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Plumber apprenticeships in California
California registers plumbing apprenticeships with its Division of Apprenticeship Standards.1 Most run 4 to 5 years, take apprentices from age 16 or 17 or 18, and pay from the first day.
Find a program near you
Enter your ZIP to sort by distance.
50 programs
Associated Builders & Contractors Northern California Chapter (ABC Norcal) Plumbing U.A.C.
Livermore · Alameda County
Plumber
- Length
- 4 years
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Associated Builders & Contractors Of San Diego, Inc. Plumbing / Pipefitting U.A.C.
Poway · San Diego County
Pipefitter / Steamfitter · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Central Valley-Motherlode Plumbers, Pipe & Refrig. Fitters JATC
Modesto · Stanislaus County
Plumber · Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Contra Costa Co. Plumbing & Pipe Fitting JATC
Martinez · Contra Costa County
Plumber · Steamfitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Fresno Area Plumbers, Pipe & Refrigeration Fitters JATC
Fresno · Fresno County
Glendale Burbank SF Valley Plumbers Steamfitters JATC 761
Burbank · Los Angeles County
Maintenance Plumber (Service And Repair) · Steamfitter / Pipefitter · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Hydra Ventures, dba Cal Pacific Plumbing System
San Francisco · San Francisco County
J. Noble binns PlumbingInc.
Bakersfield · Kern County
JAC Plumbing & Pipefitting, Sacramento
Sacramento · Sacramento County
Plumber/Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- None required
- To get in
- No test or interview
JATC of the Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry UA Local 38
San Francisco · San Francisco County
Plumber · Steamfitter- Pipe Fitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
JATC Plumbing, Pipe-Fitting & Refrigeration Industry of San Mateo County
Burlingame · San Mateo County
Plumber & Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Joint Apprenticeship Committee For The Plumbing & Pipefitting Industry Sacramento – Yolo Districts
Sacramento · Sacramento County
Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee For The Plumbing, Pipefitting & Steamfitting Industry Of Orange County - U.A. Local 582
Orange · Orange County
Plumber · Steamfitter/Pipefitter · Maintenance Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Kern, Inyo & Mono Counties Plumbing, Pipefitter & Refrigeration/Air Conditioning Mechanic J.A.T.C.
Bakersfield · Kern County
Pipefitter · Maintenance Plumber · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Local Union 460 Pipe Trades
Bakersfield · Kern County
Los Angeles & Vicinity Steamfitters & Industrial Pipefitters JATC
Gardena · Los Angeles County
Steamfitter/Industrial Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- No test or interview
Los Angeles Metropolitan Plumbers J.A.T.C.
Los Angeles · Los Angeles County
Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- No test or interview
Marseilles Plumbing
Atascadero · San Luis Obispo County
Monterey And Santa Cruz Counties Plumbers, Pipe And Refrigeration Fitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (J.A.T.C.)
Castroville · Monterey County
Plumber · Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 16
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Monterey/Santa Cruz JATCfor the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry U.A. Local 062
Castroville · Monterey County
Napa and Solano JATC Plumbers & Steamfitters
Vacaville · Solano County
Pipefitter · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Northern California Area Plumbers, Pipe And Refrigeration Fitters Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (J.A.T.C.)
Marysville · Yuba County
Plumber · Steamfitter/Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
O'Brien/Drain Aid Plumbing Company
Crestline · San Bernardino County
Orange County Plumbers & Steamfitters JATC
Orange · Orange County
P.H.C.C. Of The Greater Sacramento Area Plumbers U.A.C.
Sacramento · Sacramento County
Plumber
- Length
- 4 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Pinnacle Plumbing
Davis · Yolo County
Pipe Trades JATC of Santa Clara and San Benito Co
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Steamfitter · Steamfitter / Pipefitter · Maintenance Plumber · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Pipe Trades JATC Of Santa Clara And San Benito Counties (Residential)
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Of Santa Clara And San Benito Counties
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Of Santa Clara And San Benito Counties
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Steamfitter - Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test
Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Of Santa Clara And San Benito Counties
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 17
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test
Pipe Trades Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee Of Santa Clara And San Benito Counties
San Jose · Santa Clara County
Residential Plumber
- Length
- 4 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- None required
- To get in
- Written test
PL Plumbing Inc
Simi Valley · Ventura County
Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors
Sacramento · Sacramento County
Pomona & San Gabriel Valleys Plumbers & Steamfitte
Rancho Cucamonga · San Bernardino County
Pipefitter / Steamfitter · Maintenance Plumber · Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- No test or interview
Promo Plumbing, Inc.
