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Lots of people are thinking of taking plumbing classes. Many wish to begin or improve their careers by taking individual plumbing courses or maybe earning a full degree. Some others are often do-it yourselfers who are interested in taking plumbing classes for the enjoyment of mastering additional skills, to be more self reliant, or to economize and attend to maintenance jobs by themself. In any event, one needs to understand the fundamentals of choosing a college to assist them in their quest for a solid program for their particular requirements. Number one, you must understand the varieties of educational institutions and programs which are available. Plumbing courses oriented toward professionals will cover the knowledge areas essential to the plumbing trade and are taught in programs commonly (although not always) known as "Plumbing Technology" programs. These programs are offered at technical schools, community colleges, and in online "distance learning" schools. A Certificate program will probably be shorter (12 months, typically) and more concentrated on the essentials, whereas an Associates degree program will likely be lengthier (Two years) and will include the basics plus more theory and a larger variety of topics to provide a broader education in plumbing. These same schools will often allow non-professionals to take individual classes or may offer a "lite" type of certificate program for people considering taking several classes. Second, be mindful that the fee for school varies widely depending upon the program and type of college, and even among very similar educational institutions and programs. Definitely do some comparison-shopping. For individuals paying the fees themselves, cost is surely an important aspect in selecting a school. On the other hand, for an individual in an Apprentice program, their employer could possibly cover most or all of the costs. At the low end, a Certificate in plumbing could be earned for under $1,000 at online institutions in self-study programs. At the high end, an Associates degree could cost over $20,000 in a full-time, 2-year program. In between these extremes you will find a range of costs for different programs and schools. One important determinant of price may be whether you meet the criteria for in-state vs. out-of-state tuition for the colleges you are looking at attending. This can make a significant difference in price, so consider your residency situation for a variety of schools and figure out if there are things you can do in order to make you meet the criteria for in-state fees. Finally, although really important, don't let fees function as the driving factor of which program you ultimately choose. Other things make a difference, also. When looking at a course of study, ask the university what the completion rate is for their plumbing program. The completion rate (often called: completion percent) shows you what proportion of all students who started the program go on to finally complete the program. If the completion rate is very low in comparison to other similar programs at the same kind of institution (don't compare web-based to on-location schools, instead only compare online to online, for example), this might be a red flag that's alerting one to keep away from their program. Likewise, you should figure out whether a college is accredited and by which agencies. Accreditation can be a hidden landmine, so invest time to understand how it make a difference to you. For a wealth of terrific information about the important topic of accreditation, read the Council for Higher Education website. Finding a plumbing program could be a little bit daunting. Even so, if you spend some time to do your homework and pull together some basic facts on a variety of institutions and programs, you are going to begin to feel so much more confident. If you are pursuing a degree in plumbing to improve your career in the plumbing trade, definitely contact local and national trade unions or trade groups to get their input on what's important as well as to get feedback on specific colleges or programs. Do not get overwhelmed! The most important thing is for you to take action and start moving towards achieving your goal! For more helpful information about plumbing courses and plumbing careers, see www.ePlumbingCourses.com.
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