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Plumbing school in North Carolina

10 plumbing programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

8 schools offer these plumbing programs, and North Carolina has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Plumbers install and repair pipes, fixtures and piping systems. Most learn the trade in a four- or five-year apprenticeship, and most states and some cities require plumbers to be licensed.1

In North Carolina, 7 of the 10 programs take students without a high school diploma, 2 ask for a diploma or equivalent and 1 asks for earlier courses first.

By kind, the 10 programs here are plumbing certificate or diploma (7 programs) and short course or single level (3 programs).

See the 10 programs

How much does plumbing school cost in North Carolina?

$180 to $2,906 is what most plumbing programs in North Carolina cost if you pay yourself

That is the middle half of the 10 programs with a price. All of them: $180 to $3,885

In the typical program

Finished the program
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated
Not enough data
4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5
Length
14 to 42 weeks

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in North Carolina may also offer plumbing school. How these figures are made

Is there free plumbing school in North Carolina?

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: paid apprenticeships, financial aid and the GI Bill

All 10 plumbing programs in North Carolina approved for WIOA funding

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10 programs

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing

    Cape Fear Community College

    Wilmington

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Cape Fear Community College, WilmingtonPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$37,300
    Price if you pay yourself$3,885
    School website, Plumbing at Cape Fear Community College
    More details about Plumbing at Cape Fear Community College
    Finished
    62%
    Working at 6 months
    72%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,316
    Length
    42 weeks, 29 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $580
    Students counted
    61
    Earned a year, estimated
    $37,300
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,885
    School website, Plumbing at Cape Fear Community College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaHybridHigh school diploma or equivalent

    Plumbing

    Fayetteville Technical Community College

    Fayetteville

    Accredited school

    High school diploma or equivalent

    Fayetteville Technical Community College, FayettevillePlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent

    Earned a year, estimated$28,200
    Price if you pay yourself$3,344
    School website, Plumbing at Fayetteville Technical Community College
    More details about Plumbing at Fayetteville Technical Community College
    Finished
    47%
    Working at 6 months
    54%
    Earned in a quarter
    $7,039
    Length
    48 weeks, 30 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    55
    Earned a year, estimated
    $28,200
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,344
    School website, Plumbing at Fayetteville Technical Community College

  • Short course or single levelIn personNo diploma needed

    NCCER Plumbing Level 2 WFD/CE

    Craven Community College

    New Bern

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Craven Community College, New BernShort course or single level · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$33,800
    Price if you pay yourself$180
    Program website, NCCER Plumbing Level 2 WFD/CE at Craven Community College
    More details about NCCER Plumbing Level 2 WFD/CE at Craven Community College
    Finished
    94%
    Working at 6 months
    64%
    Earned in a quarter
    $8,442
    Length
    14 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $301
    Students counted
    21
    Earned a year, estimated
    $33,800
    Price if you pay yourself
    $180
    Program website, NCCER Plumbing Level 2 WFD/CE at Craven Community College

  • Short course or single levelIn personNo diploma needed

    NCCER Plumbing Level 1 WFD/CE

    Craven Community College

    New Bern

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Craven Community College, New BernShort course or single level · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimated$38,400
    Price if you pay yourself$180
    Program website, NCCER Plumbing Level 1 WFD/CE at Craven Community College
    More details about NCCER Plumbing Level 1 WFD/CE at Craven Community College
    Finished
    94%
    Working at 6 months
    62%
    Earned in a quarter
    $9,597
    Length
    15 weeks, 15 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $316
    Students counted
    20
    Earned a year, estimated
    $38,400
    Price if you pay yourself
    $180
    Program website, NCCER Plumbing Level 1 WFD/CE at Craven Community College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing

    Johnston Community College

    Smithfield

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Johnston Community College, SmithfieldPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$180
    Program website, Plumbing at Johnston Community College
    More details about Plumbing at Johnston Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    12 weeks, 20 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $5
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $180
    Program website, Plumbing at Johnston Community College

  • Short course or single levelIn personPrerequisite courses

    Plumbing Level I

    Piedmont Community College

    Roxboro

    Accredited school

    Prerequisite courses

    Piedmont Community College, RoxboroShort course or single level · Accredited schoolIn person · Prerequisite courses

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$181
    School website, Plumbing Level I at Piedmont Community College
    More details about Plumbing Level I at Piedmont Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    10 weeks, 27 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $310
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $181
    School website, Plumbing Level I at Piedmont Community College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing Technician

