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Plumbing Schools in Michigan
7 schools in Michigan offer plumbing-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 84 registered apprenticeship programs in Michigan train plumbing apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Occupation pay is what working plumbing professionals in Michigan earn (all experience levels) — school "earnings" figures above are medians for each school's recent federally-aided students across all its programs, which read lower.
Plumbing licensing in Michigan: State license required
Michigan licenses plumbers at the state level through LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes, and you must register as a plumbing apprentice before working in the trade. The Journey Plumber license requires 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as a registered apprentice plus written (PSI) and hands-on practical exams; Master Plumber requires another 4,000 hours over 2 years as a journey plumber. Plumbing contractors must hold or employ a licensed master plumber.
Official source: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Construction Codes – Plumbing Division · Exam: Written exam (PSI) plus a hands-on practical skills exam; both must be passed on a single application (scores don't carry over past one year) · Typical requirement: Apprentice registration required to work. Journey Plumber: age 18+, at least 6,000 hours over no fewer than 3 years as an actively registered plumbing apprentice under a licensed master or journey plumber. Master Plumber: 4,000 hours as a journey plumber over at least 2 years immediately preceding application. Plumbing Contractor: must hold or employ a master plumber.
Official license records related to plumbing in Michigan
From the U.S. Department of Labor's License Finder — these may include contractor, specialty, or related licenses beyond entry-level requirements:
- Plumber, Journeyperson — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Construction Codes
- Plumber, Master — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Construction Codes
- Boiler Repairer — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Construction Codes
- Boiler Installer — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Construction Codes
- Septage Hauler — Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
- Inspector, Plumbing — Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs~Bureau of Construction Codes
Wage and license data provided by CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (DOLETA) and Minnesota DEED.
Schools, ranked by earnings per tuition dollar
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford College | Dearborn | public | $660 | 22.4% | $34,795 |
| Macomb Community College | Warren | public | $1,618 | 16.6% | $41,596 |
| Washtenaw Community College | Ann Arbor | public | $3,249 | 31.1% | $39,449 |
| Delta College | University Center | public | $4,547 | 23.8% | $37,781 |
| Kellogg Community College | Battle Creek | public | $4,858 | 15.2% | $38,329 |
| Oakland Community College | Auburn Hills | public | $5,777 | 31.6% | $37,395 |
| Northwestern Michigan College | Traverse City | public | $6,231 | 32% | $38,167 |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Figures are institution-wide federal medians for each school as a whole — not plumbing graduates specifically. Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
Common questions: Plumbing school in Michigan
- How much do Plumbing schools cost in Michigan?
- The median annual net price (what students actually pay after aid) across 7 plumbing schools in Michigan is $4,547. Individual schools range widely — the table above shows each school's real cost, not sticker price.
- Do you need a license to work as a plumbing in Michigan?
- Michigan licenses plumbers at the state level through LARA's Bureau of Construction Codes, and you must register as a plumbing apprentice before working in the trade. The Journey Plumber license requires 6,000 hours over at least 3 years as a registered apprentice plus written (PSI) and hands-on practical exams; Master Plumber requires another 4,000 hours over 2 years as a journey plumber. Plumbing contractors must hold or employ a licensed master plumber.
- Can you get paid to train as a plumbing in Michigan?
- Yes — Michigan has 84 registered apprenticeship programs where you earn wages while you train instead of paying tuition. See the plumbing apprenticeships page for the current list.
- What does a plumbing earn in Michigan?
- Working plumbing professionals in Michigan earn a median of $80,190 per year, ranging from about $46,560 to $103,430 (U.S. Department of Labor). This is what people in the job earn, which differs from a school's reported graduate-earnings figure.
Aid deadlines for plumbing programs in Michigan
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Plumbing schools in nearby states
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See all states & the full plumbing guide →