Three Routes Start
Apprenticeship

Plumber

Certificate of Qualification + Red Seal (SkilledTradesBC)

24 of 30 verified for BC; "start something" routes use national figures · How we verify
Trades go through SkilledTradesBC (4 levels, Youth Train in Trades lets you start Level 1 in high school). Numbers from WorkBC and Job Bank BC, BCIT, VCC and UBC.
Years to credential4
First real paycheque~a month
Time in a classroom15%
Total cost$5,000
Typical debt after$0
Demand in BCSteady

The first ten years

earnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearnearn
Mostly in schoolEarning

Earnings by year, roughly

What's in "net by year 10"
Earnings, years 1 to 10$627k$47,840 rising to $66,560 by year five, flat after
Program cost−$5ktuition and fees
Typical (medians)$622kthe number on the card
Low to high$527k to $716kpay 15% under or over the median, cost 15% more or 10% less

Not counted: income tax, rent, food, loan interest, inflation, and unemployment gaps. They apply to every route, so they change the size of each number more than the order. Pay is the British Columbia median before tax from the sources on this page.

The picture

What the day-to-day isInstalling and repairing water, drainage and gas systems in homes and commercial buildings; paid on-the-job hours plus in-school blocks.
What actually stops peopleSponsoring employer, same as most construction trades.
The downsidePhysically hard on knees and back over decades. Emergency and weekend calls are part of the job.
If you're the parentSteady demand, no debt, and a clear path to running your own business later. It is physical work and not glamorous, which is exactly why it pays well.
Local opportunities in British Columbia

Ready to explore this for real?

Eight quick questions about whether this route fits your life, not just your grades. You'll get a readiness check, and if you want, we'll introduce you to employers, unions or programs in your region.

Check my readiness

How to enter

What you need
  • No specific courses or average; Grade 12 (or equivalent) and a willingness to show up
Deadlines in BC
  • No deadline: find a sponsor, register with SkilledTradesBC
  • Grade 10 to 12: Youth Train in Trades (Level 1 in school) and Youth Work in Trades

Next steps in British Columbia

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Save or share this pathway

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In British Columbia4 levels (30 weeks in school), 6,300 work hours.
www.workbc.ca · www.bcit.ca

✓ Verified 2026-10-09 for BC Sources: WorkBC NOC 72300 (Job Bank BC wages 2025); BCIT Plumber Apprenticeship

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