Trade Schools
If you live in South Carolina and want to start a career in plumbing, this page is for you.
Here we have compiled information about the best training options available both in-person and online.
Our selection includes certificate programs as well as paid apprenticeships.
Programs focus on teaching job-ready skills, such as:
- Reading blueprints
- Understanding and applying plumbing code requirements
- Installing plumbing systems
- Repairing plumbing fixtures
- Math for plumbers
- Providing information to customers about their plumbing
- And more
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage reported by plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters was $61,550 as of May 2023.
This profession is expected to grow 6 percent over the next decade.
As workers retire and new buildings are constructed, new plumbers will be in demand.
If you want to pursue this career path, we invite you to read further.
1Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College offers an entry-level plumber program that takes between five and six months to complete.
MTC offers hands-on and classroom learning to cover the basic skills students need in order to pursue a career in plumbing, paving the path toward a plumbing license.
Aspiring plumbers also need two years of hands-on work experience and a passing score on the appropriate exam.
Courses Offered
Course topics include:
- Plumbing Math and Print Reading
- Pipes and Fittings
- Valves, Fixtures, and Hot Water Tanks
- Drain-Waste-Vent and Water Distribution Systems
The following delivery methods are available:
- On-Campus
- Virtual- 100% online but students meet with a live instructor at specific times via web conference.
- Hybrid- some classes are held on campus, and some classes are online or in virtual format
- Online- fully online with students completing the work at their own pace while having due dates for projects and assignments
Contact Information
- Address: P.O. Box 2408, Columbia, SC 29202
- Phone: 803.738.8324
- Website: https://www.midlandstech.edu
2Florence-Darlington Technical College
Florence-Darlington Technical College offers a Plumbing Level I program that instructs students in basic skills and knowledge, preparing them for careers in the plumbing industry.
Students gain hands-on practice and instruction delivered through lectures.
They are prepared for the National Center for Construction and Education Research Level I Plumbing certification, a credential recognized nationally and by the industry.
Courses Offered
The class teaches skills such as:
- NCCER Core: Introduction to Basic Construction Skills
- Introduction to the Plumbing Profession
- Plumbing Safety
- Introduction to Plumbing Math
- Plastic Pipe and Fittings
- Copper Tube and Fittings
- Steel Pipe and Fittings
- Introduction to Plumbing Fixtures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1951 Pisgah Rd. Florence, SC, 1st Floor, SiMT
- Phone: 843.413.2715
- Website: https://www.fdtc.edu
3USC- Sumter
About the School
USC- Sumter 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: 200 Miller Road, Sumter, SC 29150 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertrainingsumter.sc.edu
4Paul Calvo School of Contractors
About the School
Paul Calvo School of Contractors offers a South Carolina Plumbing License program that includes the installation, replacement, alteration, and repair of all plumbing systems.
The program also includes the installation, alteration, and repair of all piping, fixtures, and appliances related to water supply, and more.
The course is eight hours long.
Commercial contractor candidates are required to pass the Business Management and Law for Contractors examination and the Plumber examination.
It includes:
- ADA Accessibility
- General Plumbing Knowledge
- Fixtures and equipment
- Water Heaters
- Cleanouts
- Sanitary Venting
- Storm Piping Systems
- Pipe Assembly
- And more
Registration is $650.
Contact Information
- Address: 3971 Grandview Dr, Simpsonville, South Carolina, 29680
- Phone: (864) 432-6025
- Website: https://www.paulcalvoschool.net
5Plumbers Training Institute
About the School
Plumbers Training Institute offers online plumbers courses for:
- Residential Plumber Exam Prep
- Commercial Plumber Exam Prep
- Professional Development
Residential Plumber Exam Prep courses include:
- South Carolina Residential Plumber Exam Prep- a 17-hour program that costs $489
- South Carolina Residential Business and Law Exam Prep- an eight-hour course that costs $69
- South Carolina Residential Plumbing Vents- a one-hour course that costs $29
- South Carolina Plumber Isometric Basics- a half-hour course that costs $19
- Ohio 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
6Denmark Technical College
About the School
Denmark Technical College offers training programs designed to help students prepare for successful careers.
The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award Associate Degrees, Diplomas, and Certificates.
Denmark Technical College offers a plumbing program that teaches students everything they need to learn to get started for a career in this field in just two months.
The following courses are included in the program:
- Fundamentals of Building Construction
- Blueprint Reading and Specifications
- Introduction to Residential Plumbing
- Residential Plumbing
- Construction Building Codes
- Personal and Career Assessment
This program leads to a Certificate in Applied Science in Plumbing.
