Plumbing Or Electrical?

newguy07

I have a job offer for a apprenticeship plumber. I am interested in plumbing but also interested in electrical

I noticed one guy on here that did both plumbing and electrical.. Is this hard to achieve?

I need some direction. I would like to be well rounded in construction. No offense but plumbing seems sort of easy.. Electrical seems a lot harder.

MechanicalDVR

Plumbing isn't easy, boring and tiring maybe, but you still need to know the proper and code like ways to do things. I am in electro-mechanical contracting, we do electric,plumbing,pipefitting,hvac/r. There are many larger companies that do this, yes it is involved to have all the licenses to work in more than one trade. On a large job, hospital,school,powerplant,cogen,etc, it is adventageous to bid and run the mechanicals. It doesn't matter where you start in the trades, it only matters what you work towards.

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Cole

I'm shocked this hasn't gotten any responses.

We were posting at the same time.

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mdshunk

I have a reply in mind, but I just can't put it in words yet. It goes something like, "What do you want to be when you grow up, little boy?"

copusbuilder

I want to be a rock star Then again a pimp might be good?

Gota start somehere new guy.... Crap flows down hill

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newguy07

That is one question I had. How does one person get licensed in several trades? I don't understand that part.

tinner666

Apprentise or take courses in each.


I've worked in several trades and it's been beneficial to me. I can understand what the plumber, electrician, or framer needs. How each thing must come together.
I'm not likely to do something tha will interfere with the next trade. I know wht the rocker needs when framing. And I always ask any other tradesman what HE requires in a given instance. Hard to explain, for me.

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Kingfisher

For those two trades you are going to have to choose. Both are great careers and both require working for/under someone with a license to get yours and after you get a license you are not going to go work for some one else in a diffrent trade at the bottom of the ladder to get your license there too. Its the only reason I don't have my electricains license too, cant afford to go apprentice for someone at this stage in life. You can get one of those and still make yoour way to the GC side but it will take you awhile to get the expirence.
"Choose wisely young patawahn"

newguy07

Not to singe him out or anything but how did "JamesLNA" specialize in two trades?

I tried to pm him up but no response.

Tmrrptr

Here in CA a general B-1 can do all the trades but fire systems.
I haven't done fire systems...

I told an Electrician friend I was doing this, and that, the other day...
His response was, "That's all well and good if you want to keep reloading your truck."

He was/is right.
r

JamesNLA

Yeah... sorry I didn't get back to you.

Licensed Plumber.
And I would also rate myself as a really good apprentice or a work in progress Journey electrician. I do electrical work for a few EC's in my area when I need to fill in X amount of time. I doubt I will ever get a C-10 for myself, I just really like doing electrical. When wiring up a house I always am in a good mood in the mornings. I will however be getting my GC......soon hopefully.

So in my little descriptor I just said Plumbing / Electrical. Never really cared to change it after I joined CT.

It does make for a pain in the rear loading and unloading, plus all my tools. There are jobs where I am doing both side by side or split up in the day and the tools and materials needed are alot. But the knowledge and experience needed is far greater. Your postings lead me to think you like to ask the same questions. At the end of the day, you need to do what you really want to. Taking on both plumbing and electrical especially at the same time is not for people who aren't fast learners.....intelligent...and understand and value the word commitment. Oh, and if poo makes you gag, stick to wiring...much cleaner trade.

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The plumber

You'll have to invest probably 4 years in each trade to get your license and know what you are doing. So pick one and have fun. I took h.v.a.c. and electrical in college because I did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up, and now I'm a plumber go figure.

ksensen

I'm one of the guys doing both- with some qualifications- I am licensed in neither. Now before anyone rips me a new one understand a little background. I'm in PA which is by an large a license free state. Meaning in my area there is only one "city" which require a plumbing license. I can do electrical work but no plumbing. I grew up in the trades. My dad was a plumber did the whole school/apprenticeship route but never bothered taking the test. Not completely sure why? He was the inhouse plumber for a builder who paid for my dad to get some electrical training- he never did a full apprenticeship but put in the time to become a competent residential electrician. My dad later went out on his own. I then worked for my dad all through high school/ college and beyond. But of course because he didn't have his license it was not an official apprenticeship. I spent @8 years working "part-time" and another 6 years full time before I really felt competent to go it alone. Now I'm in the situation where I am self employed. I believe I am competent at what I do (I have many inspectors who will vouch for the quality of my work, both plumbing and electrical) and I know my limits. I am strictly a resi/light commericial guy. Just last week I was changing out the ballasts of a couple of lights in a Dunkin Donuts and the owner pressed me to handle some significant electrical upgrades at 8 of his stores. I turned it down because I knew it was beyond my skill/comfort level. So anyway- where do I go from here? I would like to work towards licensing but kind of feel screwed. I can't sell my business and work as an apprentice for 4 years. I am planning on taking some classes to continue to improve my knowledge/skill. I don't want to choose one over the other because I enjoy both and work for several contractors who appreciate my work and appreciate having one guy to handle both plumbing and electric. Frankly it is a little frustrating. I have actually contacted the plumbing licensing board in my local city to find out if there are alternative routes to becoming licensed that don't involve an apprenticeship but cannot even get anyone to return my calls. I

newguy07

Well I took the electrical route. I got an apprenticeship.

wirenuts

Well Congrats for finally making a decision

I have been in the electrical trade documented 23 yr I have been doing it closer to 30 yrs now

my grand father was a general contractor/electrical contractor
my dad and union electrician/ general foreman
my older brother union electrician/ non union Electrical contractor
myself union,non union,union,non union electrician/general foreman superentendant now electrical contractor

but have to say really wanted to be a policeman even owned a business customizing cars but the trade I know better then the hairs on the back of my hands

never not been able to go somewhere and be or even make top wage


So all in all make the best of what you choose and always strive to be the best and nothing less that will be the attitude for success

Tmrrptr

I think you have made a good choice to start an apprenticeship program.
r

goose134

Plumber and an electrician? Just make sure you don't get the pipes mixed up!

plazaman

I agree with you, and pretty much do the same. I know the expectations of every other tradesman in most cases. I guess because with do remodelling, we come into these situations more often.

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Teetorbilt

IMHO, an electrician can get fried while a plumber only gets wet.

BTW I do both, just not on homes. Megayachts, yes, but not for homes.

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Plumber

Ksensen if you have no license how you pull permits??? Don't get me wrong I'm not tring to bust your b@lls . just curious.