The minimum age at which the employment of an apprentice may commence is 16 years of age.

The minimum educational requirements are:

Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent,

or

The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course,

or

Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within 2 weeks of recruitment.

In this apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS.

Note: These are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes, however, previous experience of the following subjects would be an advantage but not essential:

• Engineering
• Technical Drawing/Graphics
• Metalwork
• Construction Studies
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Physics

 

Phase 1: With Employer

• Induction Training
• Introduction to Health & Safety
• Introduction to Tools & Equipment
• Introduction to Basic Skills

Phase 2: Delivered in Training Centre (20 weeks)

Course Content:

• Induction
• Thermal Processes & Mild Steel Pipefitting
• Domestic Hot and Cold Water Services
• Domestic Heating/MMA (Manual Metal Arc) Welding

Phase 3: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 4: Delivered in Educational Colleges (11 weeks)

Course Content:

• Thermal Processes & Mild Steel Pipefitting
• Advanced Copper & Plastic Pipework
• Oil Fired Boilers & Heating Systems
• Pipework Systems

Phase 5: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 6: Delivered in Educational Colleges (11 weeks)

Course Content:

• Thermal Processes & Pipefitting
• Advanced Pipework, Water & Waste Water Systems
• Heating & Air Conditioning
• Gas Installation Safety
• Plant and Process Systems

Phase 7: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

The overall duration of this apprenticeship is a minimum of 4 years provided all phases are successfully completed.

On successful completion of the programme the learner is awarded a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Plumbing.

The training is provided by the following institutions:

• TU Dublin – Blanchardstown
• City of Dublin Education and Training Board
• Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Kerry Education and Training Board

 

As a Plumber you will need to be physically active and to be able to work with your hands.

An awareness of health and safety and good housekeeping is essential as well as attention to detail and an eye for the aesthetic.

The Plumber must have the ability to:

• Plan, Organise and Communicate effectively
• Solve problems
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Show a positive attitude
• Recognise the need for good customer relations
• Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness

Note: A person wishing to become an apprentice Plumber must pass a colour–vision test approved by SOLAS.

Plumbers work in a variety of locations including houses, industrial and commercial buildings. 

Plumbers require many skills including:

• Working with technical specifications and drawings
• Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools including wrenches, spanners, saws, cutters and welding equipment
• Cutting, bending, joining and fixing materials such as lead, copper, aluminium, plastic, zinc and iron
• Installation of central heating systems and their controls and pipework, sanitary systems
• Drainage systems, guttering and rainwater systems, and large refrigeration systems for industry
• Testing systems to ensure they are working efficiently and safely
• Maintenance and repair work including routine servicing and emergency repairs

Aspects of work: 

• Learning and developing new practical craft-related skills, knowledge and competence
• Working with and learning from experienced craftspersons
• Seeing a job through from start to finish
• Comply with Health and Safety requirements
• Working with technical drawings and diagrams
• Using tools or machinery to shape metal
• Being accurate with numbers in counting, measuring and arithmetic
• Being well organised and careful with practical tasks
• Working at heights
• Lifting or carrying heavy items
• Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time
• Flexible working arrangements as emergency work may be involved
• Being physically active
• Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals skills demonstration)
• Bending, kneeling and working in cramped and awkward spaces
• Earning as you learn

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices are qualified to work within the recognised trade or profession.

Note: People in employment have a number of options for both Educational and Career Progression. It might also be possible to gain promotion within your existing company.  By using your existing qualifications and your experience you might to able to secure an alternative position in a more senior role in another company. It may also be possible to set up your own company based again on your existing qualifications and experience.  Whatever route you decide to take remember education is a lifelong pursuit and you can always continue to up skill and/or retrain, whatever your age.  Links to some educational and enterprise supports can be found below.    

Career Progression Useful Links:  

Educational Supports:  

On completion of an apprenticeship your educational progression options may be offered as full awards on the NFQ levels 7-10 National Framework .  You may also decide to embark on a partial award or to up skill in a particular area by undertaking a short specialised course.  

Depending on your skills, knowledge and experience some of the opportunities below might be appropriate to help develop your Career pathway.   

• Springboard & conversion courses  
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On completion of anapprenticeship if you feel you have the appropriate knowledge, skills and experience you may decide to set up your own business. The links below might be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices, For profit Local enterprise support
• Local Area partnerships For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs: Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising: Developing your business under an established franchise

You must obtain employment as an apprentice in your chosen occupation.

• The employer must be approved to train apprentices.
• The employer must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

Colour vision requirements

Plumbing Apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS.

Are you interested in a construction apprenticeship?
If so, register your interest by creating an account and uploading a short personal profile via this link.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search apprenticeship vacancies and a list of currently approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal. You can search for vacancies by location, and employers in each apprenticeship.

Use this link to explore a list of Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship type.

Finding an employer and securing your apprenticeship

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:

• Construction Industry Federation

Opportunities for this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations:

• EPS Groups
• Gas Networks Ireland
• Designer Group
• Mercury

Online Jobsites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.

Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Training Allowance (Off-the-job)
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.

The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The weekly gross wage norms for different industries are listed below.

Information on taxation of off-the-job payments can be found here.

Connect Trade Union

Apprentices complete two of their three phases of off-the-job training in a higher education institution. A student contribution must be paid for this part of the training.

The amount of the student contribution is a proportion of the annual student contribution paid by students who are attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution.

The student contribution for this apprenticeship is €1,000 for Phase 4 and €1,000 for Phase 6