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8 schools in Texas offer plumbing-related programs, compared below on official cost, completion, and earnings data. Prefer to earn while you learn? 140 registered apprenticeship sponsors in Texas train plumbing apprentices — see apprenticeships.
Texas licenses plumbers at the state level through the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, and you must register as a Plumber's Apprentice ($15) before doing any paid plumbing work. The Journeyman Plumber license requires 8,000 hours (roughly 4 years) of on-the-job experience plus a 48-hour board-approved course — or enrollment in a U.S. DOL-registered apprenticeship — and passing the state exam. A Tradesman Plumber-Limited license is an intermediate step available at 4,000 hours.
Official source: Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE) · Exam: TSBPE Journeyman exam — computer-based test plus practical component (administered via Pearson VUE); $40 exam fee · Typical requirement: Apprentice registration ($15) required before any paid plumbing work. Journeyman: 8,000 hours of trade experience + 48-hour TSBPE-approved course (waived if enrolled in/completed a U.S. DOL-registered apprenticeship) + current TX apprentice registration or Tradesman license. Tradesman Plumber-Limited available at 4,000 hours + 24-hour course.
| School | City | Type | Net price / yr | Completion | Earnings (10 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazosport College | Lake Jackson | public | $4,732 | 35.9% | $45,910 |
| St Philip's College | San Antonio | public | $4,273 | 18.5% | $38,224 |
| Lee College | Baytown | public | $6,879 | 54.5% | $42,178 |
| Collin County Community College District | McKinney | public | $8,969 | 20.3% | $48,701 |
| San Jacinto Community College | Pasadena | public | $12,143 | 32.2% | $43,062 |
| Texas State Technical College | Waco | public | $13,508 | 40.4% | $38,916 |
| Lamar Institute of Technology | Beaumont | public | $13,866 | 37.2% | $38,991 |
| McAllen Careers Institute | McAllen | private for-profit | $17,356 | 84% | not reported |
Ranking = median earnings 10 years after entry per $1,000 of average yearly net price (methodology). Schools without both figures sort last — "not reported" means the federal dataset lacks the value, not that the school is bad.
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