A Pipeline to Success: Carroll Launches Plumbing Apprenticeship Program

Looking for a career that’s in demand, pays well, and doesn’t require taking on loads of debt? Carroll Community College has officially launched its new Plumbing Apprenticeship program in partnership with the Plumbing Apprenticeship of Carroll County, giving students the chance to earn while they learn for one of today’s most in-demand trades.

The four-year program is already off to a strong start. The first class welcomed 16 apprentices from ten local businesses—double the original goal. Each apprentice is employed full-time by a licensed plumbing company while attending evening classes at Carroll’s Westminster campus.

A big benefit for apprentices is that their employers entirely pay the program. This means eligible participants can train for this high-paying trade at no cost to them, eliminating any financial barriers.

A Win for Students & Local Businesses

The program blends classroom learning at Carroll with hands-on training at a full-time job, preparing apprentices to work in residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing. Graduates will be eligible to earn a Journeyman license through the Maryland Department of Labor, positioning them for long-term career stability.

For local businesses, the program offers an immediate payoff: trained employees who are learning industry best practices while on the job.

“The Carroll Community College Plumbing Apprenticeship program is a great addition to our community,” said Kevin Nottingham, CEO/Co-Founder of First Class Mechanical Plumbing & HVAC Services. “Participating in the apprentice program provides insight into all aspects of the trade, from general service to new construction, building well-rounded members of our team.”

Apprentices themselves say the opportunity is career changing. Joel Galford, currently apprenticing at Burgan Plumbing, shared: “I feel the ability to combine learning a trade while working full-time as a plumbing apprentice will help me be successful in any economy.”

Indeed, plumbing is a career that offers variety, job security, and great pay.

From Fundamentals to Foreman

Throughout the Plumbing Apprenticeship program, apprentices build skills step by step, starting with plumbing fundamentals and advancing toward leadership-level knowledge:

• Year 1: Safety training, plumbing tools, codes, piping materials, and the basics of water heaters and gas systems.
• Year 2: Commercial drawings, water supply piping, drainage, fixtures, valves, and introductory electrical and fuel gas applications.
• Year 3: Advanced system design, venting, backflow prevention, water treatment, sump pumps, and compressed air systems.
• Year 4: Business principles, crew leadership, solar and hydronic heating, well systems, and advanced plumbing codes.

By the end of the program, apprentices are prepared to sit for the Journeyman Plumber exam and can advance to earning a Master Plumber license.

Fitting Together the Future Workforce

The time investment is well worth it: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6% job growth for plumbers over the next decade, creating more than 43,000 openings annually.

Carroll’s Plumbing Apprenticeship program begins each Fall. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have a high school diploma
• Be employed full-time by a licensed plumbing company

Apprentices attend classes two evenings per week from September through April while working during the day, making it possible to balance work and training as they advance their careers. Carroll’s Plumbing Apprenticeship is more than just a training program—it’s a workforce pipeline that benefits students, businesses, and the county as a whole. With the support of industry partners and local employers, Carroll is preparing the next generation of skilled plumbers to step into essential, stable careers.

I feel the ability to combine learning a trade while working full-time as a plumbing apprentice will help me be successful in any economy.