Designed for those who are not yet employed or apprenticed within the trades.
Not an apprentice? Not a problem. Kick-start your career in the trades in our Pre-Employment Plumber program. Specifically designed for those who are not yet employed in the pipe trades, the Pre-Employment Plumber trades training program provides the first year of the Alberta Apprenticeship Common first period Pipe Trades curriculum.
Trades employers are reluctant to hire employees with no experience, but you can enhance your chances in our Pre-Employment Plumber trades training program. Through a mix of theoretical and hands-on training, our Pre-Employment Plumber program prepares you to write the first-year Alberta Apprenticeship Common Pipe Trades exam.
Apply Now Grab and Go InformationCareer Opportunities
When you finish your chosen apprenticeship path, you’ll be prepared for such positions as:
- Journeyman Plumber
- Journeyman Pipefitter/Steamfitter
- Journeyman Sprinkler fitter
- Journeyman Gasfitter
- Supervisor
- Estimator
- Business Owner
Visit ALIS website for more career information.
$74,282
the average annual salary of a plumber working in Alberta
83%
per cent of plumbers work in the construction industry in Alberta
1st
upon successful completion of the Pre-Employment Plumber program you’ll be ready to write the First Period Plumber Apprenticeship exam
At-a-Glance
Starts-in
September and January
Duration
13 weeks
Application Deadlines
Visit the Program Application Status page for more details.
Program Availability
View the program availability for the upcoming intakes.
Academic Centre
Admissions
This program is not available for International Students.
Academic requirements
- Successful completion of English 20-2, Math 20-3 and Science 10, pass Apprenticeship Entrance Exam, or pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests.
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Delivery Formats
The Pre-Employment Plumber program is delivered on campus through an apprenticeship-style training but may have some blended and hyflex components.
On Campus
This program is delivered in a face-to-face format on the main Lethbridge College campus. Lectures, labs and hands-on training opportunities will all take place on campus in Lethbridge.
Courses
Upon successful completion of The Pre-Employment Plumbing program, you will:
- be prepared to write the First Period Alberta Apprenticeship Examination.
- be prepared to be employed within the Plumbing industry in Alberta.
- have learned valuable employability skills including cover letter and resume writing, and interview skills.
- obtain a Letter of Recognition.
Tuition and Fees
Title | Tuition | Fees | Books/Supplies |
---|---|---|---|
Year 1
|
$4,995.00
|
$150.00
|
$350.00
|
Costs for supplies may vary considerably depending on what students already have or where they purchased their supplies; cost provided is on the moderately high end.
Our Budget Wizard is a free self-service tool that can help you make sense of your finances and the cost of your education. Give it a try!
Featured Graduates

Cole Bishoff
“What I enjoyed most about my college experience was going to school locally, which allowed me to make contacts within my trade. The quality of education was very good, and I had excellent instruction.”

Jordan VanDerKooi
“I decided to start my career in the trades after we started a family and I realized that I needed to provide a more stable life and career path. I always liked working with my hands and it seemed like a good fit for me. The plumbing lab was set up well and equipped to demonstrate a lot of the aspects of our job and all three instructors had different experiences in their careers and were able to bring something different to the program. There’s a lot of variety in the plumbing field and, between the equipment and tools in the lab paired with our instructors’ experience, we were able to cover a lot of bases.”

Jessica Murray
“I think that the trades offer incredible opportunities for people. I absolutely love how hands-on my job is. It provides a challenge every day. I get to learn how to troubleshoot and problem solve. I get to work a lot with my hands as well as my head. It’s just a perfect combination for me. I am super lucky to have many other supportive co-workers, friends and family who really help me to see that I can do this – and I can do it well. I take all of those negative comments and use them to fuel myself to move forward and to be the best that I can be.”