What You Need to Know to Become a Plumber in the Greater Sacramento Area
The Greater Sacramento area is awesome! The weather is temperate, a good economy, no corporate taxes. Even their plumbers make more money. The average plumber makes about $70K a year. Plus, there are plenty of growth opportunities.
What Do Plumbers Do?
Sacramento plumbers supply safe water from premises. They’re also responsible for waste removal.
Master plumbers can also install, repair, replace, and connect several components. This refers to anything that creates, transfers, changes, or uses electrical energy. It doesn’t matter the purpose or form. This applies to several things, like electrical wires. It applies to appliances, fixtures, raceways, solar photovoltaic plants, and conduits as well.
Is A Plumber’s License Required in the Greater Sacramento Area?
Yes, you need a license to become a plumber in the state of California. The process is straightforward.
The Department of Consumer Affairs awards plumbing licenses. The basic requirements include:
- At least 18 years old
- GED or high school diploma
- Clean criminal background
- Completion of apprenticeship program
You also need to know the type of plumber you are. It determines the exam you’re taking.
There are two plumbing ranks:
Journeyman
A journeyman’s license lets you work in California on jobs worth $500 in materials and labor. As you get more experienced, the requirements change. You must sit for the contractor’s exam.
Master Plumber
You need a C-36 contractor’s license for all projects over $500. You can apply for it after a certain level of journeyman experience or if you want to be your own boss.
The application processing time takes about seven weeks. Plus, there are certain criteria you must meet before advancing to this level:
- All applicants receive approval by the board to sit for the exam
- Have several years’ experience as a journeyman, supervisor, contractor, or owner
- Must have a working capital totaling at least $2.5K
- Go to the registrar to file a bond for $10K
You must also pass the California plumbers exam. After that, there’s the Business and Law exam. You must also pay fees:
- $300: To sit for the contractor’s exam
- $200: To get a license
Permit or License?
All plumbers need a license. The state determines plumbing licensing and certification requirements. Once you pass your California plumber license, the cycle repeats every two years.
Plumbers need permits for special jobs. This includes any job that involves installing, changing, repairing, replacing piping systems. Get permits from the Sacramento Public Works Department.
How to Boost Your Chances of Success
Knowledge is essential if you want to succeed as a Sacramento plumber. You must have five years of apprenticeship under your belt. It doesn’t matter if this is through classroom training or through a more hands-on approach. You can do a mixture of both.
What’s an Apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship provides invaluable hands-on experience and training. A complete program takes approximately five years to complete.
There are three apprenticeship levels. Each one denotes a certain level of experience. For the first two levels, you must train at least four hours a day for a year with a contractor. A contractor with registration says he or she can sponsor an apprentice. To pass the third level, you need two more years of training.
Make sure the state approves any apprentice programs you enter. California’s Bureau of Contractors gave them accreditation.
What Should You Expect on the Exam?
The California Plumbing Exam isn’t long. There are 50 questions about plumbing theory and codes:
- Job and worker safety
- The service, repair, and refurbishment of plumbing systems, both regular and rough-in
- Estimating and planning
- Finishing plumbing installations
The journey to being a plumber in the greater Sacramento area has many requirements. But, its advantages, like a good salary, make it worth it. Contact us today for more information.