r/pipefitter

Hi everyone
I’m planning to get into plumbing apprenticeship but confused if I should go to Saskatchewan polytechnic for plumbing program or should I keep looking for entry level jobs which can lead to an apprenticeship later on.
Will it be worth spending 17k on the certificate?
How hard is it to get into plumbing without the certificate?
Any recommendations for companies that hire freshers?

Thank you guys in advance

I need it for a project

Before anyone ask, yes I applied at my local union (Local 562 St. Louis if you were wondering) and yes I know the ABC are rats or scabs or blah blah whatever. But truth be told, I really want to become a pipefitter and if the union is going to give me a hard time, why not try the non-union route. Of course, I rather be union, but what I've heard with union in my area, it can be very difficult to get into.

I plan on taking my apprenticeship test and interview in a couple days. I’ve wanted to be a welder for a while how likely I’m I to get in and what can I do to boost my odds?

Between pipe welders and plumbers who makes more money?

Alright guys, I’m pretty new to all this union/blue collar jargon and terminology.

Long story short, I want to switch careers. I’ve been doing my research on what type of trades I see myself doing in the near future, and pipefitting is one of them.

I come from a white collar background, with minimal mechanical experience. I worked in an industrial food plant when I was 19, dissembling machines, cleaning them, and putting it back all together, but that’s about it as far as that. I am 28 now, with a fiancé, and 2 YO girl.

I want to join the pipefitting apprenticeship program they have offered at the LU 539 but I’m not familiar with the process of getting in and the long term outlook of the career itself, as I hear there are some layoffs time to time if work is slow. Which I’m not going to lie, makes me nervous, as I plan to grow my family, buy a house, get married, etc.

So from my understanding, I must apply during the annual application window; in this case it would be every January, take a math assessment and journey assessment, if I pass they call me for an interview, then depending how I did, they send me a letter of my ranking? If I’m ranked high enough I can start working/ being in the apprenticeship that following Spring/Summer?

1.) What is a journey assessment?
2.) When a contractor contacts me to work, does that officially begin my apprenticeship?
3.) How competitive is getting into the program? Last year they were able to get in 34 service apprentices.
4.) Any tips on increasing my chances on getting into the program?

Thank you guys in advance. I Truly admire this trade!

So my husband signed up for plumbing and pipe fitting school in Tennessee (TCAT, if that matters). He really wanted to do plumbing but only after he signed up did they inform him that they're literally just falsely advertising for some kind of grant money, they barely teach anything about plumbing, just enough to keep the grant. Assholes. Anyway.... So my husband really doesn't want to travel, and that wouldn't have been an issue had the plumbing thing worked out, but obviously it's not going to. What are his options realistically? Could he try getting into a different trade. He's a hard worker and his teachers all like him and are willing to recommend him. He's also NCCER certified up to the 4th pipe fitting book.

Was interested in both of these but I was wondering how everyone was doing and if both of these programs stay busy working and how are layoffs?

​

Hey guys,

I’m a registered 2nd year plumbing apprentice living in Edmonton and I’m trying to break into camp rotation, turnarounds, or FIFO work. Online job portals feel like a complete black hole right now so I wanted to see if anyone on here has any leads on shops or crews looking for guys.

I’m looking for an apprentice spot, or even pipefitter helper / mechanical helper roles just to get my foot in the door up north.

Where I'm at:

TICKETS: I actually have a full industrial package in my wallet right now—H2S Alive, Confined Space, Standard First Aid, CSTS 2020, and WHMIS. All up to date.

ON THE TOOLS : I know my way around the pipe. I can measure, cut, grind, ream, thread, groove, and solder. You won't have to babysit me on basic fabrication.

BOOK/STATUS : My 1st year is fully signed off and verified. I have all my 2nd year hours wrapped up too, just waiting on my next school intake to officially ticket as a 3rd year.

FITNESS/TESTING : Physically fit, no issues lifting 50+ lbs all day, and I can pass a pre-access drug and alcohol screen at any time. Clean 5-year driver's abstract too.

I’m also super INTERESTED in getting into ROPE ACCESS down the road, so if any companies out there sponsor or co-pay for IRATA Level 1, I’d jump on that in a heartbeat.

Since I live right here in Edmonton, I have my gear packed and can be at the YEG charter terminals in an hour if a crew has a last-minute no-show.

If your company is ramping up for a project or needs a reliable hand who won't blow a drug test and already has his heavy tickets, please drop a comment or slide into my DMs. Appreciate any direction or company names you guys can throw my way. Cheers!

So to begin I have been trying to get into the pipefitters union here for a few years while I was working non union construction but they hadn’t brought in any apprentices in a long time so I joined the ironworkers union here in the meantime in case I don’t get into the fitters-this year I finally got to take the aptitude test, interviewed and got a letter saying I was accepted they compiled a list of all the people interviewed in the last 2 years and I placed 27

This is my dilemma- I’m now a 2nd year ironworkers apprentice in a 4 year apprenticeship, I make really good money but I still want to be a pipe fitter
If the UA hall finally calls me I’ll take a huge pay cut and have to literally scrape by for my first 3 years not really getting to build onto my savings or anything else until I get to a good pay rate but have everything I want in the long run i really don’t know what to do I know what I want but I’m really dreading being that broke and behind for years before I get back to where I am now which isn’t even close to what either Journeyman makes

Do I just suck it up and drown my first few years? Has anyone else had this experience?

I need to add a piece of 15’ pipe to a 21’ long section. It doesn’t have to be liquid tight just fairly strong. Do they make weldable couplings for this? Where would they sell such a thing? I tried beveling both ends and wire welding them but I’m not much of a welder and it didn’t hold when I picked it up.

Hello I’m going to start the process of joining union 33 in less than a month when I turn 18 what do I study for I’ve talked to the front desk person and she said that it’s a basic safety test, problem solving, and basic knowledge of the field plus a math test
How do I get the best score and what do I use to study?