The minimum age at which an apprentice may commence employment is 16 years.

The minimum educational requirements are:

  Grade D or "Achieved" in five subjects in the Department of Education & Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent,
or
  The successful completion of an approved Pre-Apprenticeship course,
or
  Three years’ work experience gained over sixteen years of age in a relevant designated industrial activity as SOLAS shall deem acceptable.

  You must obtain a job as an apprentice in your chosen occupation. Your employer must be approved to train apprentices and must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

  In this apprenticeship, applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS. You may need to pass the Ishihara Colour Vision Test (24 Plate Edition).

For further information, contact your local Education and Training Board    .

Note: These are the current approved minimum educational requirements for apprenticeship programmes. However, previous experience in the following subjects would be an advantage, though not essential:

• Engineering
• Technical Drawing/Graphics
• Metalwork
• Construction Studies
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Physics

Phase 1: With Employer

• Induction Training
• Introduction to Health & Safety
• Introduction to Tools & Equipment
• Introduction to Basic Skills

Phase 2: Delivered in Training Centre (21 weeks)

Course Content:

• Thermal Processes & Mild Steel Pipework
• Domestic Hot and Cold Water Services
• Central Heating 
• Communications and Team Leadership

Phase 3: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 4: Delivered in Educational Colleges (11 weeks)

Course Content:

• Thermal Processes & Piping Systems 
• Cold Water and Water Treatment Systems 
• Oil & Central Heating Systems
• Hot Water Systems
• Gas Installation Safety  
• Communications and Team Leadership

Phase 5: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

Phase 6: Delivered in Educational Colleges (11 weeks)

Course Content:

• Thermal Processes & Piping Systems
• Renewable Energy  
• Heating & Air Conditioning
• Gas Installer Domestic 
• Plant and Process Systems
• Communications and Team Leadership

Phase 7: With Employer

• Work Based Training and Assessments

The overall duration of this apprenticeship is a minimum of four years provided all phases are successfully completed.

On successful completion of the programme the learner is awarded a Level 6 Advanced Certificate Craft – Plumbing.

The training is provided by the following institutions:

• TU Dublin – Blanchardstown    
• City of Dublin Education and Training Board    
• Dundalk Institute of Technology    
• Kerry Education and Training Board    

As a Plumber you will need to be physically active and to be able to work with your hands.

An awareness of health and safety and good housekeeping is essential as well as attention to detail and an eye for the aesthetic.

The Plumber must have the ability to:

• Plan, Organise and Communicate effectively
• Solve problems
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Show a positive attitude
• Recognise the need for good customer relations
• Demonstrate good work practices including time keeping, tidiness, responsibility, quality awareness and safety awareness

Note: A person wishing to become an apprentice Plumber must pass a colour–vision test approved by SOLAS.

Apprenticeship Success

Read Mark's Apprenticeship Success Story Here!

Plumbers work in a variety of locations including houses, industrial and commercial buildings. 

Plumbers require many skills including:

• Working with technical specifications and drawings
• Ability to use a variety of hand and power tools including wrenches, spanners, saws, cutters and welding equipment
• Cutting, bending, joining and fixing materials such as lead, copper, aluminium, plastic, zinc and iron
• Installation of central heating systems and their controls and pipework, sanitary systems
• Drainage systems, guttering and rainwater systems, and large refrigeration systems for industry
• Testing systems to ensure they are working efficiently and safely
• Maintenance and repair work including routine servicing and emergency repairs 

Aspects of work: 

• Learning and developing new practical craft-related skills, knowledge and competence
• Working with and learning from experienced craftspersons
• Seeing a job through from start to finish
• Comply with Health and Safety requirements
• Working with technical drawings and diagrams
• Using tools or machinery to shape metal
• Being accurate with numbers in counting, measuring and arithmetic
• Being well organised and careful with practical tasks
• Working at heights
• Lifting or carrying heavy items
• Taking responsibility for own learning, including the allocation of study time
• Flexible working arrangements as emergency work may be involved
• Being physically active
• Passing all your phase exams (theory, practicals skills demonstration)
• Bending, kneeling and working in cramped and awkward spaces
• Earning as you learn

On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, apprentices are qualified to work within the recognised trade or profession.

Those already in employment have several options for both educational and career progression. It may be possible to gain promotion within your current company. By leveraging your existing qualifications and experience, you may also be able to secure a more senior role in another organisation. Alternatively, you might consider setting up your own business, again based on your skills and experience.

Whatever path you choose, remember that education is a lifelong journey. You can always continue to upskill or retrain—regardless of your age.

Links to educational and enterprise supports can be found below.

