Trade Schools
If you live in Colorado and you want to start a career in plumbing, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best plumber training schools in your state and the programs they offer.
Our list includes certificate programs that can be completed in a few months and apprenticeships that take up to five years to complete but include paid on-the-job training as well as classroom instruction.
Courses focus on teaching job-ready skills such as:
- Reading and interpreting blueprints
- Installing, repairing, and maintaining plumbing systems in buildings
- Fixing and repairing various appliances
- Preparing cost estimates
- Handling customer queries
- And more
Plumber annual wages range from less than $40,000 to more than $100,000, depending on experience, industry of employment, and many other factors.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage reported by workers in this profession was calculated at $61,550, as of May 2023.
So you want to start a career in trades that can be both personally and financially rewarding we encourage you to read further.
1Red Rocks Community College
About the School
Red Rocks Community College offers a Plumbing program that provides basic job-entry skills as well as job upgrading.
The education covers Service Plumbing, Heating Repair and Maintenance and preparation for all of the state plumbing exams.
The program is offered at the Lakewood campus.
A certificate in Plumbing prepares students for careers as Residential Plumbers, Commercial Plumbers, Drain Technicians, Pipelayers, Plumbing Sales Consultants, and Plumbing Service Technicians.
Courses Offered
The curriculum includes 18.5 credits and courses such as:
- Piping Skills
- Plumbing Service
- Soldering & Brazing Skills
- International Plumbing Code
- Community First Aid and CPR
- Electrical Safety Requiremets
- Electricity for HVAC/R or Basic Electricity
Contact Information
- Address: 13300 W. 6th Ave. Lakewood, CO 80228
- Phone: 303.914.6600
- Website: https://www.rrcc.edu
2Plumbers Training Institute
About the School
Plumbers Training Institute is a leading provider of online education and training for construction professionals.
The following programs are available at the institute:
- Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep
- Master Plumber Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep courses include:
- Colorado 2021 IPC Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep
- Colorado Journeyman Plumbing Vents
- Colorado Plumbing Isometric Basics
The Colorado 2021 IPC Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep costs $389.
The other courses are $29 and $19, respectively.
Contact Information
- Phone: 855-284-8738
- Website: https://www.plumberstraininginstitute.com
3Emily Griffith Technical College
Emily Griffith Technical College is a public, postsecondary and adult education arm of the Denver Public School system.
It is one of the three area technical colleges in the Colorado Community College System.
Courses Offered
Emily Griffith Technical College offers a Plumber Register Apprenticeship that provides students with on-the-job training and coursework provided by apprenticeship partners.
The programs typically last four to five years.
Plumber apprentices must be 18 years of age or older and hold a high school diploma or GED and have a valid driver’s license.
Students prepare for careers as Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters, and more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1860 Lincoln St. Denver, CO 80203
- Phone: 720-423-4700
- Website: https://www.emilygriffith.edu
4Western States College of Construction
About the School
Western States College of Construction offers a Plumbing program that includes the following areas of study: math, science, trade history, code & blueprint reading, safety, piping & tubing.
Students learn how to install domestic water systems, sanitary waste and vent systems, sanitary storm drainage systems, utility piping, natural gas piping, and medical gas systems.
The Plumbing apprenticeship is a five-year program.
Students receive a minimum of 1,700 hours per year of on-the-job learning and approximately 246 hours per year of related instruction.
The only costs to students are:
- Books/supplies equipment: $50-$500 per year
- Fees: $30-$300 per year
Students receive an average salary of approximately $78,000 in total during the apprenticeship.
Contact Information
- Address: 1391 Speer Blvd, Ste. 450 Denver, CO 80204
- Phone: (303) 757-3956
- Website: https://westernstatescollege.org
5Construction Industry Training Council
About the School
Construction Industry Training Council offers a Plumbing program that prepares students to assemble, install, and repair pipes, fittings, and fixtures of heating, water and drainage systems, while following specifications and plumbing codes.
The apprenticeship can be completed in four years.
Each year consists of 144 hours of classroom training and 2,000 hours of on-the-job training.
