Best Plumbing Schools in Georgia

Plumbing License Requirements in Georgia

Becoming a Master Plumber in Georgia

Quick Guide: Choosing the Best Georgia Plumbing Trade School

Before you open a Google Map and pick the first plumbing trade school you see, you need to sit back and think about a few things. Below you will find crucial consideration factors to help you find the best plumbing trade school for you.

Location

The location of your school will be important. Day or night classes can affect where you go to school, as well. For instance, if you plan to take night courses because you work during the day, you may wish to find a school closer to work than home.

Likewise, if you are not currently working or work night shifts, you may wish to find a school closer to home. However, just because a school is close to you doesn’t make it the best option. There may be a plumbing trade school a few extra miles away with a far better curriculum.

Accredited/Authorized School

Being fully accredited means that your courses and credits (along with any certificates or diplomas received) will be in good standing and easily transfer to colleges or universities if you plan to further your education.

Non-accredited schools will not transfer credits, and you may not even be able to claim the diploma on applications or for licensing acceptance.

Offers Quality Education

Visiting the campus in person is the best way to gauge the level of education quality. Once there, you can speak to current students and the staff. Asking things about the courses, the labs and equipment, as well as expectations and workload, will help you figure out if the school is a good fit.

Offers Hands-on Training

When dealing with trades such as plumbing, hands-on training is crucial. Especially if you are using the school to count towards your secondary experience requirements.

Having one-on-one lab hours will help maximize your experience credits and give you the best opportunity to learn about the equipment and tools of the craft. Make sure your school offers a minimum of 50% of the course devoted to lab work.

Connects you to an Apprenticeship/Internship Program

Post-graduate programs are essential for most students in Georgia. These programs help you find work, apprenticeships, and internships. They know who to contact, how to get in touch with the right people, and will help you do the same.

Using these free programs, you can get questions answered and even help filling out the applications or making sure you have all the correct paperwork to submit.

Offers Customer Service Skills Training

Customer service is an often overlooked part of a course. When dealing with the plumbing trade, customer service is just as important as knowing what a water shut-off valve is. You want to ensure your school has a class or two on customer service.

Knowing how to handle angry customers and communicate efficiently will go a long way to making you more viable and necessary to potential employers.

Affordable

Tuition costs rise every year. However, there are programs available to help you cover expenses. You want to find an affordable school, of course. But even for those that you can pay for out of pocket, a little help never hurts.

Many schools work with sponsors and employers to offer grants, scholarships, and loan repayment services. Make sure you look into all avenues for what is offered to or through your chosen school before enrolling.

8 Best Plumbing Trade Schools in Georgia

Now we will cover the best plumbing trade schools in Georgia. Each one is reviewed and compared. We have separated them by location so you can find the best school that is closest to you.

East Point, GA

If you currently hold a license or are qualified to take the exam, the Georgia Plumbing Institute is for you. This continuing education course is a weekend course, covering five consecutive weekends. Each class is strictly outlined and prepares you for either of the three license exams. You must have state approval and AMP approval with a test date to attend the course (should be done simultaneously).

Upon completion of the course, you will have your continuing education credits for the year as well as be prepared for any licensing exam from the state that is needed to complete your license procedures. 

Atlanta, GA

The apprenticeship training program from Mechanical Trades institute is the best trade school training in Georgia. Working in-hand with the Local 72 union, apprentices who complete this program receive 8000 OJT hours as well as 1200 classroom hours.

With successful completion of the program, you will have a Georgia state journeyman license. You will also be certified in backflow, OSHA 30-hour program, medical gas installation, and brazing. No other school or training can offer the training, experience, and education in the state.

Atlanta Tech offers three programs of study for aspiring plumbers. The biggest draw is the one-on-one training and small class sizes. Here you get all the lab hours you can handle, plus classroom training on theory, customer service, and expectations of future technologies.

The Diploma is a full course that gets you ready for an entry-level position. You can use this diploma to meet requirements for licensing. If you prefer a faster approach, you can also attend one of the two certificate programs for plumbing and pipefitting (standard and residential only). Each course works for continuing education as well as introductory education to the plumbing trades.

North Thomasville, GA

One of the newest programs in the state belongs to Southern Regional Technical College. The Plumbing Professional program ran its very first course from June to September 2020, and this pilot program worked out well. With entry-level attention to the training, you learn every aspect of plumbing trades, from tools to installation and repair.

You will also learn in one of the newest and most advanced labs in the country. Since it has only been used minimally thus far, you are sure to get the best of both the classroom and lab hours, along with the most comprehensive training for beginners.

Warner Robins, GA

If you are looking for an online solution, then Central Georgia Technical College has your answer. This online course is an introduction to plumbing fundamentals. It is a self-paced course so that you can learn and practice on your own schedule.