Career Progression Useful Links:  
Educational Supports:  

On completion of an apprenticeship, your educational progression options may include full awards at Levels 7 to 10 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). You may also choose to pursue a partial award or upskill in a specific area by undertaking a short, specialised course.

Depending on your skills, knowledge, and experience, some of the opportunities listed below may support the development of your chosen career pathway.

• Springboard & conversion courses      
• Skillnet Sector learning network courses    
• Skills to advance Local ETB Board    
• Further education training centres Fetchcourses
• Post graduate education Search Post Graduate options

Enterprise and Self-Employment Support:

On completion of an apprenticeship and with the relevant knowledge, skills, and experience, you may decide to set up your own business. The links below may be useful to support you:

• Local Enterprise Offices     For profit Local enterprise support
• Local Area Partnerships     For profit enterprise support
• Social entrepreneurs     Not-for-profit enterprise support
• Franchising     Developing your business under an established franchise

In order to secure an apprenticeship, you must first secure a contract with an employer. You must apply directly to an employer rather than the training provider. Once you have found an employer to take you on as an apprentice, your employer must then register you as an apprentice with SOLAS    .

• The employer must be approved to train apprentices.
• The employer must register you as an apprentice within two weeks of recruitment.

Opportunities for this apprenticeship arise throughout the year.
To secure an apprenticeship contract of employment, you should identify and target companies you are interested in and apply to them directly.

To find an apprenticeship, you can search for current vacancies and view a list of approved apprentice employers on the Apprenticeship Jobs & Employers Portal    . The portal allows you to search by location and by employer within each apprenticeship trade.

View Approved Employers by Region and by Apprenticeship Type here    

Search training available at your local ETB by selecting your county here    

Colour vision requirements

Plumbing Apprenticeship applicants are required to pass a colour vision test approved by SOLAS.

Finding an Employer

Finding an employer or registering your interest with an official Coordinating Provider is one of the first things you need to do to start an apprenticeship.

To find an apprenticeship and secure an apprenticeship work contract you can search apprenticeship vacancies on the Apprenticeship Jobs Portal . You can search for vacancies by location and by apprenticeship type.

Your local Education and Training Board may also hold details of employers seeking to employ an apprentice.

You should also directly connect with local employers who might be interested in taking on an apprentice. It is a great idea to get a part time job with a local employer who might be more inclined to take you on as an apprentice following a successful work experience placement or a part time job contract.

Further information about this apprenticeship may be available from the following organisations on this website:

Organisations supporting this apprenticeship

Where we know of supporting organisations we list these below:

Online Job Sites

Here are some direct links to employment websites that frequently list apprenticeship vacancies.

Note: These websites may include vacancies that are not QQI accredited Apprenticeships.

As an apprentice, you earn while you learn.

Employment Salary (On-the-job)
The employer pays you a salary while you are being trained on-the-job. The rate of pay is agreed between you and your employer.

Training Allowance (Off-the-job)
A training allowance is paid by the local Education and Training Board (ETB) while you are attending the off-the-job training. In some cases, a contribution towards travel or accommodation costs may be paid.

The sector the apprentice's employer is engaged in will determine the allowance payable. These allowances are calculated on the gross wages paid by industry in each sector. The hourly rates and weekly gross wage norms in the construction industry are listed below.

Weekly Gross Wage Norms 

View more details on construction rates of pay at Connect Trade Union    .

(Connect is the largest trade union representing construction, electrical, and technical workers in Ireland.)

Apprentice Hourly Rates of Pay in the Construction Industry

(Per Construction SEO Order SI 620 of 2024)

From 1st August 2025 to 31st July 2026 

• 1st Year.     33.33%.    €7.67
• 2nd year.    50%.        €11.50
• 3rd Year.     75%.        €17.25 
• 4th Year.     90%.        €20.70 

From 1st August 2026 

• 1st Year.    33.33%.       €7.91
• 2nd year.    50%.          €11.87
• 3rd Year.     75%.          €17.81 
• 4th Year.     90%           €21.37

View more details on Industry rates of Pay at Connect Trade Union     .

View more Information on off-the-job payments here    .

For information on how to access payslips via PEOPLEXD, see out the Apprentice Payee PeopleXD for Payees User Reference Guide    . 

FEES

Apprentices complete two of their three phases of off-the-job training in a higher education institution. A student contribution must be paid for this part of the training.

The amount of the student contribution is a proportion of the annual student contribution paid by students who are attending a full-time course in higher education. The student contribution is paid directly to the higher education institution.

The student contribution for this apprenticeship is €1,000 for Phase 4 and €1,000 for Phase 6.