If you enjoy working with your hands and you’d like to start a rewarding career, the plumbing field is worth exploring.
Before being ready to apply for your first plumbing job, you have to learn a variety of technical skills, such as:
- Plan Reading
- Basic Math for Plumbing
- Working with valves
- Water Heaters
- Pipe Joining Techniques
- And more
All these and more can be learned through a trade school program or apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships typically last between four and five years and include technical instruction and paid on-the-job training.
Most states also require plumbers to be licensed before being allowed to work independently.
To help you choose the training program that best fits into your schedule and learning style, on this page, we have compiled information about the best plumbing schools in New Mexico.
#1Central New Mexico Community College
About the School
Central New Mexico Community College offers a Plumbing and Gas Fitting program that provides students with a certificate and gives them the opportunity to pursue work in residential plumbing, gas fitting, septic systems, or pipelaying.
The program teaches students everything they need to know to install, repair, and maintain plumbing and piping systems.
Students learn plumbing skills from industry professionals and gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art labs.
Each course covers core principles and concepts, helping students build a solid foundation in this trade.
Classes cover safety, blueprint reading, gas fitting, pipe layout, drain waste, backflow prevention, system maintenance and repair, hydronic systems, and more.
Courses Offered
The following courses are included in this program:
- Basic Plumbing, Safety, and Pipe Fitting
- Plan Reading/Drawing
- Drain/Waste/Vent and Gray Water
- Trades Math
- Mechanical Code
- Solar Thermal Systems
- Energy and Water Conservation Systems
- And many other topics
In total, students need 36 credits in order to receive the Certificate.
Contact Information
- Address: 900 University Blvd. SE (Official)
- Phone: (505) 224-3000
- Website: https://www.cnm.edu
#2ABC New Mexico
About the School
ABC New Mexico offers a Plumbing Apprenticeship program that gives students the opportunity to earn competitive wages and benefits while working on the job.
The apprentice’s wages are based on a percentage of the journeyperson rate for public works projects or a wage survey for non-public works jobs.
The program includes a minimum of four years and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.
A normal workweek is 40 hours.
About the School
ANCNM apprentices attend school two nights a week, two semesters a year for four years.
Graduates receive certificates of completion from the State of New Mexico and the US Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship.
Students prepare for tasks such as:
- Installing and repairing plumbing textures
- Inspecting structures to ascertain obstructions
- Locating and marking position for pipe and pipe connections
- Joining pipes
- Filling pipe systems with water or air, and reading pressure gauges to determine if the systems are leaking
- Repairing and maintaining plumbing systems
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2821 Broadway NE Albuquerque, NM 87107
- Phone: 505-830-4222
- Website: https://abcnm.org
#3Santa Fe Community College
About the School
Santa Fe Community College offers an HVAC and Plumbing Technologies program that gives students the opportunity to learn a wide range of technical and trade skills including plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC.
Students gain a combination of craftmanship skills from multiple areas to enhance their marketability in today’s workforce.
The program is designed for industry newcomers and for people who already work in the building maintenance and operations field.
Students receive personal instruction in concepts of HVAC and plumbing and they also get the chance to expand their troubleshooting techniques and problem-solving methods.
Courses Offered
The following degrees and certificates are available:
- HVAC and Plumbing Technologies, Certificate
- Electrical Technology Certificates
The HVAC and Plumbing Technologies, Certificate includes the following courses:
- Construction Industry Workplace Health and Safety
- Trades Mathematics
- Small Business Management
- Introduction to Fundamentals of Refrigeration
- Introduction to Fundamentals of Electricity
- Basic Plumbing, Safety, and Pipe Fitting
- Boilers and Hydronic Systems
- And more
This program includes 22 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508
- Phone: (505) 428-1000
- Website: https://www.sfcc.edu
#4New Mexico State University
About the School
New Mexico State University offers a Plumbing program that leads to a Certificate of Completion.
To graduate from this program, students must earn a final grade of C- or better in all CNST courses, and achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0
Students must complete all university certificate requirements to total at least 17 credits.
Courses Offered
The program includes courses such as:
- Introduction to Construction I
- Introduction to Construction II
- Introduction to Construction Laboratory
- Construction Drawings
- Plumbing Theory
- Plumbing II
Contact Information
- Address: 2400 N Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310
- Phone: 575.439.3600
- Website: https://alamogordo.nmsu.edu
#5University of New Mexico
About the School
The University of New Mexico offers a Foundations of Plumbing course that is available fully online.
The course trains students for a career in plumbing by teaching the fundamental, job-ready skills relevant to the plumbing and piping industry.
Students in this self-paced program learn specialized plumbing skills and terminology specific to residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems.
The course also teaches math, geometry, and physical principles needed to work on plumbing systems.
The 12-month program includes 145 course hours and costs $2,345.
