what's new
Our Web Pages Have Evolved
Streamlined and more efficient this new look places all your pertinent Apprenticeship information upfront.
We have retained a number of pages from our previous sitelet and hope you continue to visit them on a regular bases:
|
the plumbing apprenticeship program at bcit, consider it!
Note: To be eligible for apprenticeship training you must be registered as an apprentice. Go to the BCIT Apprenticeship website for more information.
Your Plumbing Apprenticeship is a trade and career that:
- Maximizes your job prospects
- Makes you part of the booming construction industry
Once your apprenticeship is complete, you can choose the industry sector you want to work in:
-
Smaller companies specialize in strictly residential plumbing
- Larger firms work on everything from high-rise buildings to industrial construction sites
- Start your own business
* Work out of the province
As a graduate apprentice you qualify for the Interprovincial Red Seal, so your trade qualifications are recognized throughout Canada.
Also as a graduating fourth year student from BCIT, you are eligible to receive a Diploma in Trades Training, something no other training institution in the province can offer.
View a career video.
program entry
There are two ways of beginning your plumbing apprenticeship:
- Take the Piping Foundation
program. At the end of the 26 weeks of training in the program you'll have
the basic plumbing knowledge and skills to increase your plumbing
employment opportunities. The Foundation program qualifies for Level One of
your apprenticeship with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).
- Find employment with a plumbing company that registers you with the ITA. In this option, you are indentured to a plumbing company as an
apprentice plumber learning basic plumbing skills while you are
employed. The advantage is that you earn while you learn.
For more information on our Piping Foundation program contact Admission & Registration.
If you are registered with the Industry Training Authority, you can apply now to BCIT's Apprenticeship Studies program. Read more about BCIT's apprenticeship programs or view the Plumbing Apprentice training schedule for the next available training date.
Entrance requirements
Note: Entrance Requirements are used as a guideline for success in this Apprenticeship program. They are recommended, not required.
- High school graduation
- English 12 or English language proficiency
- Algebra 11 or Trade Mathematics 11
- Physics 11 or Science and Technology 11
BC provincial exams
For programs beginning in August 2007 or later which require Grade 12 Math and Science courses, BCIT will not require the applicant to write the provincial exam. Provincial exam marks will still be required for English 12, Communications 12, and Technical and Professional Communications 12.
costs & supplies
Books and supplies
Apprentices are expected to supply their own CSA approved steel-toed boots, hard hats and safety glasses. Cost of books/supplies to be determined.
Financial assistance
Income support for apprentices is provided by Human Resource Development Canada (HRDC) through regular Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility. For questions regarding Employment Insurance or Personal Support Payments, please visit the income support overview for current BCIT apprentices.
Limited financial assistance is available for BCIT apprenticeship students who demonstrate financial need. An apprentice bursary application is available for pick up at Apprentice Services for apprentices who require financial assistance to pay fees. The deadline for applying is no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Friday of your first week of classes. Please contact BCIT Apprentice Services for more information.
courses
Each year in the program is a building block to the next.
Here is what you can expect in each of the four years of your
apprenticeship.
First Year
Theory consists of:
- Math skill development
- Science of gases and thermal expansion
- Valve types and applications
- WHMIS
- WCB Regulations and job site safety
- BC Plumbing Code Introduction
In the practical portion of first year, you will perform:
- Proper soldering and brazing techniques
- Oxygen and acetylene cutting
- Welding
- Safe rigging procedures
- Installation of a hot water tank
Second Year
Theory consists of:
- BC Building Code - Drainage and Venting Requirements
- Fundamentals of hot water heating
- Builders level
- Blue print reading
- Compressed air
- Medical gases
In the practical portion of second year:
- You'll design and lay out a set of blue prints for a plumbing
system of a three level residential home that meets the requirements of
the B.C. Plumbing Code, then rough in a bathroom group that includes
drainage, venting and water piping.
- Install a hydronic heating system that includes two zones complete
with three baseboard heaters. This system will be fully operational
using a circulator, zone valves, baseboard heaters, thermostats and a
fan control switch.
- Builders levels will take you on a mini-tour of the BCIT campus while taking numerous elevation shots along the way.
- You'll perform a medical gas silver soldering project using an inert gas for purging.
Third Year
Theory consists of:
- BC Plumbing Code application
- Water pipe sizing systems
- Gasfitting
- Specification Interpretation
- Rural Water Systems
- Fire protection
- Cross Connection Control
The practical components of third year include:
- Clocking gas meters
- Burner adjustments
- Testing and troubleshooting backflow prevention assemblies, which lead to "Tester" certification in cross connection control.
