Plumbing - Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Plumbing from Los Angeles Trade Technical College is a Campus Associate Engineering General degree that prepares you for a Engineering career. PROGRAM OVERVIEW Most people are familiar with plumbers , those individuals who come to their home to unclog a drain or install an appliance. Plumbers install, maintain, and repair many different types of pipe systems. Some systems move water to a municipal water treatment plant and then to residential, commercial, and public buildings. Other systems dispose of waste, provide gas to stoves and furnaces, or provide for heating and cooling needs. Pipe systems in power plants carry the steam that powers huge turbines, while pipes also are used in manufacturing plants to move material through the production process. Specialized piping systems are critical in both pharmaceutical and computer-chip manufacturing. The existence of such various pipe systems generate the need for trained plumbers . Plumbers must be able to follow building plans or blueprints and instructions, lay out the job, and work efficiently with the materials and tools of their trade. Computers and specialized software are used to create blueprints and plan layouts. To meet the training needs of persons interested in becoming a service and repair plumber or a commercial construction plumber , Los Angeles Trade Technical College offers a Plumbing Associate in Science degree and a Plumbing Construction Technologies Associate in Arts degree, as well as their equivalent Certificates of Completion. The Associate in Science degree is designed for individuals seeking entry level positions in the field. Students enrolling in this program should be able to commit to full-time student status, which is approximately 24 hours per week. This time commitment is necessary to allow for hands-on training with the laboratory applications used during the course of instruction. The Associate in Arts degree is an evenings-only course of study designed for individuals currently in the field who want to improve or expand their skills. Due to limitations on available evening hours, the utilization of hands-on laboratory application is assumed to be provided at the student's place of employment. Depending on availability, the Associate in Arts degree may require slightly longer time to complete due to limited hours available. Check with the Department Chair for more details prior to enrolling Plumbers work in commercial and residential settings where water and septic systems need to be installed and maintained. They also work outdoors, sometime in remote areas, as they build the pipelines that connect sources of oil, gas, and chemicals with the users of these materials. Because plumbers frequently must lift heavy pipes, stand for long periods, and sometimes work in uncomfortable or cramped positions, they need physical strength as well as stamina. Job opportunities are expected to be excellent, as demand for skilled plumbers is expected to outpace the supply of workers trained in this craft. Many employers report difficulty finding potential workers with the right qualifications. In addition, many people currently working in these trades are expected to retire over the next 10 years, which will create additional job openings. Employment of plumbers is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014. Demand for plumbers will stem from new construction and building renovation. Bath remodeling, in particular, is expected to continue to grow and create more jobs for plumbers . In addition, repair and maintenance of existing residential systems will keep plumbers employed. Plumbers are generally less sensitive to changes in economic conditions than jobs in other construction trades: even when construction activity declines, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement of existing piping systems, as well as the increasing installation of fire sprinkler systems, provide many jobs for plumbers. Requirements for the Plumbing Associate in Science degree may be satisfied by completing a minimum of 48 units in the required courses listed below and an additional 18 units in general education courses (Plan B). Upon successful completion of this program the student will have the necessary knowledge and skills for a career in residential, commercial, and industrial service and repair or construction plumbing. Reading of blueprints, layout, estimating, installation of piping systems and fixtures, repair of supply and waste water systems are just some of the skills that will be mastered during this program. View more details on Los Angeles Trade Technical College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Engineering General courses.