Trade Schools
On this page, we have compiled information about the best Plumbing schools in the state of Rhode Island and the programs they offer.
If you’re thinking about starting a career in this field, here you will find information about the curriculum, schedule, admission requirements, and costs.
Our selection includes certificate programs as well as paid apprenticeships.
Programs focus on teaching job-ready skills, such as:
- Reading blueprints
- Using tools
- Understanding and applying plumbing code requirements
- Installing plumbing systems
- Providing information to customers about their plumbing
- And more
With a projected job growth of six percent by 2024, this profession can be both stable and financially rewarding.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median wage reported by plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $61,550 per year as of May 2023.
Salaries range from less than $40,000 to more than $100,000 per year depending on education, experience, skills, region, and a variety of factors.
So, if you’re interested in starting a career in this field, we encourage you to start by reading our list of the best training options available in your state.
1Providence Career Technical Academy
About the School
Providence Career Technical Academy offers several construction programs, including:
- Carpentry
- Electrical
- Engineering
- General Construction
- HVAC & Plumbing
- Maritime Welding
The HVAC and Plumbing course prepares students for continuing education and careers not only by teaching them how to use the latest tools, equipment, and technology but also by working with local employers and partners.
The school emphasizes good work ethics and employability skills through internships and fieldwork.
The curriculum includes:
- Basic Safety
- Introduction to Construction Math
- Plumbing Safety
- Tools of the Trade
- Trade Math
- Introduction to Hand Tools
- Basic Copper and Plastic Piping Practices
- Soldering and Brazing
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 41 Fricker Street, Providence, RI 02903
- Phone: (401) 456-9136
- Website: https://www.providenceschools.org
2Master Plumber & Mechanical Association
About the School
Master Plumber & Mechanical Association is a plumbing and pipefitting apprentice school.
The association provides accredited educational training necessary to meet Rhode Island journeyperson licensing requirements.
Tuition is $500 per semester for registered apprentices of paid RIMPMA master members and $700 per semester for all others.
The school offers 25 classes per semester, held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.
Classes are typically held at St. Paul’s School, Cranston, or via Zoom.
The first semester runs from September to December
The second semester runs from January to April.
Contact Information
- Address: 93 Reynolds Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889
- Website: https://rimpma.org
3Roger Williams University
About the School
Roger Williams University offers a three-year Plumbing Apprenticeship Program that prepares students for careers in the industry.
The program consists of in-person instruction.
The curriculum was crafted by NCCER and contains current and the most up-to-date information on the plumbing trade.
This program costs $1,975.
The university provides a total of 600 hours over the three-year program.
This helps students develop abilities in preparation for the journeyperson exam.
Students also learn financial literacy, job skills preparation, soft skills, and time management while enrolled in the program.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809
- Phone: 800-458-7144
- Website: https://www.rwu.edu
4New Englad Institute of Technology
About the School
New England Institute of Technology offers a Plumbing and Heating Technology Associate Degree.
Students gain theoretical and hands-on experience designed to help them meet the industry’s demands and build a thriving career.
They also develop skills in a laboratory setting that combines two areas:
- Heating in residential structures
- Plumbing in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities
Students gain hands-on experience in the lab and through apprenticeships
They hone their technical abilities and graduate in just 18 months.
The program includes the theory of basic tools, fabrication methods, and fitting identification and usage.
The curriculum also covers drainage, waste, and venting, as well as designing and installing pipes.
Contact Information
- Address: 1 New England Tech Boulevard, East Greenwich, RI 02818
- Phone: 401-739-5000
- Website: https://www.neit.edu
5MTTI
About the School
MTTI offers educational programs that prepare students for employment.
The school began as a workforce development program serving as a bridge between employers and unemployed or underemployed people who needed to learn marketable skills.
MTTI provides students with the knowledge, hands-on skills, and work maturity skills needed to meet market demands.
Students learn the skills that are directly related to the career for which they are training.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- Automotive
- Building Trades
- Computer Tech
- Electrician
- HVAC/R
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Billing & Coding
- And more
The HVAC/R program can be completed in just 30 weeks and covers topics such as:
- Introduction to the HVAC/R Industry
- Tools of the Trade
- Air Conditioning & Heat Pumps
- Refrigeration Systems
- Oil & Gas Heating Systems/Furnace & Hydronics
- OSHA 10, EPA Universal Certification & More
Contact Information
- Address: 1241 Fall River Ave, Seekonk, MA 02771
- Phone: 508-336-6611
- Website: https://mtti.edu
6Local 51 Plumbing, Pipefitting and HVAC Industry
About the School
Local 51 is a member of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.
It has four locals in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
Members undergo five years of extensive classroom and on-the-job training before they become journeymen plumbers.
248 classroom hours and 10,000 on-the-job hours are required.
Training is a benefit of union membership with no extra cost to the members.
Local 51 plumbers install and repair water, waste disposal, drainage, and gas systems in commercial and industrial buildings and in homes across Massachusetts & Rhode Island.
Plumbers adhere to local, state, and national plumbing codes ensuring each project is completed in a uniform fashion.
Contact Information
- Address: 11 Hemingway Dr. East Providence, RI 02915
- Phone: 401.943.3033
- Website: https://ualocal51.com
7Narragansett School System
About the School
Narragansett School System offers a Mechanical Trades in Plumbing program available at Narragansett High School.
This program is hybrid and provides students with opportunities to work with industry leaders at UA Local 51 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Refrigeration HVAC.
The curriculum is aligned to NCCER levels I and II standards and UA Local 51 expectations.
Students have the opportunity to attain certain certificates in NCCER levels I and II, as well as OSHA 10.
Courses Offered
To complete the program, students must take the following required coursework:
- Mechanical Trades, Professional and Communication Skills, OSHA Certification- Grade 9
- Mechanical Trades II, Understanding Plans and Codes- Grade 10
- Advanced Mechanical Trades, Pre-Apprenticeship at UA Local 51- Grade 11
- Pre-Apprenticeship at UA Local 51- Grade 12
Contact Information
- Address: 25 Fifth Ave, Narragansett, RI 02882
- Phone: 401-792-9450
- Website: https://www.nssk12.org
8Community College of Rhode Island
About the School
The Community College of Rhode Island 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
- 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: 1762 Louisquisset Pike, Lincoln, RI 02865 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com/ccri
9Rhode Island Association PHCC
About the School
Rhode Island Association PHCC offers apprentice schools in plumbing, pipefitting, and refrigeration.
Classes start in the Fall and Winter.
Most classes are held virtually on Zoom.
Some classes may consist of a combination of one night per week on Zoom and the second night in person.
There are two class options for the 1st and 2nd year Plumbing Apprentice Class:
- Room 1 meets virtually from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday
- Room 2 meets virtually on Zoom on Monday at 6:30 p.m. and in-person on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
3rd and 4th year students meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Monday & Tuesday.
The first night of training takes place in person.
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 6820, 15 New England Way, Warwick, RI 02887-6820
- Phone: 401-644-8435
- Website: https://riphcc.org
10U.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
Schools Summary Table
Regional Salary in Rhode Island
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2,930 | $75,880 | $36.48 | $107,530 | $46,020 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start an in-demand and rewarding career in trades, the plumbing profession is worth exploring.
Now that you have read our list of the best Plumbing schools in Rhode Island, it’s time to continue the research and apply for the program that best meets your learning style and career aspirations.
This is an important step so make sure you take into account all the factors that are relevant to you.
