All About Scholarships & Grants

Start Your Plumbing Career Today With Vocational Training!   by Erin Malone

There is big business in the field of plumbing, heating, and cooling. This is an in-demand career regardless of which state you work in. Seasonal, subtropical, and desert states all are dependent on the plumbing, heating, and cooling profession. Plus, as a skill, this trade could provide a level of job security that an executive may not have. Consequently, it is one of the most popular trades offered at vocational and trade schools.

Plumbing, heating, and cooling professionals refer to their trade as a custom industry, which infers every job is different. Consequently, with every call, the technician can expect a new condition and/or an unusual situation. Consequently, this professional should be intelligent, adaptable, and skilled with his or her hands. As for academic education, students pursuing a career in plumbing, heating, and cooling should have knowledge of physical science.

There are different majors associated with the plumbing, heating, and cooling profession. One of the most familiar areas of this profession is the installation, service, and repair technician. In this area of expertise, students learn how to repair, replace, and conduct preventative maintenance on a variety of equipment including air conditioners, water heaters, furnaces, and thermostats to name a few.

Plumbing and pipefitting is another area of concentration a student can pursue. Plumbers are skilled craftsmen, who require the following: ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, analytical thinking to execute the design and bring it into fruition, and adherence to policies and guidelines to ensure the design meets all state and municipal ordinances. Being a plumber requires physical strength, and they are also subject to working long hours outside.

Students concentrating in mechanical CAD (Computer Aided Design) can look forward to learning how to create technical drawings using the latest CAD computer software. CAD technicians take an engineer’s vision and translate it into a technical drawing that is used to create a working prototype. This will require knowledge and application of computer science, mathematics (specifically Algebra, Trigonometry, and Geometry), and technical writing.

Students can expect to spend a balanced amount of time learning by way of classroom theory and hands-on training. In-class time can be spent learning the basics of Math and Physics and how they are applied to plumbing, heating, and cooling skills. Math, for example, is related to the structure and layout of pipe work, whereas Physics is required to understand the proper handling of liquids and gases. Students are expected to use apprenticeship time, or hands-on training, to apply theoretical concepts that are learned in class.

Vocational school may not be as expensive as a four-year college, but it’s not cheap either. Because of the skill sets of this profession, this field of study can cost a few dollars. Luckily, there are scholarships specifically for plumbing, heating, and cooling students. Research may take some extra time, but it is well worth it if you can find one that you qualify for.

About the Author

High school students can get a jump on preparing for vocational training school to become a plumbing, heating, and cooling professional. Completing online college courses like Speech, English, Chemistry, Plane Geometry, and Algebra in one’s junior and senior years can lay a solid academic base that can help with learning skills and understanding how each subject relates to various areas of expertise. Check out Earn My Degree and get the answers to any of the questions that you may have!
2011 Gensler Diversity Scholarship Winner – Nathalie Jolivert

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