Trade Schools
With an expected job growth of 6 percent over the next decade, plumbing is a profession that will continue to be in demand in the future.
Plumbers will be needed to maintain and repair plumbing systems in old buildings and to install systems in new construction projects.
If you live in Oregon and want to become a plumber, this page is for you.
A plumber’s annual wage may 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.
Most employers require plumbers to hold a trade school diploma or to have completed an apprenticeship.
Our selection includes diploma as well as apprenticeship programs.
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.
1Northwest College of Construction
Northwest College of Construction recruits, trains, and retains a highly skilled workforce for the construction industry.
The college provides life-long learning and excellence through career and technical education.
Courses Offered
The following apprenticeship programs are available:
- Laborers
- Concrete Finishers
- Sign Hangers
- HVAC
- Roofers
- Tile Finishers
- And more
Among many other skills, HVAC students learn how to weld and connect supply lines, air ducts and vents, refrigeration piping, and pumps.
The apprenticeship is the original four-year degree.
Contact Information
- Address: 8111 NE Holman Street, Portland, OR 97218
- Phone: 503-256-7300
- Website: https://nwcoc.com
2Area I Plumbers Apprenticeship
About the School
Area I Plumbers Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee offers individuals the opportunity to learn and use plumbing skills that can develop into a lifetime career.
The apprenticeship combines classroom instruction and on-the-job training with licensed plumbers who live and work in your area.
To qualify for admission into the program, applicants must submit:
- GED/high school diploma
- A transcript showing the passing of one year of high school algebra
- Proof of age
Apprentices receive wages for the on-the-job training part of the program.
The wages increase as they advance in their training.
Contact Information
- Address: 15800 Boones Ferry Rd, Suite B-3, Lake Oswego, OR 97035
- Phone: (503) 675-0548
- Website: https://areaonejatc.com
3Portland Community College
About the School
Portland Community College 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 self-paced 12-month program includes 145-course hours and costs $2,245.
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
- Building Plans, Drawings, and Scale Rulers
- Tools of the Plumbing Trade
- First Aid and Safety
- Basic Math for Plumbing
- Water Heaters
- Pipe Joining Techniques
- Introduction to Welding
- And many more
Contact Information
- Address: PO box 19000, Portland, OR 97280
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.pcc.edu
4Clatsop Community College
About the School
Clatsop Community College offers a Plumbing Apprenticeship in partnership with JATC.
Apprenticeship opportunities are available in the Clatsop and Tillamook Counties.
Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and hold a high school diploma or GED certificate.
There is a nonrefundable $30 fee due with the completed applications.
The program combines classroom instruction and paid on-the-job training.
Among other skills, apprentices learn how to use different hand tools, materials, and fittings, read blueprints, follow specifications, and follow city and county codes and state disability standards.
Apprentices work under the guidance of journey-level workers on real job sites, gradually earning more responsibilities as they learn more.
Contact Information
- Address: 1651 Lexington Avenue, Astoria, OR 97103
- Phone: (503) 338-2411
- Website: https://www.clatsopcc.edu
5Chemeketa Community College
About the School
Chemeketa Community College offers a Plumber Apprenticeship program.
This program prepares students for plumbing work indoors and outdoors.
The four-year program combines 7,700 hours of on-the-job training with concurrent related training credit courses.
Apprentices earn 13 academic credits per year and attend classes in the fall, winter, and spring.
Classroom instruction is two evenings per week combined with on-the-job training to provide the most comprehensive course of study for a plumbing apprentice.
Applicants need a diploma or GED certificate as well as transcripts from high school and college, placement test scores, work experience on letterhead with tasks listed, and years of service, trades, and safety certificates.
Veterans also need a copy of the DD224 form.
Contact Information
- Address: 4000 Lancaster Drive NE Salem, Oregon 97305
- Phone: 503.399.5000
- Website: https://www.chemeketa.edu
6Area III Plumbing
About the School
Area III Plumbing, JATC is an Oregon State registered apprenticeship training program serving Lane and Douglas counties.
This is a four-year program that provides on-the-job training as well as related classroom training.
