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Becoming a plumber in Arizona runs on a paid apprenticeship — you earn while you learn and finish with an in-demand trade and little or no debt. Here's the roadmap, with the Arizona apprenticeships, licensing, and demand that matter.
Where to train in Arizona
Arizona plumbers learn through paid apprenticeships. The union route runs through UA Local 469 (Plumbers and Pipefitters) in Phoenix, with non-union programs through PHCC of Arizona and Associated Builders and Contractors; Maricopa and Pima community colleges add pre-apprenticeship and plumbing coursework.
Licensing in Arizona
Arizona does not issue a statewide journeyman plumber license — you work under a licensed contractor, and your apprenticeship hours and experience are what employers want. To run your own plumbing business or pull permits, you need a plumbing contractor license from the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC), which tests trade and business-management knowledge.
Where the Arizona jobs are
Steady growth keeps Arizona plumbers busy — new housing, commercial construction, and big projects like semiconductor fabs and data centers drive demand for plumbing and pipefitting across Phoenix, Tucson, and beyond. Pay climbs steadily as you log hours and credentials.
Ready to start? Browse live Arizona opportunities — internships, apprenticeships, and training programs across the state.
The apprenticeship is the heart of the trade — you earn while you learn
Unlike a four-year degree, the path to becoming a plumber pays you from the start. Land a paid apprenticeship, log your classroom and on-the-job hours, pass the journeyman exam, and you finish with a licensed, in-demand trade and little or no student debt.
Keep going: see whether the trades are worth it, compare becoming an electrician, and check if it will pay off.