    Brunswick Community College

    Supply

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Brunswick Community College, SupplyPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$273
    Program website, Plumbing Technician at Brunswick Community College
    More details about Plumbing Technician at Brunswick Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    16 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $273
    Program website, Plumbing Technician at Brunswick Community College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing, Certificate (C35300)

    Cleveland Community College

    Shelby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cleveland Community College, ShelbyPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$1,377
    School website, Plumbing, Certificate (C35300) at Cleveland Community College
    More details about Plumbing, Certificate (C35300) at Cleveland Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    32 weeks, 17 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $510
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $1,377
    School website, Plumbing, Certificate (C35300) at Cleveland Community College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaOnlineNo diploma needed

    Plumbing, Foundations of - Continuing Education

    Gaston College

    Based in Dallas, NC

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Gaston College, based in Dallas, NCPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolOnline · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$2,195
    Program website, Plumbing, Foundations of - Continuing Education at Gaston College
    More details about Plumbing, Foundations of - Continuing Education at Gaston College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    52 weeks, 8 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    None listed
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $2,195
    Program website, Plumbing, Foundations of - Continuing Education at Gaston College

  • Plumbing certificate or diplomaIn personNo diploma needed

    Plumbing, Diploma (D35300)

    Cleveland Community College

    Shelby

    Accredited school

    No diploma needed

    Cleveland Community College, ShelbyPlumbing certificate or diploma · Accredited schoolIn person · No diploma needed

    Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
    Price if you pay yourself$3,143
    School website, Plumbing, Diploma (D35300) at Cleveland Community College
    More details about Plumbing, Diploma (D35300) at Cleveland Community College
    Finished
    Not reported
    Working at 6 months
    Not reported
    Earned in a quarter
    Not reported
    Length
    42 weeks, 12 hours a week
    Cost of supplies
    $1,194
    Students counted
    Not reported
    Earned a year, estimated
    Not reported
    Price if you pay yourself
    $3,143
    School website, Plumbing, Diploma (D35300) at Cleveland Community College

How to pay for plumbing school in North Carolina

WIOA funding can pay for plumbing school in North Carolina

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Paid plumbing apprenticeships

An apprenticeship is a job: you're paid to learn, with a raise as your skills grow, and most include classroom teaching. You apply to the employer or the program sponsor. Ask what you'll pay for the classroom part and what you'll earn on the job.6

Financial aid and grants for plumbing school

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.78

GI Bill for plumbing school

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.9

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

Quick facts: Plumbing school in North Carolina

programs with a price cost under $1,000
5 of 10
lowest typical price among the states with enough programs to compare
2nd of 21
plumbing programs here, against the typical state's 5
10 vs 5

State comparisons use the same figures as the plumbing school by state table: the middle program of each state, and only states with three or more schools for prices. Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025).

Plumbing apprenticeships in North Carolina

Most plumbers train in a four- or five-year apprenticeship. Each year usually brings about 2,000 hours of paid work on the job plus classes in safety, local plumbing codes and blueprint reading. Unions, trade associations and businesses run the programs; some people start as helpers or with a pre-apprenticeship course. To work on your own, states and cities often ask for two to five years of experience and a passed exam.1

You apply to the employer or the program sponsor, not through a school.6 The Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Finder lists openings by place and job. None of the plumbing programs on this page is an apprenticeship.

What is an apprenticeship, and can WIOA pay for one?

Plumbing school in Wilmington, New Bern, Shelby and other North Carolina cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 program is online.

Other training in North Carolina

How plumbing school compares with the rest of skilled trades: Trade school programs in North Carolina

Where the North Carolina plumbing program numbers come from

Which North Carolina plumbing programs are on this list?

These are the plumbing programs North Carolina approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).10 The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what North Carolina offers.

How the prices and results of North Carolina plumbing programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about plumbing school in North Carolina

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources
  1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
  2. US Department of Labor, TrainingProviderResults.gov: About This Site
  3. US Department of Labor: WIOA Adult Program
  4. Code of Federal Regulations, title 20, part 680, sections 680.220, 680.230 and 680.310: career services before training, other grants such as Pell Grants first, and limits on Individual Training Accounts (GovInfo, 2024 edition)
  5. US Department of Labor: American Job Centers
  6. US Department of Labor, Apprenticeship.gov: Discover Apprenticeship: Earn While You Learn Today (fact sheet)
  7. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Eligibility for Federal Student Aid
  8. US Department of Education, Federal Student Aid: Don't Miss Out on Federal Pell Grants
  9. US Department of Veterans Affairs: GI Bill benefits for non-college degree programs
  10. US Department of Labor, Training and Employment Guidance Letter 8-19, Attachment I: Requirements for Training Providers, Program Eligibility, and the State Eligible Training Provider (ETP) List