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.

For more information view a career video, check out our Part-time studies page or take a Virtual Tour of our shop.

There are two ways of beginning your plumbing apprenticeship:

1. 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).
2. 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.

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

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:

• Financial aid & awards
• Counselling
• Learning commons

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 T: 604-432-8420 E: william_evans@bcit.ca
	Mick Bryant, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-431-4937 E: mick_bryant@bcit.ca
	Tim Carson, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-456-1226 E: tim_carson@bcit.ca
	Bill Johnston, Instructor M.Ed., C.I.P.E., Steamfitting I.P., Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-431-4900 E: bill_johnston@bcit.ca
	Michael Lesperance, Technician T: 604-451-6991 E: michael_lesperance@bcit.ca
	Karl Lutsch, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-451-7164 E: karl_lutsch@bcit.ca
	Eric MacKay, Support Staff T: 604-432-8962 E: eric_mackay@bcit.ca
	Mark Overgaard, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification T: 604-456-1225 E: mark_overgaard@bcit.ca
	Dale Pfaff, Instructor M.Ed., C.I.P.E., Plumbing I.P., Sprinklerfitting I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-451-7116 E: dale_pfaff@bcit.ca
	Rob Steiner, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification T: 604-431-4959 E: rob_steiner@bcit.ca
	Ron Stewart, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-431-4978 E: ron_stewart@bcit.ca
	Brian Sweet, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "A" Gas Certification T: 604-451-7164 E: brian_sweet@bcit.ca
	Lorne Sweet, Instructor Plumbing I.P., Steamfitting I.P., "A" Gas Certification, "B" Welding TQ with PWP7 T: 604-431-4994 E: lorne_sweet@bcit.ca
	Ryan Thomas, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification T: 604-456-1225 E: ryan_thomas@bcit.ca
	Richard Yoo, Instructor Plumbing I.P., "B" Gas Certification T: 604-431-4967 E: richard_yoo@bcit.ca

Bill Evans, Chief Instructor
Tel: 604-432-8420
E-mail: william_evans@bcit.ca