Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sheet Metal
WHAT IS PLUMBING AND WHO IS A PLUMBER?
You can define plumbing as a course that involves the study of the systems of pipes, tanks, fittings and other equipment that are required for the supply of water, heating and other sanitation in the building. This system of pipes, tanks and fittings is called the plumbing of the building. In this program you learn how to do toilet plumbing and fixtures, building sewers, water taps and heating and cooling lines. The sheet metal part of the course teaches you the maintenance and fabrication of almost any object made from sheet metal (very thin, flat sheets of metal). Fabrication is making something from already-made parts, it’s like assembling something from the parts that make it up. After defining plumbing as a course, you can say that a plumber is a person who installs and maintains pipes and other kinds of plumbing in a building.
WHERE DO PLUMBERS WORK?
When it comes to where plumbers work, we can say they work in any place that has pipes and any other plumbing such as geysers. They work mostly for themselves serving their clients who may be household owners or landlords etc. If they work for a company it is usually a construction company or a water and sewerage company because of their knowledge of water pipes and sewers. Sometimes companies or workplaces or buildings such as hospitals and office complexes may have their own plumber. This plumber does all the plumbing work that the company buildings require. Another employer is the local government through the city councils.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
As a plumber the tasks that you are expected to do are to install or put together systems of pipes that supply water to a building. This is usually done during the time a building is being built and so you will most likely work with builders/bricklayers. Sanitation and heating systems (such as geysers) are also put up by the plumbers. On top of this, you are also to install bathrooms including showers, toilets and bathtubs. Other tasks that you will do include repairing of any leaking pipes or toilets, unclogging of blocked pipes or any other plumbing that is not working properly. You will also maintain and do fabrication (assembly) and installation of stainless-steel metal such as sinks and counters, rain gutters and downspouts (the metallic pipes that are put at the edge of a roof to collect water from rain and then carry it down to the ground or a drainage).
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A PLUMBER?
There is really no work schedule that you will have as a plumber. You will be called when needed or rather hired when there is a need for pipes, sinks and bathrooms etc. to be fitted or repaired. Sometimes you can be called on the weekends or during the night when there is, for instance, a large leaking pipe especially in places like hospitals or factories that may be open even at night. Although, if you work for a water and sewerage company there may be a shift that you may follow and this is usually a day job.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
You may have challenges finding a full-time job with a company or in the government. In most cases, plumbers just work for themselves either part-time with a number of different clients, or freelance. Freelance simply means making yourself available to clients when your services are required and getting paid per job or task that you do.
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
The personality that is required to do plumbing is one that is outgoing and a person who is able and likes working with their hands. This is because the job itself is manual and so you have to enjoy doing things that involve joining and cutting. You also need to have good problem solving skills and with a good imagination to help you come up with the best way you are going to install water supply and disposal systems in a building.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of institutions that offer Plumbing, Pipefitting and Sheet Metal
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
When you have been accepted in the schools that offer this program you will learn courses that may include plumbing workshop practice, management of water resources, distribution and disposal systems, design and installation of water supply systems and, drawing and interpretation of plumbing drawings.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
To study plumbing at craft level you need to have a full grade 12 certificate, some colleges or institutions may only require two credits and 3 passes or better including Mathematics and English. The minimum entry requirement at Trade-test level is a grade 7 or 9 certificate.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A PLUMBER?
An alternative program that can qualify someone to perform most of the work of a plumber is water engineering. Water engineering is a much wider field that trains people in water resources management of which plumbing is only a minor component.
WHAT ARE THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
Someone who has studied plumbing at craft level can upgrade to the diploma. Alternatively, you can decide to pursue a diploma in water engineering which can be upgraded to degree and master's level. Obtaining these qualifications broadens your knowledge beyond just plumbing and this gives you a better chance of getting employed by construction companies and water and sewerage companies.
INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER PLUMBING, PIPEFITTING AND SHEET METAL
LUSAKA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test Cert.) / 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 2 years 8 months (Adv. Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time and Part-Time
Admitting school: Construction Section
Intakes: January, May and September
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 242270 / +260 979 527976
E-mail: admissions.office@lvtc.edu.zm or tupasambwa@gmail.com
Website: www.lvtc.edu.zm
KABWE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Admitting school: Construction Department
Intakes: January
Location: Kabwe
Contacts
Tel: +260 977 143641 / +260 977 520038
E-mail: kabweit@gmail.com
Website: www.kit.edu.zm/index.php/downloads/fees
LIVINGSTONE INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING STUDIES
Programme duration: 3 months (Trade test level III), 1 year (Trade test level I) and 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January
Location: Livingstone
Contacts
Tel: +260 960 949041/ +260 977 576286
E-mail: libeszambia@gmail.com
Website: www.libescollege.edu.zm
UKWIMI TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January
Location: Petauke
Contacts
Tel: +260 216 371337 / +260 216 371437
E-mail: ukwimitrades@gmail.com / utti@zamtel.zm
Facebook: Ukwimi Trades Training Institute
THORN PARK CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTRE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate) / 1 year (Trade-test)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 231970 / +260 977 852938 / 0977 132431
E-mail: tctc@zambia.co.zm
Website: www.lbtc.ac.zm/tctccourses.php Facebook: Thorn Park Construction Training Centre
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRE
Programme duration: 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January and July
Location: Lusaka
Contacts
Tel: +260 211 244177 / +260 967 906830 /+260 977 686181
E-mail: info@itczambia.co.zm
Website: www.itczambia.co.zm
LUKASHYA TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE
Programme duration: 1 year (Trade-test) / 2 years (Craft Certificate)
Mode of study: Full-Time
Intakes: January
Location: Kasama
Contacts
Tel: +260 214 221106 / +260 977 524340 / +260 962 403799