This program leads to a plumber journeyworker license.
Applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
- Being at least 18 years of age
- Being a high school graduate or holding a certificate of equivalency
- One year of high school math or equivalent post-secondary course completed with a grade of “C” or better, or an equivalent placement test score.
Approximately 8,000 hours of work and learning are required.
Courses Offered
The program covers skills such as:
- Gas piping, equipment, appliance
- Soldering, Brazing, Welding
- Drainage, Waste, and Vent
- Miscellaneous plumbing, piping, repair, maintenance,
- Fixtures, Appliances, Trim and Supports
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3071 Dalewood St, Eugene, Oregon 97404
- Phone: (541) 636-3592
- Website: https://www.area3plumbers.com
7Plumbers Training Institute
About the School
Plumbers Training Institute classes may be completed from anywhere, anytime.
The Institute offers the following Oregon online plumber courses
- Oregon 2021 UPC Plumber Exam Prep- a 12-hour program that costs $289
- Oregon Master Plumber Isometrics- a three-hour course that costs $59
- Oregon Plumbing Math-a one-hour video course that costs $29
- Oregon Plumbing Vents- a one-hour course that costs $29.
Oregon 2021 UPC Plumber Exam Prep guides students who are preparing to take a plumbing exam based on the Uniform Plumbing Code and includes isometric drawings, specialty plumbing, math problems, and hundreds of practice questions and problems.
Contact Information
- Phone: 855-284-8738
- Website: https://www.plumberstraininginstitute.com
8UA Local 290
About the School
UA Local 290 College of Mechanical Systems & Technology trains highly qualified, skilled, and marketable plumbers, steamfitters, and HVAC/R Technicians.
During their training, apprentices have to earn the following Licenses and Certifications:
- Basic Life Support/First Aid- Year 1
- OSHA 30- Year 1
- EPA- Year 1
- Foreman Certification- Year 5
Continuing education courses are also available for journeyworkers.
Journeyman training includes classes such as:
- Tube Bending
- Isometric Drawing Skills
- Pipe Threading Skills
- Basic Tig Welding
- Basic Stick Welding
- Building Trades Review
- Tube Bending & Iso for BTR Pipefitter
- Introduction to the Orbitalum & AMI Orbital
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 20220 SW Teton Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062
- Phone: 503-691-1997
- Website: https://www.290tech.edu
9U.S. Career Institute
If you want to learn the theoretical aspects of this profession and prepare for an apprentice position at your own pace, 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.
This course costs $1,239 if paid in full.
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
10Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers a Plumber School that helps students earn a career diploma in just six months.
The school offers flexible online classes that equip students with skills such as pipefitting, reading blueprints, installing water heaters, and more.
The program is designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs like plumbing technician, pipefitter technician, steamfitter technician, and fire sprinkler installer.
The online program includes interactive study guides, how-to-videos, and animations that allow students to apply what they have learned to real-world plumbing situations.
Courses Offered
Students take classes such as:
- Modern Plumbing
- Introduction to Plumbing and Pipefitting
- Reading Piping Prints
If paid in full, this program costs $839.
Contact Information
- Address: 200 Hickory Street, Scranton, PA 18505
- Phone: 800-275-4410
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
Schools Summary Table
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 130 | $75,460 | $36.28 | $93,820 | $49,860 |
| Bend, OR | 310 | $81,020 | $38.95 | $102,640 | $53,820 |
| Corvallis, OR | 70 | $76,570 | $36.81 | $96,170 | $49,810 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 380 | $83,720 | $40.25 | $118,370 | $50,350 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 50 | $77,590 | $37.31 | $100,660 | $47,990 |
| Medford, OR | 220 | $77,170 | $37.10 | $104,190 | $48,120 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 4,920 | $95,880 | $46.10 | $135,950 | $53,180 |
| Salem, OR | 440 | $79,730 | $38.33 | $100,550 | $47,120 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have read our selection of the best plumbing schools in Oregon, the next step is to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your needs and career aspirations.
This is an important step, so take into account all the factors that are relevant to you.
