Welcome to Plumbing apprenticeship

Apprenticeship is the oldest form of trades education - the practice of a master sharing knowledge of the tools and techniques of the trade.

 A United States Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship is a set-term pathway for an individual to gain hands-on skills in on-the-job-training (OJT) while under the supervision of a Master in the trade. At the same time, a Registered Apprentice attends classes in Related Technical Instruction (RTI) to learn more about the trade.

To complete a US DOL Registered Apprenticeship in Plumbing requires BOTH:

• 640 class hours of Related Technical Instruction to complete a Registered Apprenticeship in Plumbing
• 8,000 hours of On the Job Training to complete a Registered Apprenticeship in Plumbing

Completion of Plumbing Apprenticeship prepares an Apprentice to apply to test for licensure as an Arkansas Journeyworker Plumber

• The first step to starting a Registered Apprenticeship is getting employed as a W-2 employee under the supervision of a currently licensed Master Plumber
• JOB SEARCH TIPS --- Search for "Apprentice Plumber" or "Plumbing Apprentice" in online job searches, or visit local Plumbing supply houses for local job postings
• Once employed, a new apprentice has 30 days to get enrolled in Related Technical Instruction
• Some employers run their own RTI in-house, some contract with a specific RTI Provider and some leave it up to the apprentice where they attend - be sure to inquire with your employer!

Benefits to choosing Plumbing Apprenticeship with Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program:

• Up to 160 class hours of Related Technical Instruction per term (40 classes offered per term)
• Rolling registration - Apprentices can join or transfer in to the program throughout the year (July-May)
• WAAP serves as license custodian for currently enrolled apprentices, including initial Plumbing Apprentice licensing and on-time renewals with Arkansas Department of Health

Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program offers Related Technical Instruction at NorthWest Arkansas Community College - our Apprentices are offered many of the same benefits as NorthWest Arkansas Community College degree-seeking students, such as:

• NWACC Student ID Card - useful for student discounts at local businesses!
• NWACC Student Email Address
• Check-out privileges at the NWACC Library
• Free Counseling and Mental Health Services through NWACC Counseling Center

Completing your Apprenticeship with Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program enables an Apprentice to apply their RTI coursework towards NWACC college credit degrees such as:

• Completion of a Certificate of Proficiency in Plumbing Apprenticeship (16 credit hours)
• towards an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Technology (12 credit hours)
• towards an Associate of Applied Science in General Technology (16 credit hours)

Western Arkansas Apprenticeship Program offers Plumbing Apprenticeship RTI at: 

• Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies at NWACC Bentonville
• NWACC Washington County

• Plumbing 1 @ Bentonville
• Plumbing 1 @ Springdale
• Plumbing 2 @ Bentonville
• Plumbing 2 @ Springdale
• Plumbing 3 @ Bentonville
• Plumbing 3 @ Springdale
• Plumbing 4 @ Bentonville
• Plumbing 4 @ Springdale