Planning for a career change involves a significant amount of preparation and research, and you’re likely to be weighing up training providers and course times, with qualifications and costs. If you’re considering plumbing as your new career, a big question that many people have is: Exactly how long does it take to become a plumber in the UK?

In this guide, we will explain and compare the different routes to becoming a qualified plumber in the UK and how long each of them typically takes, to give you a better understanding of which option could be right for you. 

How to become a plumber

If you want to become a qualified plumber, common industry-recognised plumbing qualifications are Level 2 plumbing diplomas and NVQ Level 2 in plumbing.  

There are other plumbing courses and qualifications available, though some shorter courses are more suited to learning plumbing for DIY purposes.

Like all trades, there are a few different routes into plumbing, so how do you work out which plumber training is right for you?

The main routes to learning plumbing are a plumbing apprenticeship, a college course, or learning plumbing through a fast-track course with a private construction training provider. Let’s look at each one:  

Plumbing apprenticeship

A plumbing apprenticeship is seen as a traditional route into plumbing that’s often accessed at school-leaver age. It relies on finding suitable apprenticeship employment, so you learn through a combination of mostly real workplace experience and a percentage of off-the-job training to gain a nationally recognised qualification. 

Approximate training length: Typically, 2-3 years, but can vary.

College courses

A full-time plumbing course at an FE college is a great option for young people at the beginning of their construction careers, if they can commit to a full-time study pattern during term time. Although these courses build practical skills, they can have limited time in the workplace, compared to an apprenticeship. 

Approximate training length: Typically,1-2 years, depending on qualification.

Fast-track courses

This is seen as a quicker route into plumbing for people who already have some experience or want a career change. Offers more flexibility, as courses can be part-time, full-time or even blended learning, where the theory is covered by studying from home in your own time. 

Approximate training length: Varies. Starts from 6 weeks.

When you compare plumbing courses in the UK, it really depends on whether it’s for career changers versus school leavers, as to which route could be more suitable. Regardless of the route, learning plumbing combines practical foundations and theoretical knowledge that you can build on by applying the skills in the workplace to gain that all important time on the tools. 

How to become a plumber without doing an apprenticeship

As we’ve outlined above, a plumbing apprenticeship isn’t the only route into the industry and there are many reasons why it might not be suitable for adult career changers who are juggling mortgage payments and family commitments. 

At Able Skills, we have a plumbing course for adults that prioritises practical workshop training to start building work-readiness and gain industry-recognised qualifications.  

The Able Skills City & Guilds Full Plumbing Package combines the following: 

  • City & Guilds plumbing diploma at Level 2
  • G3
  • WRAS
  • NVQ Level 2 Plumbing

What’s the G3 and WRAS?

G3 is a one-day course on vented and unvented hot water systems. WRAS is the Water Regulations course, also a one-day course, which gives you a WRAS certificate that enables you to join and Approved Contractor’s scheme like WIAPS. 

The NVQ Level 2 Plumbing timeline and what’s involved

Once you’ve done the City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in plumbing, where you’ve gained that underpinning knowledge, the NVQ demonstrates that you can do the job in the workplace. 

You’ll need access to work at this stage, as the NVQ Level 2 is a work-based competence assessment where you’ll be appointed an assessor to guide you with the process, which includes a profiling session and two site visits, and you’ll be allocated a portfolio.  

In terms of how long this all takes, the answer is: it depends. For the initial training, the biggest factor affecting timing is whether you do the course full-time, in which case this element will take you 6 weeks, or part-time, in which case it will be over 14 weekends in the pattern of two consecutive weekends each month. The home-study option gives you more flexibility, if you want greater freedom to carry on working while training or fit training around family or caring commitments.  

At the NVQ stage, your access to work and your ability to build a portfolio of evidence will impact completion times, as will the availability of site visits. 

To summarise, the City & Guilds (6035) plumbing Level 2 can take as little as 6 weeks to complete, the G3 and WRAS both take a day each, and the completion of the City & Guilds (6289) NVQ Level 2 Plumbing can vary. 

Why get an NVQ in plumbing?

As Ian, Able Skills’ head of plumbing, explains: “It’s a great option to consider for career progression, as it can help you gain access to site work. It’s also an additional qualification that can strengthen your opportunities when looking at taking on private work.”

Jim, one of the other plumbing instructors, also says: “[The plumbing NVQ] Looks great from an employer’s perspective and can also help increase your earning potential on site. It can progress you from a Skilled Worker to an Experienced Worker, while also helping with liability insurance by demonstrating that you’re a qualified tradesperson.”

Working as a qualified plumber

Once you’ve gained qualifications and begun working in the industry, like many trades, you could experience the opportunity to increase your earnings as you gain experience or specialise. 

The National Careers Service currently places the average salary of plumbers in the UK from £24,000 for people starting out in the industry up to £46,000 for more experienced plumbers. There are many factors that affect earnings, and plumbers who work self-employed or go on to run their own business may see much higher earnings. 

Many plumbers go on to train in gas by doing a Managed Learning Programme (MLP) or doing an NVQ Level 3 in domestic plumbing and heating but specifically choosing gas-related units. Becoming a plumber who also works with gas significantly increases the scope of work you can do.

FAQs about how to become a plumber

Can I become a plumber without doing an apprenticeship?

Yes, you can become a plumber without doing an apprenticeship. There are a few routes into the industry including college courses and plumbing courses with a construction training provider, as well as starting work as a plumber’s mate. 

How long does it take to become a plumber in the UK?

It’s difficult to define a realistic plumbing qualification timeline when learning plumbing for a career change. A first step could be doing a Level 2 Plumbing course, which can be completed in 6 weeks with Able Skills. 

What’s the best route to become a plumber in the UK? 

There’s no best route, but a fast track plumbing course is well suited to learning plumbing for a career change, because it offers flexible start dates, flexible learning patterns and shorter blocks of learning compared to college courses and apprenticeships. 

How do I find an adult plumbing training course near me?

When choosing a plumbing course, look for the industry-recognised qualifications, such as City & Guilds plumbing. Check out their reviews. Ask questions to make sure the course suits your circumstances. If you can, visit the centre to have a look around at training while it’s happening. 

Can I train to be a plumber while still working?

Yes, you absolutely can retrain to become a plumber while working an existing job. For many people simply stopping work and sacrificing a salary to train for a career change just isn’t possible. At Able Skills, we offer full-time plumbing courses Monday to Friday, part-time plumbing courses over the weekends, and we also have a blended learning option that combines home study, where you learn the theory in your own time at home, with in-centre practical work and assessments at a time to suit you. 

Become a plumber with Able Skills 

If you’re looking to become a qualified plumber then our City & Guilds Full Plumbing Package will take you through City & Guilds Level 2 Plumbing Diploma, G3 and WRAS and onto your NVQ industry-recognised, formal trade qualifications. 

Providing trades training since 2002, our dedicated training centre in Dartford, Kent is set up to offer practical training, building work-readiness with the skills and qualifications to succeed in the construction sector. 

Contact us to find out more about our plumbing training.