Contact Information
- Address: 1126 Solomon Blatt Blvd. Denmark, South Carolina 29042-0327
- Phone: (803) 793-5176
- Website: https://www.denmarktech.edu
7Mechanical Trades Carolina
About the School
Mechanical Trades Carolina is a nonprofit specializing in training plumbers, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians.
A variety of classes are available, including welding, brazing, and certifications.
The nonprofit has four training centers throughout North and South Carolina.
Pre-apprenticeship programs are available for:
- HVAC-R Service Technicians
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Welders
Candidates have to meet several requirements, including holding a high school diploma or GED.
Contact Information
- Address: 2556 Oscar Johnson Drive, North Charleston, SC 29405
- Phone: (843) 554-3655
- Website: https://ualocal421.org
8Cullum Mechanical
About the School
Cullum Mechanical offers a plumbing apprenticeship program that provides students with experience and job-related education in all phases of this occupation.
Apprentices rotate through the work processes specific to this profession, to ensure they become well-rounded professionals after completing the apprenticeship.
During their training, apprentices learn skills such as:
- Studying building plans and working drawings to determine the work aids required and the sequence of installations
- Inspecting structures to ascertain obstructions
- Locating and marking the position of pipe and pipe connections
- Cutting openings in walls and floors to accommodate pipe and pipe fittings, using hand and power tools
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 3325 Pacific St, North Charleston, SC 29418
- Phone: (843) 554-6645
- Website: https://culluminc.com
9Craven Community College
About the School
Located in neighboring North Carolina, Craven Community College offers a Plumbing program that includes three levels of intensive, hands-on training to prepare students for the workforce.
Students learn about many topics, including plumbing tools, types of valves, and potable water treatments.
The following plumbing programs are available:
- NCCER Plumbing Level 1
- NCCER Plumbing Level 2
- NCCER Plumbing Level 3
- NCCER Plumbing Pathway
- DIY Plumbing
Plumbing Level 1 covers topics such as introduction to the plumbing profession, plumbing safety, tools of the plumbing trade, introduction to plumbing math, introduction to plumbing drawings, plastic pipe and fittings, copper pipe and fittings, carbon steel pipe and fittings, introduction to plumbing fixtures, and more.
All students receive 72.5 hours of Core Curriculum.
When students complete the program, they receive National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification for Plumbing Level I.
Contact Information
- Address: 800 College Court, New Bern, NC 28562
- Phone: (252) 638-7200
- Website: https://cravencc.edu
10Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
About the School
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute offers several fast-track training programs, including a plumbing pathway.
These programs are designed to get students from “learning to earning in a year or less”.
Dozens of program options are available, including a plumbing pathway.
Courses Offered
The Plumbing program consists of the following courses:
- Introduction to Plumbing- a course that serves as the entry-level requirement for all other courses
- Intermediate Plumbing- a course that explores plumbing code, permitting, and math
The topics covered include:
- Reading Commercial Drawings
- Structural Penetrations
- Insulation and Fire Stopping
- Drain installation
- Advanced Plumbing
The program has the following outcomes:
- Learning the basic installation and maintenance of plumbing systems
- Demonstrating knowledge of basic plumbing systems and working safely on plumbing components
- Installing and maintaining piping, fittings, and fixtures in plumbing systems
- Troubleshooting basic plumbing systems
Contact Information
- Address: 2855 Hickory Blvd, Hudson, NC 28638
- Phone: 828.297.3811
- Website: https://cccti.edu
Schools Summary Table
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 910 | $55,970 | $26.91 | $77,670 | $33,870 |
| Columbia, SC | 870 | $52,240 | $25.12 | $71,610 | $32,800 |
| Florence, SC | 200 | $51,120 | $24.58 | $71,970 | $35,720 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | 910 | $56,030 | $26.94 | $78,880 | $35,740 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | 290 | $55,600 | $26.73 | $80,710 | $33,460 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 440 | $52,970 | $25.47 | $74,910 | $36,050 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 350 | $56,400 | $27.12 | $77,680 | $35,460 |
| Sumter, SC | 60 | $53,740 | $25.84 | $73,940 | $35,910 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
Learning plumbing skills can help you start a career that is both financially rewarding and stable.
Now that you have read our selection of the best plumbing schools in South Carolina, if you think this is the professional path you want to pursue we encourage you to continue the research and apply for the program that best fits your learning style and career aspirations.