Courses Offered
Students learn:
- Basic concepts of plumbing safety and safety procedures for material and equipment use
- The use and meaning of specialty drawings used in construction
- The application and installation of standard plumbing fixtures
- How to identify piping systems and fixture types used in plumbing work
- And many other skills and concepts
The curriculum covers topics such as:
- Plumbing History, Codes and Principles
- Tools of the Plumbing Trade
- First Aid and Safety
- Basic Math for Plumbing
- Valves
- Water Heaters
- Pipe Joining Techniques
- Introduction to Welding
- And many more
Contact Information
- Address: 1634 Univeristy Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.unm.edu
#6Dona Ana Community College
About the School
Dona Ana Community College offers more than 115 certificate and degree options to choose from.
Many non-credit options are also available.
The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The college has campuses in Chaparral, Espina, East Mesa, Gadsden, Sunland Park, Workforce Center, and Cholla Hall.
Courses Offered
The college’s catalog includes programs such as:
- Building Construction Technology
- Drafting and Design Technology
- General Engineering
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration
- Water Technology
- Welding Technology
- And more
Water Technology students take courses such as Introduction to Water Systems, Systems Maintenance, and Water Chemistry.
This program is five semesters long.
Contact Information
- Address: 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011 (East Mesa Campus)
- Phone: 575-528-7000
- Website: https://dacc.nmsu.edu
#7Construction Seminars
About the School
Construction Seminars offers NM Contractors License Test Prep.
The school provides students with access to proven test prep strategies and gives them the opportunity to interact with live instructors.
Construction Seminars offers a No Pass No Pay guarantee.
Students learn how the code is organized and figure out what it is really saying.
The live-instructed classes feature a combination of lectures, question-and-answer times, and memorization.
Contact Information
- Address: 4927 Prospect Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110
- Phone: (505) 883-3885
- Website: https://constructionseminars.com
#8S.E. Technical
About the School
S.E. Technical offers New Mexico state exam preparation for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, refrigeration, fire alarms, sheet metal, pipe fitter, cabling, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and HVAC trades.
The Plumbing and Gas Fitter, MM1&MM2, and MM98 exam test preparation in New Mexico is designed to help guide students in their study efforts for the exam.
The school also offers hands-on training for the practical exam.
Test prep is also available for contractors, which includes three written exams.
The school’s business and law seminar can substitute for the business and law exam.
Contact Information
- Address: 2835 Pan American Fwy. NE Suite D Albuquerque, NM 87107
- Phone: (505) 200-2544
- Website: https://www.turnthelightson.com
#9U.S. Career Institute
Plumbing classes are also available at schools located in other states, in an online format.
About the School
U.S. Career Institute offers a self-paced online plumbing school that teaches students everything they need to know in order to obtain a Plumbing Apprentice position.
Students learn skills such as:
- Applying basic customer service principles to on-the-job situations.
- Describing tools of the plumbing trade and their proper use
- Describing common plumbing fixtures, faucets, and valves
- Interpreting plumbing drawings and sketches
There are no set class schedules, which means that students can complete the coursework anytime, from anywhere.
If paid in full, this course costs $1,239.
Tuition includes access to instructors, all the learning materials, and career support.
Contact Information
- Address: 2001 Lowe Street, Fort Collins, CO
- Phone: 866-262-7883
- Website: https://learn.uscareerinstitute.edu
#10Plumbers Training Institute
About the School
Plumbers Training Institute offers the following New Mexico Online Plumber courses:
- Uniform Plumbing Code Exam Prep
- Continuing Education
The following Uniform Plumbing Code Exam Prep classes are available:
- New Mexico 2021 IPC Journeyman Plumber Exam Prep- a 12-hour course that costs $289 and prepares students for the plumbing exam based on the International Plumbing Code and the Skilled Trades Regulation Act
- New Mexico Master Plumber Isometrics- a three-hour course that costs $59
- New Mexico Plumbing Math- a one-hour course that costs $29
- New Mexico Plumbing Vents- a one-hour course that costs $29
Plumbers Training Institute classes may be completed from anywhere, anytime.
Contact Information
- Phone: 855-284-8738
- Website: https://www.plumberstraininginstitute.com
Schools Summary Table
Plumbing Average Salary in New Mexico
Estimated Earnings Range:| Item | Percent |
|---|---|
|
$38K
|
|
|
$61K
|
|
|
$84K
|
Plumbing Salary by Metro Area in New Mexico
| Metro Area | Employed | Avg. Annual | Avg. Hourly | Top 10% | Bottom 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 1,440 | $63,660 | $30.61 | $85,520 | $39,370 |
| Farmington, NM | 250 | $54,120 | $26.02 | $77,220 | $34,210 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 180 | $54,770 | $26.33 | $76,320 | $35,820 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 140 | $55,050 | $26.47 | $73,940 | $37,630 |
* Employment opportunities may differ based on your location.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our list of the best Plumbing schools in New Mexico, is time to decide if this is the career path you want to pursue and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so take your time and choose wisely.
