A plumber needs like 4 years training and much coursework and exams to qualify as plumber.

Seems like you really undervalue the amount of work that Real Americans like Plumbers do for this country. Yet another Elitist opinion by the out of touch Elite

I knew nothing about plumbing before but my Moen kitchen faucet went out and I was able to fix with a adapter kit that cost $5.70. In one day I was able to fix it. How hard can plumbing actually be. And they make $150 an hour. Crazy.

It depends on what kind of plumber you want to be. If you want to do basic handyman plumbing work or unclog residential pipes you can learn it in under 4 years. If you want to be a union plumber that can install and/or maintain more complex industrial systems it takes much more time and you have to prove mastery.

An accountant can work part time at H&R Block or be the CFO of a Fortune 100 company. I assure you the amount of training and experience between those two people will be vast, just like you'll see in trade jobs like a plumber.

Everyone poops

Four years seems like overkill. My concern is that it's unnecessary and could put off a lot of people who would be good at it.

You work for a year as an apprentice - you pretty much have seen everything. Not talking commercial just residential. I am not good at home stuff but I was able to fix my kitchen faucet for $5.70. A plumber charges $300 for that. How hard is plumbing? You can learn everything pretty much in 4 months of being an apprentice.

It is a skilled trade. It takes at least 10 years minimum for anyone to be an expert in anything. Nevertheless, the country is flooded with so called experts.

That's plumb crazy.

10 years?!? You have to be kidding me. I fixed a $300 problem for $5.70. Plumbing is not rocket science - kitchen faucet - you have a soap dispenser, you have a spout and aerator, you have a handle and you have a spray with retractable hose. I learned this in one day. How much more do you have to learn? 3 months MAX and you know everything about plumbing. Sheesh.

Tell me you don't know anything about plumbing without telling me you don't know anything about plumbing.

a Plumber fixes pipes. He might fix 200 pipes in one month. After he has done that for one month he pretty much knows how to fix a pipe. You are not a NASA scientist fixing an 0-ring on a $5 billion dollar space shuttle. You are fixing a bad pipe on something worth $300. Not $5 billion but $300. How hard can it be?

But with six weeks of training someone will give you a gun and a badge. To cut ✂️ hair and get a license it takes 6 times the amount of hours that it takes to become a police officer. Something like that.

Sally needs a spanking, totally out of hand today

Depending on who is giving the spanking, the spanking might be warranted ( but can't be Flagpole!).

You made a minor repair...good for you. Now, try re-piping your entire home with a new PEX system via small holes cut into the drywall. Better yet, rig up a geo-thermal heating system or radiant floor heating. How about installing a full bathroom renovation or maybe just a commercial grade toilet with that cool whooshing power flush?

Stop being so disingenuous. Plumbing skills and certifications exist on a very broad spectrum. The guy that unclogs your toilet isn't qualified to plumb a nuclear submarine or a 50 story office tower.

Before you get all kinky here you should know Sally is a dude.

Becoming an accomplished plumber typically takes a combination of education and on-the-job training. The length of time it takes to become an accomplished plumber can vary depending on the individual's background and experience, as well as the specific requirements of the state or jurisdiction in which they are working.

In most cases, becoming a plumber requires completing a formal apprenticeship program, which can take between 2-5 years. Apprenticeship programs typically include a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, and cover topics such as blueprint reading, mathematics, and safety procedures.

After completing an apprenticeship, plumbers may choose to take an exam to become licensed, which can vary by state. Some states also require plumbers to complete continuing education to maintain their license.

Overall, it can take several years of education and training to become an accomplished plumber, but the exact time frame can vary.

Thinking of my house alone, which is about 100 years old.

We have our ordinary plumbing to sinks, toilets, etc.

We have the radiator piping to two of three zones.

All of that has to run safely to the boiler and correctly connect to radiators.

We have the PEX that connects to/is run in a zone with radiant flooring. One end's a boiler, passes through a manifold, then loops through the floor.

We also have sprinkler system, run off separate meter from main water pipe.

Many of our pipes are cast iron, many decades old. Very difficult to work with. Some run through old plaster, some drywall.

Every house is a little different, but in my house alone to do various jobs you'll need a lot of HVAC knowledge that good homeowners aren't going to try some guy with 3 months experience to do on their own. Maybe you'll figure it out -- but no one wants to deal with the mess you create while you gain the experience that brings you to expertise.

I know plumbing is not easy and requires much practice and education. But sheesh - I was able to replace my faucet handle assembling rather easily with just 2 hours of work. I am a home maintanence doofus and was able to do that for $5.70. Give me 3 months travelling around with an experienced plumber and I should be able to fix anything. It is just pipes - is it not? NASA has to consider 10000 times more and here we are just looking at pipes How hard is it?