While you learn the basics of the skill, you can see if plumbing is right for you and then take your education to an apprenticeship for job training, further education, and hands-on learning required for licensing.

Rock Spring, GA

If you want more out of your education and career, you may be interested in construction and building management programs. Georgia Northwestern Technical College offers degree, certificate, and diploma programs designed to take you through all construction trades and certifications so you can begin your own business or work alongside some of the state’s best.

Depending on the course you select, you can get continuing education credits, a diploma, or a degree. All credits will also transfer if you wish to pursue other degrees in the future.

Multi-Campus Schools

Lanier Technical College is one of the few trade schools in the state that actually span the state. The plumbing and pipefitting courses here are taught in an identical manner, regardless of what campus you attend. From Gainesville, Cumming, Winder, Dawsonville, and Commerce, each Lanier campus will have you ready for licensing and apprenticeship in no time.

Picking the campus closest to you is the real benefit here. You can get a high-quality education from a known, established and trusted school, no matter what part of Georgia you live in. Upon completion of the course, you will have entry-level qualifications and exam prep for journeyman licensing exams.

Southern Crescent Technical College is another statewide school that has a trusted and time-tested program. Not only can you become certified in plumbing basics, but the diploma programs are also considered some of the best in the state. You will also find a total of eight different certification courses.

Whether you need a diploma course for an all-inclusive plumbing training or a specialized class to fulfill a job requirement or personal goal, SCTC has you covered. Each course is taught by industry experts with years of field experience.

Plumbing Training School Costs in Georgia

The cost of your education will depend greatly on the type of school you attend, how long the course is, and whether it offers a certificate, diploma, or degree.

Trade schools are the least expensive. With average courses lasting 6 to 12 months, the tuition can range from $800 to about $3000. The higher-end costs will usually include exams, diplomas, and qualify for license experience.

Community colleges and universities may offer diploma or degree programs. Diploma courses are usually stand-alone and only last a few credit-hours. Because of this, you can find courses ranging between $1000 and $3000.

For the degree-granting courses, you will pay the tuition for the degree and its required classes. For an associate’s degree, you can expect to pay an average of about $28,000. A bachelor’s degree can easily exceed $40,000, though.

Is Plumbing a Good Career Choice in Georgia?

Choosing the plumbing career path in Georgia can be quite rewarding. While the wages aren’t as high as they are in some parts of the country, they are still competitive. You also have the opportunity to work up to master plumber or even contractor sooner than in other areas of the country.

Entry Level Plumber Salary in Georgia

Experienced Plumber Salary in Georgia

Return of Investment

With the cost of tuition, supplies, tools, and equipment, you need to know if you can recoup those costs. The answer is yes, of course. From the salary alone, you will be able to pay off any tuition loans and your tools will end up paying for themselves in no time.

However, your ROI goes beyond that. With advancement opportunities, and the ability to work unrestricted on residential, commercial, or industrial plumbing and pipefitting needs across the state, you can do anything.

From working for a well respected and high paying company to starting your own contracting service and hiring plumbers to work for you, the sky is the limit.

Georgia Job Demand

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How much is a plumbing permit in Georgia?

How do I renew my Georgia plumbing apprentice license?

Georgia recognizes apprentices but doesn’t license them. Once you are in an apprenticeship, you will work towards your first license as a journeyman. There are no renewals for apprentices. However, journeyman and master licenses (both Class I and Class II) licenses expire 2 years from the date of issue and must be renewed before they expire. The renewal cost is currently set at $75.

Does my Georgia plumbing license work in any other state?

No. Unfortunately, Georgia doesn’t offer reciprocity licensing for any other state. However, under times of natural disaster recovery or emergency situations (from FEMA or governments), reciprocity may be established to allow work in neighboring states during the emergency or crisis timeline.

How do I stay up to date with plumbing codes?

To stay up to date with current plumbing codes, trends and technologies, you will need to attend an annual continuing education course. These courses can be found in most trade schools or community colleges. The courses usually last 4 hours per day and will take up 1 to 3 days. A completion certificate will be awarded to keep on file for license purposes.

Can I do my own home plumbing in Georgia?

You can work on your own plumbing system in Georgia. However, you are more limited. Basic fixture repair or replacement (sinks, faucets, and toilets) can be completed by the homeowner. You can also replace water lines (flexible) as long as they do not alter or reroute water flow. You cannot remove or alter shut off valves or circumvent any safety measures without a license.

Conclusion

Finding the best plumbing trade school in Georgia isn’t as difficult as it sounds. You can find plenty of options in almost every city or town in the state. However, the best school for you is going to be different for almost everyone.

Location, education quality, and course offerings are the most important aspects. This article gave you the knowledge to find the best school for your needs and showcased the state's best schools. Hopefully, you have a clearer picture of what lies ahead of you in your new career.