbing for Mobile Homes & Travel Trailer Parks | Intro to Medical Gas & Vacuum Systems