If you want to start a career in a field that is expected to continue to grow in the future, the plumbing profession is worth exploring.
Before being ready to apply for your first job in the field, you have to prepare for tasks 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
Plumbers 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 in May 2023.
Most employers require plumbers to hold a trade school diploma or to have completed an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeships typically last between four and five years and include technical instruction and paid on-the-job training.
To help you choose the program and the format that best fits your lifestyle, on this page, we have compiled information about the best plumbing schools in Tennessee.
#1TCAT Knoxville
About the School
TCAT Knoxville offers a Pipefitting and Plumbing Technology program designed to introduce students to various techniques used in the pipefitting plumbing trade, including:
- Pipe fabrication and installation
- Blueprint reading and isometric drawings
- Measurement techniques
- Hand and power tools
- Cutting and prepping pipe
- Using a cutting torch
- Threading pipe
- Grooving
- Soldering
- Brazing
- Solvent joining pipes
- Installing valves
Total tuition and fees sum up to $4,379.
The 1,296-hour program can be completed in 12 months.
The following credentials are also available:
- Pipefitter Helper- 432 hours
- Pipefitter- 864 hours
Contact Information
- Address: 1100 Liberty Street, Knoxville, TN 37919
- Phone: 865-546-5567
- Website: https://tcatknoxville.edu
#2Total Tech
About the School
Total Tech offers a unique approach to technician training.
Service technicians learn by hearing, seeing, and then doing.
The labs incorporate real-world service scenarios into every lab exercise.
Courses Offered
The Plumbing on-site program includes 100 hours of training that covers every aspect of residential plumbing.
The majority of the class is spent with the students doing work themselves in the lab.
The plumbing lab includes eight fully functional whole-house training stations, dozens of water heaters, and hundreds of feet of underground piping.
Contact Information
- Address: 909 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN, 37217
- Phone: (615) 459-8024
- Website: https://totaltechschool.com
#3TCAT Jackson
About the School
TCAT Jackson offers a Pipefitting and Plumbing Technology program.
This competency-based program includes 1,296 hours of training.
The program can be completed in 12 months.
Courses Offered
Students learn various pipe and welding fabrication techniques:
- Interpreting blueprints and specifications
- Making detailed sketches for pipe and equipment fabrication and installation
- Cutting pipe using various hand and power tools
- Measuring and cutting with blades and torches
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2468 Technology Center Dr. Jackson, TN 38301
- Phone: (615) 459-8024
- Website: https://totaltechschool.com
#4Moore Tech
About the School
Moore Tech provides a Plumbing program that prepares students for entry into the trade.
The program has been reviewed and approved for one year of credit toward the required three-year Registered Apprenticeship with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development.
Those who complete this program receive this credit and apply it toward their apprenticeship requirements.
Plumbing is a one-year certificate program that consists of three courses taught at night:
- Plumbing Repair
- Commercial Plumbing Fixtures, Water Heating Systems, and Fuel Gas Applications
- Drain, Waste, Vent, Potable Water Distribution Materials & Design
- Plumbing Certificate
Each of the three Plumbing Certificate Program courses combines hands-on lab work, lectures on plumbing design, ICC Plumbing & Gas Codes, soft skills, and safety.
Contact Information
- Address: 1200 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
- Phone: 901-726-1977
- Website: https://www.mooretech.edu
#5Jackson State Community College
About the School
Jackson State Community College offers a Foundations of Plumbing program that covers the specialized plumbing skills and terminology for residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems.
The Foundations of Plumbing course teaches students specialized plumbing skills and terminology for residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing systems.
The course also teaches math, geometry, and physical principles.
Students learn:
- Basic concepts of plumbing safety
- The function of components required for the construction of standard piping and water supply systems
- The use and meaning of specialty drawings
- The application and installation of standard plumbing fixtures
- How to identify piping materials
- And more
Courses Offered
The syllabus includes the following courses:
- Plumbing History, Codes, and Principles
- Tools of the Plumbing Trade
- First Aid and Safety
- Piping Materials
- Water Heaters
- Building Plans, Drawings, and Scale Rulers
- Sketching
- Soldering, Brazing, Cutting, and Gas Welding
- Cross-Connection Protection and Pipe Identification
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 2046 North Parkway, Jackson, TN 38301 US
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.ed2go.com/jscctn
#6Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572
About the School
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572 offers its members the highest level of training in the industry.
Applicants need the following qualifications and documentation:
- Being at least 18 years of age
- Having their own mode of transportation
- Providing a Social Security Card
- Providing a Valid Driver’s License or State Issued ID
- Holding a high school diploma with official transcripts or a state-accredited GED certificate and providing the official test scores
- And more
There is a $25 non-refundable application fee required for all applications, payable at the time of application.
Contact Information
- Address: 225 Ben Allen Rd, Nashville, TN 37207
- Phone: 615-227-5542
- Website: https://local572.com
#7Eastern Kentucky University
Plumbing programs are also available at schools located in neighboring states and online.
About the School
Eastern Kentucky University offers a Foundations of Plumbing course that is available fully online.
Students in this 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 program includes 145 course hours and costs $2,245.
Students have 12 months to complete the course.
Courses Offered
Plumbing students learn skills and concepts such as:
- 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
Contact Information
- Address: 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, KY 40475
- Phone: 855.520.6806
- Website: https://careertraining.eku.edu
#8DMAC Tech Trade School
DMAC Tech Trade School Online is a school that offers students fast-track career learning choices.
The school’s fast-track training and certification programs are designed to help students meet the requirements needed so that they can achieve their goals.
Courses Offered
The school’s catalog includes a Plumber Apprentice Certification & Training program.
This course is available fully online.
Students learn about subjects such as:
- Plumbing fundamentals
- Plumbing fixtures installation
- Plumbing codes
- Water heater installation
- Water heater repair
- Toilet installation
- Toilet repair
- Kitchen sink repair
- Plumbing troubleshooting
- And more
This course costs $2,990.
Contact Information
- Address: 720 NW 27 Ave 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33125
- Phone: (305) 649-2050
- Website: https://dmaceducation.online
#9U.S. Career Institute
About the School
U.S. Career Institute offers a self-paced online plumbing program 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
Students can study 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
#10Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers a Plumber School that leads to a career diploma in just six months, for students on the fast track.
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
Penn Foster plumbing courses include:
- 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 Tennessee
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | 660 | $58,970 | $28.35 | $83,330 | $36,970 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | 270 | $66,140 | $31.80 | $103,130 | $37,410 |
| Cleveland, TN | 80 | $57,470 | $27.63 | $75,680 | $35,850 |
| Jackson, TN | 320 | $56,020 | $26.93 | $76,510 | $37,500 |
| Johnson City, TN | 210 | $53,800 | $25.87 | $75,430 | $36,350 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | 370 | $62,150 | $29.88 | $90,670 | $37,830 |
| Knoxville, TN | 1,500 | $58,460 | $28.11 | $78,400 | $38,490 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 1,570 | $59,180 | $28.45 | $79,670 | $38,760 |
| Morristown, TN | 80 | $52,670 | $25.32 | $75,310 | $37,850 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 2,850 | $61,270 | $29.46 | $83,010 | $41,560 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to become a plumber in the state of Tennessee, the first step is to learn the skills needed for a career in this field.
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 fits your learning style, schedule, and career aspirations.
