• Plumbing is a skill that remains in high demand.Perfect Plumbing image by Heydj from Fotolia.com
  
  Plumbing is one of the oldest and highest-paying construction trades and a skill that is always in great demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a continued better-than-average job outlook for plumbers through 2018. A number of professionally accredited plumbing courses are available online and from community colleges and technical schools and offer certificate and associate's degrees. These programs range from basic, practical instruction to more advanced training and apprenticeships.
  
  

Ashworth College

• Ashworth College, based in Norcross, Ga., is one of the schools offering an online diploma in plumbing. Students can acquire basic skills in less than six months, including working with pipes, valves and fittings, and repairing and installing water heaters and other appliances. The school offers guidance and unlimited tutoring by "knowledgeable instructors with years of experience," as well as access to live events with experts in the field. Career search and time management guides are also part of the program. Ashworth is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), which the U.S. Department of Education lists as a globally recognized agency. DETC determined that Ashworth's online degree programs "continually meet, and regularly exceed" their standards of excellence.
  
  Ashworth College
  
  430 Technology Parkway
  
  Norcross, GA 30092
  
  800-957-5412
  
  ashworthcollege.edu
  
  

Wake Technical Community College

• Wake Technical Community College, serving Raleigh, North Carolina and Wake County, is a two-year, public institution. Its plumbing curriculum includes basic skills to assist with installation and repair of plumbing systems, as well as diagram sketching, blueprint interpretation and practical assembly. Students also learn about state codes and requirements. To become a master plumber, students must complete at least 2,000 hours of training, both in class and on the job. For this degree, coursework includes math, science and physics. Plumbing is in high demand in the Research Triangle because of the area's growth, and almost all local plumbing companies have hired Wake Tech graduates, according to the college website.
  
  Wake Technical Community College
  
  9101 Fayetteville Road
  
  Raleigh, NC 27603
  
  919-866-5000
  
  waketech.edu
  
  

Miami Dade College

• Measured by student population, Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida is the largest school to offer a certificate in plumbing technology. Its program prepares students to practice as licensed plumbers through the mastery of technical knowledge and skills relating to assembling, installing and maintaining fixtures and systems in homes and businesses. Students also learn the basics of heating and cooling systems and about blueprint reading, welding and soldering, plumbing inspection and codes and standards. More advanced coursework includes mathematical and scientific applications. The school also offers work-study programs, in which students acquire field experience that parallels classroom instruction.
  
  Miami Dade College
  
  300 N.E. 2nd Avenue
  
  Miami, Florida 33132
  
  305-237-8888
  
  mdc.edu