Maybe you are considering becoming a plumber in Minnesota.
If so, you also need some info on how to get licensed and trained for the job.
Read on this article that will shed some light on the process.
Article Table of Contents
Plumber Job Description and Requirements
As a plumber in Minnesota, you can set up water systems.
You will also be in charge of repairing them and keeping them in check.
The following job duties are more common to be performed every day:
- Reading or drafting blueprints
- Installing the piping system
- Maintaining the water system
- Repairing the system whenever needed
- Ensuring the safety standards
- Meeting building regulations
- Using the appropriate devices to measure or solder
In Minnesota, you can apply for the following licenses:
- Apprentice license,
- Journeyman license,
- Master license
How to Become an Apprentice in Minnesota
In this state, you can work as a plumber even while you are an apprentice.
You can either learn the trade from a licensed plumber or join a trade school.
Joining a trade school will help you develop your skills in a more organized manner.
In school, you will take both theory and practice.
The theory classes often include the below topics:
The theory classes include the next subjects:
- Drafting,
- Mathematics,
- Science,
- Sprinkler installation,
- Pipefitting
- Reading blueprints
Keep in mind that the program you choose should be accredited by the board of plumbers in Minnesota.
There are also some requirements to attend an apprenticeship program.
These include the following:
- Be 16 years old
- High-school diploma or a GED
- Driver’s license or ID copy
- Copy of the birth certificate
- Proof of US citizenship
- Paying a $14 fee
- Pass a background check
- Pass a drug test
You will also need to register your apprenticeship with the state board.
As an apprentice, you can also perform work if you are overseen by a journeyman or master plumber.
How to get a Journeyman License in Minnesota
As a journeyman plumber, you can install or fix water systems without any supervision.
You can work independently or be employed by a plumbing firm.
You have to first pass a test before you can get licensed.
The subject of the exam include:
- Plumbing fundamentals and safety;
- Materials used, and specifications;
- Traps, interceptors, and backwater valves;
- Plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and plumbing appliances;
- Water supply systems;
- Backflow preventions;
- Gas appliances and piping;
- Plumbing mathematics.
You will need to meet some requirements before you can apply for the exam.
These requirements are:
- Be 18 years olf at the minimum
- Submit an application form and a $50 licensing fee
- Be a registered apprentice
- 7,000 hours of hands-on experience over a period of 4 years
- 2,000 hours of hands-on experience in water distribution systems
- 2,000 hours of hands-on experience in drain, waste, and vent systems
- 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in fixture installation
- Pass the licensing journeyman plumber exam
To be eligible for the exam, you need to pay a fee of $120.
Keep in mind that in this state, journeymen are called journey workers.
How to Get a Master License in Maryland
In order to get the master plumber license, you have to meet the following requirements:
- Job experience of 5 years
- And one of the below:
- A journey worker plumbing license in Minnesota
- A restricted master plumbing certification and a plumbing code compliance bond
- Send in an application for licensure
- Submit a $50 fee
- Pass the master plumber exam
Before you can schedule your exam, you should also pay a $120 exam fee.
The subjects in the exam are:
- Plumbing fundamentals and safety;
- Materials, their uses, and specifications;
- Traps, interceptors, and backwater valves;
- Plumbing fixtures, fixture fittings, and plumbing appliances;
- Water supply systems;
- Backflow prevention;
- Drain, waste, and vent systems;
- Special topics;
- Gas appliances and piping;
- Plumbing mathematics.
Plumber Employment and Salary Information
In Minnesota, plumbers make an average of $30.82 an hour.
As an apprentice or unlicensed plumber as it called in Minnesota, you will make about $15 an hour.
Annual Salary Range:Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
---|---|
Minneapolis | $61,328 |
St. Paul | $61,328 |
Rochester | $55,750 |
Duluth | $54,599 |
St. Cloud | $54,634 |
Eden Prairie | $61,225 |
Lakeville | $60,948 |
Burnsville | $61,156 |
Minnetonka | $61,328 |
Moorhead | $54,006 |
Regional Salary in Minnesota
Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Duluth, MN-WI | 390 | $80,130 | $38.52 | $105,480 | $47,320 |
Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 170 | $72,620 | $34.91 | $99,060 | $48,440 |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 6,010 | $85,890 | $41.29 | $119,740 | $49,440 |
Rochester, MN | 500 | $81,810 | $39.33 | $106,020 | $49,100 |
St. Cloud, MN | 960 | $72,890 | $35.04 | $94,390 | $49,160 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information
Minnesota has reciprocity agreements with North Dakota and South Dakota.
This means that you can work in Minnesota without applying for a license again if you are licensed in the above 2 states.
However, in order for this to apply, you need to have your current license for at least a year before relocating.
You will also have to submit the $50 licensing fee.
The most important aspect of becoming a plumber in this state is to enroll in a school.
This will allow you to learn more about the trade and have a successful career in the industry later on.
Schools Offering Plumbing Programs in Minnesota
School Name | Address |
---|---|
St. Paul College | 235 Marshall Avenue Saint Paul, MN 55102 |
St. Cloud Technical & Community College | 1540 Northway Drive St. Cloud, MN 56303 |
Plumbers Local 15 | 8625 Monticello Ln N., Suite 2 Maple Grove MN 55369 |
Hennepin Technical College | 9000 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55445 |
Minnesota State Community and Technical College | 1414 College Way, Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56537-1000 |
Minnesota West Community and Technical College | 1593 11th Ave, Granite Falls, Minnesota 56241 |
Northland Community and Technical College | 1101 Hwy One East, Thief River Falls, Minnesota 56701 |
Northwest Technical College | 905 Grant Avenue SE, Bemidji, Minnesota 56601-4907 |
Ridgewater College | 2 Century Ave SE Hutchinson, MN 55350 |
University of Minnesota | 1994 Buford Avenue, 20 Ruttan Hall, Saint Paul, MN 55108 |
My Plumbing Training | 17694 28th Ave N Glyndon, MN 56547 |
Midway Vo-Tech | 1355 Geneva Ave N. Suite #102 Oakdale MN 55128 |
Plumbers Local 34 | 353 7th St W #104, St Paul, MN 55102 |
Skilled Trade CE, LLC | 1660 S. Highway 100 Suite 500, St. Louis Park, MN 55416 |
Northern Mechanical & Iron Range Plumbing & Pipefitting Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee | 4402 Airpark Blvd, Duluth, MN 55811 |
Minneapolis Pipefitters Journeyman and Apprentice Training Committee • Local 539 | 6200 Lakeland Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55428-2937 |
UA PLUMBERS LOCAL UNION NO.15 | 8625 Monticello Ln. N, Suite 1 Maple Grove, MN 55369 |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Plumber