Like almost any trade or profession a young person wants to enter, it helps to understand yourself and what motivates you to help direct your career path. Knowing the type of plumber you want to be in the long term as an apprentice plumber enables you to direct your early career path. Working for plumbing contractors who are involved in different types of plumbing can help you figure out where you want to go.
Among the different types of plumbing are residential, commercial, new construction, service, union, nonunion, and industrial. People who like to build rather than fix things might be better off in new construction, whether residential or commercial. On the other hand, if you enjoy looking at an existing installation, diagnosing a problem, and developing a solution to fix the issue, then service might be a better path for you. Another critical issue is whether your goal is to run your own business or to work for others.
Advancing your knowledge of plumbing is critical. That can come by taking courses, studying to gain different certifications, or watching YouTube videos. However, the young plumber who studies the code books, reviews the study manuals for different certifications, and is observant while working with experienced plumbers will learn more and build a reputation for being knowledgeable and solving problems.
