Unique hands-on apprenticeship program at HoHoKus School of Trade in Paterson developed to meet growing demand
Did you know that plumbing is one of the best-paid skills jobs in the market right now? With a median wage of $73,260 in the New York Metro Area as of May 2015, it’s a field that is becoming increasingly appealing for people looking to make a career change. Despite a job market that is still plagued with unemployment woes and many industries experiencing a slowdown in job growth, plumbing is surging ahead with nearly 50,000 new jobs in the field expected in the next seven years.
In fact, job growth in the field is almost double the national average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, thanks in part to new building construction and stricter water efficiency standards for plumbing systems, and a significant number of plumbers that are expected to retire in the next 10 years.
Plumbers are best known for showing up when a burst pipe fills the basement with water or the hot water heater fails and showers are suddenly ice cold, but residential work makes up just one part of the career, as plumbers also play a vital part in new construction and commercial settings, consulting blueprints, installing or maintaining pipe systems, and securing different types of fixtures.
If all of this has you considering a career in plumbing, you should give HoHoKus School of Trade in Paterson a call. The trade school has developed a unique plumbing program to meet the high demand in plumbing, recently adding over 12,000 square feet of hands-on training classroom space that features a functional mock training building where students work together to install and maintain various systems.
The fully-accredited program prepares students for a career in both residential and light commercial plumbing, training them to install, repair and troubleshoot equipment, with classroom instruction in blueprint reading, joining, soldering, and building code procedures. Students are trained in the installation and maintenance of plumbing fixtures, drainage, vent, and waste systems, and hot water and radiant heating systems, following OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards for safety and building codes.
But what has really set the program apart from others in the area is the valuable apprenticeship component: graduates of the plumbing program at HoHoKus -Trades earn the equivalent of one full year’s apprenticeship experience, with graduates recognized by the New Jersey Association of Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling Contractors (NJPHCC). This provides a unique advantage to those looking to start a career in plumbing, explains campus director and vice president of Eastwick Education, Alan Concha.
“In many skilled trades, plumbing included, apprenticeship training is an essential step to becoming licensed. The advantage of our plumber apprenticeship program is that it effectively provides a comprehensive trade school education and career experience at the same time. That way, when you graduate you already have one-year of apprenticeship experience under your belt, and that looks great to employers.”
“If you enjoy working with your hands, are able to conceptualize the flow of liquids, and can read and follow required codes, you would be a great fit for a career in plumbing and pipefitting,” adds Concha.
Learn more about the Plumber Apprenticeship in Paterson.