Course Overview

With a median annual salary of $52,590 and skyrocketing demand, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters are among the highest paid and most sought after professionals in the construction trades.

Students in our Plumbing & Heating course master the following skills as they prepare to launch careers in this lucrative field:

• Read and interpret blueprints, pipe system sketches and plumbing specifications
• Measure, cut and join a variety of metallic pipe/tubing, including copper, steel and cast iron
• Measure, cut and assemble a variety of plastic pipe/tubing, including PVC, CPVC, PEX, PE and HDPE
• Rough in water supply lines, waste lines and vents for various fixtures and appliances
• Install and repair various fixtures and appliances

Instruction begins with job site safety, power tool use and other fundamentals, but quickly advances to soldering, brazing, threading and pressing pipe/tubing. Working in a course lab outfitted with custom-made trainers and industry standard equipment from RIGID, Uponor, Viega and other manufacturers, students hone their skills by completing assignments that mimic real-life residential, commercial and industrial plumbing challenges.

Students team up to tackle everything from industrial piping projects to designing and installing bathrooms. Graduates routinely secure positions with Deluxe Plumbing & Heating, Elek Plumbing, H.T. Lyons and Schuler Service among other local employers.

Our Plumbing & Heating course is endorsed by the following organization:

Pennsylvania Builders Association

Course Details

Course length: 9 months

Next start date(s): Fall 2024 dates TBD

Tentative schedule: 8:15 am – 2:45 pm, M-F

Credentials & college credit

Students who complete our course earn the following industry-recognized credentials:

• Allentown Master Plumbers Association First-Year Pa. Apprenticeship Certificate
• EPA Section 608 Technician Certification
• OSHA Certification via CareerSafe®
• Pennsylvania Builders Association® Skills Certificate

Students who complete our course are well-positioned to earn associate degrees at the following school(s):

• Lehigh Carbon Community College

Career Pathways

with credentials earned at LCTI:

• Apprentice Plumber
• Apprentice Pipefitter/Steamfitter
• Apprentice Sprinklerfitter

with credentials + experience:

• Journeyman Plumber/Pipefitter
• Licensed Master Plumber
• Plumbing/Mechanical Contractor

with more postsecondary training or college degree:

• Bathroom/Kitchen Designer
• Construction Manager
• Mechanical Engineer
• Plumbing/Mechanical Estimator

Learn more about potential career pathways.

Contact Amy Rex at 610-799-1316 or rexa@lcti.org for registration details, more information, or for a personalized tour.