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Plumbing school in Virginia

10 plumbing programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

6 schools offer these plumbing programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Plumbers install and repair pipes, fixtures and piping systems. Most learn the trade in a four- or five-year apprenticeship, and most states and some cities require plumbers to be licensed.1

In Virginia, 4 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma and 6 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 10 programs here are short course or single level (6 programs), pipefitting (2 programs) and plumbing certificate or diploma (2 programs).

See the 10 programs

How much does plumbing school cost in Virginia?

$1,148 to $3,529 is what most plumbing programs in Virginia cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $225 to $5,500

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
3 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
6 to 19 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Virginia may also offer plumbing school. How these figures are made

Is there free plumbing school in Virginia?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: paid apprenticeships, financial aid and the GI Bill

All 10 plumbing programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • PipefittingIn personNo diploma needed

    Marine Trade Training: Pipefitting Level 1

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkPipefitting · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$44,900
    Price if you pay yourself$3,300
    More details about Marine Trade Training: Pipefitting Level 1 at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    93%
    Working at 6 months
    92%
    Earned in a quarter
    $11,218
    Length
    3 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    84
    Earned a year, estimated
    $44,900
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,300

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing Program

    Massanutten Technical Center

    Harrisonburg

    No diploma needed

    Massanutten Technical Center, HarrisonburgPlumbing certificate or diplomaIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$5,500
    More details about Plumbing Program at Massanutten Technical Center
    Finished
    97%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    141 weeks, 3 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    76
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $5,500

  • PipefittingIn personNo diploma needed

    Pipefitting

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton

    Elizabethton, TN

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton, Elizabethton, TNPipefitting · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Classes are outside Virginia; Virginia approved the program for its funding.

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,605
    More details about Pipefitting at Tennessee College of Applied Technology -- Elizabethton
    Finished
    94%
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    30 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    32
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,605

  • Short course or single levelIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing Tradesman License Renewal

    Danville Community College

    Danville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Danville Community College, DanvilleShort course or single level · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$225
    More details about Plumbing Tradesman License Renewal at Danville Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    1 week, 24 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $100
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $225

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing

    Richmond Adult Technical Center

    Richmond

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Richmond Adult Technical Center, RichmondPlumbing certificate or diplomaIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$600
    School website, Plumbing at Richmond Adult Technical Center
    More details about Plumbing at Richmond Adult Technical Center
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    3 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $600
    School website, Plumbing at Richmond Adult Technical Center

  • Short course or single levelIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing Level 1

    Virginia Technical Institute

    Altavista

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Technical Institute, AltavistaShort course or single levelIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$940
    More details about Plumbing Level 1 at Virginia Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $940

  • Short course or single levelIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing Level 2

    Virginia Technical Institute

    Altavista

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Technical Institute, AltavistaShort course or single levelIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,770
    More details about Plumbing Level 2 at Virginia Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,770

  • Short course or single levelIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing Level 3

    Virginia Technical Institute

    Altavista

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Technical Institute, AltavistaShort course or single levelIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,770
    More details about Plumbing Level 3 at Virginia Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,770

  • Short course or single levelIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing Level 4

    Virginia Technical Institute

    Altavista

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Virginia Technical Institute, AltavistaShort course or single levelIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,770
    More details about Plumbing Level 4 at Virginia Technical Institute
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    15 weeks, 40 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,770

  • Short course or single levelIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing - Level I

    Tidewater Community College

    Norfolk

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Tidewater Community College, NorfolkShort course or single level · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$4,725
    More details about Plumbing - Level I at Tidewater Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    20 weeks, 14 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $4,725

How to pay for plumbing school in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for plumbing school in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Paid plumbing apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job: you're paid to learn, with a raise as your skills grow, and most include classroom teaching. You apply to the employer or the program sponsor. Ask what you'll pay for the classroom part and what you'll earn on the job.6

Financial aid and grants for plumbing school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for plumbing school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Plumbing school in Virginia

programs with a price cost under $1,000
3 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
7th of 21
plumbing programs here, against the typical state's 5
10 vs 5

State comparisons use the same figures as the plumbing school by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Plumbing apprenticeships in Virginia

Most plumbers train in a four- or five-year apprenticeship. Each year usually brings about 2,000 hours of paid work on the job plus classes in safety, local plumbing codes and blueprint reading. Unions, trade associations and businesses run the programs; some people start as helpers or with a pre-apprenticeship course. To work on your own, states and cities often ask for two to five years of experience and a passed exam.1

You apply to the employer or the program sponsor, not through a school.6 The Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Finder lists openings by place and job. None of the plumbing programs on this page is an apprenticeship.

What is an apprenticeship, and can WIOA pay for one?

Plumbing school in Lynchburg, Virginia Beach, Harrisonburg and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Virginia

How plumbing school compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in Virginia

Where the Virginia plumbing program numbers come from

Which Virginia plumbing programs are on this list?

These are the plumbing programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia plumbing programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about plumbing school in Virginia

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Labor, Apprenticeship.gov: Discover Apprenticeship: Earn While You Learn Today (fact sheet)
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List