Training covers topics such as:
- Introduction to the Plumbing
- Materials Handling
- Rigging and Hoisting
- Basic Electricity
- CPR/First Aid
- Trade Math
- Underground Piping Systems/Total Station
- Sizing, Installing and Testing Water Supply Piping
- Water Supply Distribution
- Fundamentals of Crew Leadership
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 9901 W 50th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
- Phone: 303 893 1500
- Website: https://www.citcinc.org
6Plumbers Local Union 3
About the School
Plumbers Local Union 3 preserves, promotes, and protects the welfare of all employees in the plumbing industry within their jurisdiction.
The union offers an apprenticeship program that may include job opportunities with basic wages beginning at 50% of the Journeyman scale.
The program has the following admission requirements:
- Being at least 18 years of age
- Holding a high school diploma or GED Equivalency Certificate
Contact Information
- Address: 17100 E. 32nd Place, Aurora, CO
- Phone: 303-739-9300
- Website: https://plumberslocal3.org
7Colorado Mesa University
About the School
Colorado Mesa University offers a Plumbing program that includes the following courses:
- Plumbing Service and Repair
- International Plumbing Code
Each course awards four credits.
The Plumbing Service and Repair course covers the diagnosis and repair of common plumbing component and system problems.
This includes: faucet repair, water heater replacement/repair, drain cleaning, water closet repair, piping repairs, and more.
The International Plumbing Code program reviews the IPC and helps plumbers apply the requirements of this code to the installation of plumbing systems.
Contact Information
- Address: 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501-3122
- Phone: 970.248.1020
- Website: https://www.coloradomesa.edu
8ICC Training
About the School
ICC Training offers CO Plumbing Continuing Education online program that includes four of the eight hours of continuing professional education required annually by Colorado to renew a plumbing license.
The following topics are covered:
- Sanitary Drainage
- Gas Piping Materials
- OSHA Inspections
- Professional Ethics
The course also includes Application Questions modules.
Contact Information
- Address: 750 E US Hwy 80, Suite 200 Box 671, Forney, TX 75126
- Phone: 855-899-4667
- Website: https://winnsce.com
9Pikes Peak State College
Pikes Peak State College offers a Plumbing Fundamentals course that introduces the NCCER Plumbing level one and level two fundamentals of plumbing trades and practices.
The course covers types of piping, their proper fitting, fixtures, distribution systems, construction drawings, and more.
Courses Offered
The program learning outcomes include:
- Interpreting construction documents
- Researching, interpreting, and applying appropriate building and structural codes
- Explaining the fundamentals of the plumbing trades
- Estimating the materials and labor for a residential plumbing project
- Explaining and performing plumbing skill techniques required for certification in NCCER Plumbing Level I
The course also includes Application Questions modules.
Contact Information
- Address: 5675 S. Academy Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80906
- Phone: 719-502-2000
- Website: https://www.pikespeak.edu
10Rocket Cert
About the School
Rocket Cert offers Plumbing Continuing Education courses.
Colorado requires that all residential, journey workers, and master plumbers complete eight hours of approved Continuing Education every 12 months to renew their license.
These hours can be taken online.
The cost for the Colorado Plumbing Continuing Education Bundle is $139 and includes two options:
- Eight hours covering IPC Changes, OSHA Focus 4, Backflow Prevention
- Eight hours covering Isometric and Plumbing Administration
Contact Information
- Address: 408 N Cedar Bluff Rd, Ste 236, Knoxville, TN 37923
- Phone: (800) 495-6612
- Website: https://rocketcert.com
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 430 | $69,160 | $33.25 | $98,000 | $47,780 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 1,080 | $61,230 | $29.44 | $80,620 | $41,370 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 4,500 | $67,250 | $32.33 | $94,410 | $45,910 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 930 | $62,550 | $30.07 | $86,530 | $38,900 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 310 | $59,930 | $28.81 | $85,160 | $38,030 |
| Greeley, CO | 490 | $59,210 | $28.47 | $86,430 | $39,600 |
| Pueblo, CO | 260 | $61,980 | $29.8 | $96,680 | $38,170 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Colorado offers plenty of educational opportunities for those who want to start a career in plumbing.
Now that you have read our selection of the best plumbing schools in your state, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
