The tradition of practicing a craft for a while before taking over and doing the work individually can be traced back to the dawn of time. Artisans were viewed as talented and essential members of society, which has not changed in modern times.
Over time, the types of apprenticeships have changed. While there aren't many blacksmiths or stonecutters who teach their trade, the service industries have a high demand for people who can carry on previous generations' skills. Buildings will still be required, and the related trades of electrical, heating and air conditioning and plumbing will need fresh blood to keep going.
Some modern trades will gradually become redundant, but plumbers and plumbing apprenticeship program will still be required. Different parts of the country, and the world, necessitate different approaches to the same goal. There are no formal systems for training or schooling plumbers in some countries, so those who do the job must learn from others.
Since we have such a rare opportunity to create our life's work, we tend to forget how the world used to work. Not long ago, a family was known for a trade from generation to generation, and it wasn't easy for the children of plumbers to do anything other than follow in their father's footsteps.
Many physicians and lawyers in today's society consider tradesmen as limited people, but when their toilets break down, that is just who they call for support. Many people would instead work with their hands than sit in a chair, write paperwork, attend meetings, and dress in a suit if they had the choice.
It doesn't make them any less valuable than anyone who works in an air-conditioned office and never gets dirty.
Today, the majority of plumbing apprenticeships are held at technical or "trade" schools. To pass plumbing school and gain certification, you need more than the skill to get the proper fall in a plumbing waste line. There are rules and codes to remember in addition to the basic mechanics of a functional plumbing system.
Codes differ from one building codebook to the next, and codebooks are rewritten regularly, requiring plumbers, electricians, and other trades to remain up to date with whatever version of the code is used in their area. Anyone who wants to become a plumber without going through the proper channels is unlikely to succeed.
State-licensed plumbers are not required in all plumbing work locations, but they are required on larger jobs. Most projects enable plumber's helpers to work as long as a standardized ratio of plumbers to helpers is preserved.
Even it is better for people who want to work as plumbers for a living to complete plumbing school online and become a licensed plumber. It gives them a greater understanding of the trade and gives employers trust in their workers.