Plumbing Program (EXT)
About the Plumbing Program
The four year Plumbing Apprenticeship Program at RWU Extension School (EXT) offers the student advantages to prepare them for careers in the plumbing industry. RWU is the only higher education institution in the state with full National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) accreditation. NCCER is a nationally recognized in the construction industry as the training, assessment and certification standard.
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Plumbing Program Level Details
Format
In-person instruction
Schedule
September 8, 2026 - March 18, 2027
Time Commitment
150 hours
Cost
$2,000
Ways to Save
Parking validation is included.
Apply By
August 15, 2025
Upcoming Events
Weekly one-on-one virtual meetings: Click on this calendar to schedule your meeting.
Program Description
The four-year Plumbing Apprenticeship Program offers the student advantages to prepare them for careers in the plumbing industry. RWU is the only higher education institution in the state with full National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) accreditation. NCCER is a nationally recognized in the construction industry as the training, assessment and certification standard.
This program has been approved by the Department of Labor and Training and exceeds the related education component of the apprenticeship standards. We provide a total of 600 hours over the four-year program. Students are required to take chapter tests and maintain a 70% average each year of studies. This helps to strengthen test taking abilities in preparation for the journeyperson exam. In addition, students also learn financial literacy, job skills preparation, soft skills, and time management while enrolled in this program.
Our key program differentiators include:
- Small class sizes— This model promotes personalized attention from the instructors
- Updated national curriculum— Our curriculum was crafted by NCCER and contains current and the most up to date information on the plumbing trade.
- Quality instructors—Our instructors are amongst the best educators and practitioners in the field.
- Top of the line Learning Management System (LMS) and free access to LinkedIn Learning—our LMS platform is intuitive and easy to use. The course is replete with multimedia resources and 24/7 online tutoring support that aids in student learning. LinkedIn Learning is an additional online learning platform that contains over 5,000 video courses led by experts across business, technology and creative fields that is provided at no cost with your Roger Williams university email address.
- Fulfill the state-required educational clock hours necessary to pursue the Rhode Island Plumbing Journeyperson examination
- Graduate from a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) accredited program
- Gain foundational knowledge and curriculum to prepare for employment in the plumbing field
- Successfully pass the Rhode Island plumbing licensure examination
- Obtain full-time employment with a licensed plumbing contractor
Class Schedule and Location
The Plumbing Apprenticeship Program runs from September 8, 2026 to March 18, 2027. All classes are held in-person at RWU Extension School, 1 Empire Street, Providence, RI on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Free parking validation for students at the Civic Center Parking Garage, located at 165 Washington Street, Providence, RI
Please note there is a minimum number of students required to start each cohort. If that minimum is not met, the class may be canceled or postponed and enrolled students will receive a full refund.
More About This Program
- Apprenticeship Mandate
- For Transfer Students
- Book Information
- Curriculum
- Explore this Career
- Scholarships and Financial Aid
- Refund Policy
An individual must demonstrate successful completion of one hundred forty-five (145) hours of related instruction per year in a program approved by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training to qualify for the journeyperson plumber examination in the state of Rhode Island.
Additionally, an individual is required to show evidence of a minimum of 8,000 apprenticeship hours.
If you have previously completed studies at another school or institution, you must provide a letter or certificate stating the time spent in the other program(s).
The letter or certificate must be signed by a representative from the previous school or institution.
Please purchase the required book for your level directly from the publisher (Pearson).
Plumbing Level 1, 5th Edition (2022 update) - ISBN-13: 9780137933839
Plumbing Level 2, 5th Edition (2023 update) - ISBN-13: 9780138181192
Explore this curriculum by visiting the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) webpage.
View the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor & Statistics to learn more about becoming an electrician and prevailing wages in the field.
You may also view Labor Market Information (LMI) from the Rhode Island Department of Labor & Training.
Financial Aid
This program is non-credit and competency-based and does not qualify for federal financial aid.
RWU Scholarships
A one-time partial scholarship is offered to the first 11 students who register (pay) for this program by August 1. Please refer to your acceptance letter for additional details.
Other Scholarships
Although not affiliated with Roger Williams University, the Bring Back the Trades organization offers scholarships to students pursuing post-secondary education in the trades. Learn more or apply here:
https://bringbackthetrades.org/scholarship/
The Plumbing Apprenticeship Program runs from September 8, 2026, to March 18, 2027. To receive a refund, you must withdraw from the program according to the following schedule:
- 100% refund: On or before September 8, 2026 (first day of class)
- 75% refund: On or before September 15, 2026
- 50% refund: On or before September 22, 2026
- 25% refund: On or before September 29, 2026
- No refunds after September 30, 2026
Request Information
Have questions about this program? Fill out our request information form and a member of our enrollment team will be in touch.