Fourth Year
Theory consists of:
- Combustion and ventilation air requirements
- Atmospheric and power burners
- Gas valves and regulators
- Appliance venting and start-up procedures
- Rural sewage systems
- National Plumbing Code
- Hydronic heating design and controls
The practical portion of fourth year includes:
- Electrical circuit wiring and testing
- Appliance light-up and trouble shooting (conducted in both the Gas and Electrical Labs)
- Designing a set of gasfitting drawings for a single family home
Class hours
0730-1415, Monday through Friday
Transfer credit
Do you have credits from another BC/Yukon post-secondary school? Do you want to know if
they transfer to courses here at BCIT? Check out BCIT's
Transfer Equivalency Database to find out.
program details
In BCIT's Plumbing Apprenticeship program you'll learn a variety of
trade-specific topics, enabling you to install, maintain and repair
piping systems that carry a wide variety of fluids used in residential,
commercial and industrial settings according to the BC Plumbing Code.
Training is instructor driven.
Lectures, labs and tutorials are the primary course delivery methods.
Classroom activities take place in an atmosphere promoting class
participation. In groups of up to 16 students, you'll use interactive
software programs developed by your instructors to enhance
your training experience. You'll complete practical projects in
building NE-6 or one of the department's numerous labs.
As a leader in trades training in the province, BCIT offers a
variety of institute-driven support services that are at your disposal.
For example:
Program length
The total amount of in-school training for a plumbing apprenticeship is
780 hours. There are four levels of training. The first three levels are
six weeks in length and the fourth level is eight weeks.
Grading
A minimum grade of 70 per cent is required.
graduating & jobs
Graduate employment outcomes
The following link takes you to graduate outcome survey results containing mostly labour market results from the 2007-2009 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2006-2008 Graduates.
Note: The survey results will be displayed in a separate browser window. To view these results, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser.
Credential
BCIT offers a Diploma of Trades Training for apprentices who have successfully completed their technical training at BCIT and have been granted a British Columbia Trades Qualification (IP/TQ). In trades where there is no requirement to complete a Trades Qualification (TQ), a Certificate of Apprenticeship is acceptable. Please see the BCIT apprenticeship training section of the website for more information.
faculty, advisors & staff
If after reviewing the information on our web pages you still have questions regarding our program, please contact any one of us. It would be our pleasure to help you with additional information.
 |
Bill Evans, Chief Instructor
M.Ed., C.I.P.E., Plumbing I.P.,
Sprinklerfitting I.P., Steamfitting I.P.,
"A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-432-8420
E-mail: william_evans@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Mick Bryant, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-431-4937
E-mail: mick_bryant@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Tim Carson, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-456-1226
E-mail: tim_carson@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Gary Clifford, Instructor
C.I.P.E., Plumbing I.P.,
Steamfitting I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-451-6711
E-mail: gary_clifford@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Bill Johnston, Instructor
M.Ed., C.I.P.E., Steamfitting I.P.,
Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-431-4900
E-mail: bill_johnston@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Michael Lesperance, Technician
Tel: 604-451-6991
E-mail: michael_lesperance@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Karl Lutsch, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-451-7164
E-mail: karl_lutsch@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Eric MacKay, Support Staff
Tel: 604-432-8962
E-mail: eric_mackay@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Dale Pfaff, Instructor
M.Ed., C.I.P.E., Plumbing I.P.,
Sprinklerfitting I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-451-7116
E-mail: dale_pfaff@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Jerry Ram, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., Sprinklerfitting I.P.,
Steamfitting I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-456-1226
E-mail: jerry_ram@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Rob Steiner, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-431-4959
E-mail: rob_steiner@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Ron Stewart, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-431-4978
E-mail: ron_stewart@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Brian Sweet, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-451-7164
E-mail: brian_sweet@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Lorne Sweet, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., Steamfitting I.P.,
"A" Gas Certification,
"B" Welding TQ with PWP7
Tel: 604-431-4994
E-mail: lorne_sweet@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Ryan Thomas, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-456-1225
E-mail: ryan_thomas@bcit.ca
|
| |
 |
Richard Yoo, Instructor
Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification
Tel: 604-431-4967
E-mail: richard_yoo@bcit.ca
|
| |
As BCIT strives to keep our programs current, programs and courses are subject to change without notice.
|
Big Info Session
March 31
Join us on March 31 from 5-8 p.m. for our Big Info Session and Program Expo.
Find out more >
Testimonial
"We hire BCIT grads because they're qualified, skilled and properly trained. BCIT continuously enhances its program to keep ahead of the changing needs of our industry. We're proud to be associated with this program."
Trevor Hildebrand
President, Phase Mechanical
Testimonial
"Plumbing is a diversified and continuously changing field. BCIT's shop is very well equipped with the latest technology, while excellent instructors provide the instruction. I received the skills I needed to open up my own business as a plumber and gas fitter. I recommend BCIT's Plumbing program."
Jeff Small
President, Benchmark Mech. Ltd.,
BCIT Plumbing Graduate
Testimonial
KLM Mechanical Systems Ltd. has been using BCIT to help us hire new plumbing apprentices for approximately ten years. When we are looking to hire new apprentices, we always start at the BCIT pre apprenticeship program. They have always been a great partner in staffing for our Company.
Jim MacGregor
Field Superintendent,
KLM Mechanical Systems Ltd.
Piping Department Mission Statement
"To uphold high educational standards through applied technology and practical skills within an ever-changing industry."
|