San Mateo · San Mateo County
Romans Plumbing Inc.
Petaluma
San Bernardino & Riverside Co. Plumbing & Steamfitters
Colton · San Bernardino County
San Bernardino & Riverside Counties Plumbing & Steamfitter Trade J.A.C.
Colton · San Bernardino County
Plumber · Steamfitter & Industrial Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
San Diego & Imperial County Pipe Trades Apprenticeship Program
San Diego · San Diego County
Plumber · Steamfitter, Industrial Pipefitter, Pipefitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test
San Luis Obispo County Plumbing JAC
San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo County
Maintenance Plumber · Pipefitter · Plumber · Steamfitter
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Southern California Chapter Of The Associated Builders And Contractors, Inc., Plumbers Unilateral Apprenticeship Committee
Anaheim · Orange County
Plumber
- Length
- 4 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 483 JATC
Hayward · Alameda County
Sprinkler Fitters UA Local 709 JATC
Whittier · Los Angeles County
UA Local 342 Plumbers & Pipefitters JATC
Concord · Contra Costa County
Union Pipe Trades Training Center
San Diego · San Diego County
United Association Local Union 342 J.A.T.C.
Concord · Contra Costa County
Pipefitter · Steamfitter-Pipefitter · Plumber · Residential Light Commercial Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Ventura Co. Plumbers & Pipefitters JAC
Oxnard · Ventura County
Ventura County Plumbing & Pipefitting J.A.C.
Ventura · Ventura County
Pipefitter · Plumber · Steamfitter · Maintenance Plumber
- Length
- 5 years
- Minimum age
- 18
- Education
- High school or GED
- To get in
- Written test + interview
Yuba Shasta UA Local 228 JATC
Marysville · Yuba County
No programs match. Clear the county or type filter, or try a nearby ZIP.
Union or open shop?
Union
Run by a joint committee run by the United Association (UA) local and union contractors. You apply to the committee, take an aptitude test and an interview, and wait on a ranked list. The committee sends you to its contractors.
Pay is a set share of the union journey-level rate and steps up on a schedule. Classes are nights or week-long blocks, usually paid for by the program.
Open shop
Run by PHCC, ABC or a single plumbing contractor. You usually get hired by a member contractor first, and the contractor enrolls you.
Your employer sets the pay and the raises. Classes are nights or weekends, and some programs charge tuition.
What do programs ask for?
From the 27 state-registered programs in the list above.
Age
At least 16 or 17 or 18.
High school diploma or GED
25 of the 27 state-registered programs list one. Bring a transcript.
Aptitude test or interview
23 of 27 list a written test and 19 an interview. Union programs rank applicants by the two.
Driver's license and drug screen
Many programs ask for both, since apprentices drive between job sites.
Applying this month
Get your papers together1 week
High school transcript or GED, a photo ID, and your birth certificate or proof of age. Programs that ask for algebra want the transcript that shows it.
- Time
- 1 week
Practice for the aptitude test2 to 4 weeks
Union programs test algebra and reading. A few evenings with a practice test helps your ranking.
- Time
- 2 to 4 weeks
Pick three programs and check their dates1 evening
Union programs take applications in set windows, some once a year. Open-shop programs and employer programs often take them year-round.
- Time
- 1 evening
Apply, then keep working
Apply to all three. While you wait, a helper or trainee job with a licensed contractor gives you hours and a reference.
Can't get in yet?
Pre-apprenticeship
Short programs that teach the basics and help with the application. California lists these:1
Start on a crew
Licensed contractors hire helpers with no experience. Keep a log of your hours and employers; many programs and license boards count them. If you'd rather learn the basics first, 13 schools in California have plumber programs.
The license steps in CaliforniaHow do you get into a plumber apprenticeship in California?
Pick programs near you, check each one's website for its application dates, and apply to more than one. Union programs test and interview, then rank applicants; open-shop programs usually start once a member contractor hires you.
How much do plumber apprentices make in California?
Programs set their own scales, usually a share of journey-level pay that rises every year. For a floor, the lowest-paid tenth of all plumbers in California earned $22.76 an hour or less in May 2025.
Plumber pay in CaliforniaOther routes in California
Sources
- California Division of Apprenticeship Standards, apprenticeship program search (data as of 10/27/2026) (dir.ca.gov, 10/27/2026)
- U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov registered apprenticeship partners (apprenticeship.gov)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, California, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)