Plumber

Fitting taps, wash basins, toilets, geysers and water tanks. Laying and joining water supply and drainage pipes. Finding and fixing leaks and blockages. Reading simple drawings and working with civil engineers, masons and contractors on building sites.

A day in the work
You start by checking the day's jobs and loading your pipe cutter, wrenches, tape and fittings. At a flat you might trace a leak behind a wall, then replace a tap and test the water pressure. On a building site you could join pipes for a bathroom line, following the drawing and the engineer's marks. You finish by cleaning up, noting what material is left and telling the customer or supervisor what was done.

1. Step 1 · Class 8–10Stay in school at least till Class 8. Class 10 is safer, because many states and seats ask for it. Get comfortable with measuring, fractions, and using tools safely at home or school.
2. Step 2 · After Class 10 (or Class 8)Apply to a government ITI for the Plumber trade through your state's ITI admission portal. Dates differ by state. For example, Delhi's 2026 admissions were still running spot rounds in September 2026. Keep your Class 8 or 10 marksheet and, if it applies, your caste certificate ready. (reported — check with the official body)
3. Step 3 · 1 yearDo the ITI Plumber trade. Practical work starts with cutting, threading and joining pipes. You also learn drawing, workshop calculation, safety and employability skills. At the end you get the NTC.
4. Step 4 · Apprenticeship (6 months to 3 years)Register free on apprenticeshipindia.gov.in and apply to establishments that take apprentices. You are paid a stipend, which has a government-set minimum that rose in 2025 (reported). You can earn a National Apprenticeship Certificate (NAC). (reported — check with the official body)
5. Step 5 · First jobsWork under a contractor, a builder, a housing society or a facility-management company. You learn hot and cold water lines, drainage, pumps, tanks, fire-fighting and gas lines, depending on the employer.
6. Step 6 · Grow or go independentMany plumbers move up to supervisor. Some start their own small contracting work, which is why this is listed as self-employed. If your city asks for a plumber licence, apply to the local water board (reported). Some ITI pass-outs become ITI instructors through the CITS course.

• ITI Plumber trade (main route)Starts after: Class 8 or Class 10 Time: 1 year, plus apprenticeship if you choose Run under DGT. You get the NTC. It also allows apprenticeship, the CITS instructor course, and lateral entry to some engineering diplomas.
• NSDC / WMPSC Plumber General courseStarts after: Class 10 for training; job entry age 18 Time: About 450–480 hours of training The Water Management and Plumbing Skill Council (WMPSC) qualification is now listed at NSQF Level 4. It has about 90 hours of theory, 240 practical, 60 employability and 60 on-the-job. Older NSDC books call it Level 3. Check the level on the training centre's certificate before you join.
• Learn on the job, then get certifiedStarts after: Any age you start working Time: Years of site work Many plumbers learn from a senior on site. WMPSC runs Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which gives a formal certificate for skills you already have (reported).

Fees from: Delhi Government ITI admissions 2026 · DGT Plumber curriculum (NTC, apprenticeship and CITS pathways) · Mumbai DVET – ITI Plumber Course Details (govt, fee range) · Delhi ITI admissions – course, fee and eligibility page (govt) · Registration guidelines and fee structure for online admission 2026 (govt-hosted PDF) · Tamil Nadu Skill Training – Apprenticeship Training Scheme (govt, NAPS 25% share). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

Entry-level plumbers on stipends or helper wages earn little, while experienced plumbers who handle bigger sites or run their own work usually earn much more, and city, type of work and steady clients make a big difference.

The DGT curriculum lists these disability categories as eligible for the ITI Plumber trade: locomotor disability, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims, low vision and deaf. There is no separate supernumerary seat for them in this trade. Check your state's ITI notice for reservation rules, and ask about site access and safety needs.

• Class 7–9With an adult, find your home's main water valve, the overhead tank line and one tap. Draw a simple pipe map of your house. Then watch a plumber on a real repair and note each tool used.
• Class 10–12Read the first pages of the DGT Plumber syllabus to see what a year of ITI covers. Then visit your nearest government ITI and ask to see the plumbing workshop.Open link ↗
• College or afterMake a free profile on the Apprenticeship India portal and look at which establishments near you list plumber apprentices.Open link ↗

• The ITI Plumber trade is listed for Class 8 pass in the DGT syllabus, but states may ask for Class 10 or set their own merit rules. Always check your state's admission notice.
• The WMPSC Plumber General qualification lists a minimum job-entry age of 18, so it fits after ITI or at 18 and above.
• Apprentice stipends and city plumber licences differ by year and city. Confirm both on the official portal or local water board before you plan around them.
• Plumbing is physical work. If you want something similar but with less hard labour, look at HVAC, electrical or diploma routes.