Plumbing Apprenticeship Scams / Red Flags 

Peeps! Have any of these happened to you? Or are there any other scams you may have experienced? Please share down below!

This is so important for anyone embarking on an apprenticeship, I’ve known sparky apprenticeships where the company had actual licensed engineers but were deliberately delaying the apprentices months sometimes over a year so as to save pay. I’ve even seen companies drop the accredited course needed near the end of apprenticeships and lay off the apprentices. Some truly shocking and appalling things, some companies are borderline criminal.

Thanks for this video man, I highly appreciate it. I found out a whole bunch of massive flags at my current plumbing company, I'm almost about to hit my first year mark and came into the plumbing trade as a greenie, let alone blue collar in general. My company charges top dollar for labor charges, yet the only guy at our company who is actually licensed is our boss, which is a master plumber. All the guys on the plumbing side are still technically "apprentices" through licensing standards, yet they're doing work that is required to have a license, such as new construction, which requires for a master or journeyman to be on site, but the master isn't there. Last month, I got tired of my bosses antics and charades because I felt like I was hired on as a glorified laborer/handyman, and the disrespectful trash that comes out of his mouth. So, I ended up going to another plumbing company to see if they were hiring apprentices because I actually want to do plumbing work, not weird stuff that isn't even related to actual plumbing. The other company said I wasn't even registered through the state, I was shell-shocked to hear that. I was fed false-information about how my boss was going to register me after 30 days, but it turns out that didn't even actually happen, and I'm about to hit my first year with several hours that aren't even documented. The other company helped me get registered through the state and told me I need to give that to my boss, just so I don't lose my hours because the other plumbing company wants to get me on board and start actually teaching me plumbing theory. I did exactly that, handed my paper work in and my boss said he would take care of it. A month has dragged by and he wasn't doing it, even though it took less than a few seconds. I finally got somewhere recently, but I have no idea if he actually submitted the paperwork or if the state is backlogged with so much crap. And it's hard not to raise any suspicion because I feel like they know I'm giving off the vibe that I want to get the hell out of there. It's so frustrating because the other company wants to get me on, but they want to make sure I get my actual hours so I don't end up getting screwed out of a years worth of work. And it's funny, he promised the world to me during my interview and said that if I was adamant about wanting to exceed ambitions, they wanted to make sure I get there and they wanted me on as an apprentice, not a laborer. But it doesn't seem like that, it's easier for them to keep me unregistered and get cheap labor than to actually do plumbing stuff. Hell, they still haven't allowed me to solder a pressurized copper water line, yet I've done it plenty of times as practice on my free time, and I'm a year within the trade. It sucks that some companies out there like to screw with their workers and see how much leeway they have to exploit the rules and their workers.

considering changing my career into plumbing watching your videos is very helpfull about my decision you doing a great job explaining and advising THANK YOU

very informative. just finished a plumbing techniques program so i'm on the job hunt right now and trying to find an apprenticeship. thank you, subbed to your channel.

Great Video Kenny! Scenario 3 was very relatable lol

This was a really informative episode Kenny thanx 🙏🏾

Important and good advice.

A missed paycheck could be a simple payroll error. Once you've ruled that out, there is no reason or excuse to not get paid on payday for the hours you've worked.

Wow thanks for this amazing video and i would love to chat with you more if possible I am in school at Herzing college for a pre-apprentship Steve and the staff are wonderful and were learning a lot thanks again Cory

that's why when I see "apprenticeship" advertised I ask them if they are registered with the state. Then I look up the program standards, and ask my pre-apprenticeship instructors about them if they are registered with the state. One of the nice things about the States here, quite a number states have an official registry and keep track of your hours and issue you a journeyman card from the Dept of Labor & Industry. The apprenticeships that register have to comply with certain standards.

Sign up at the UA locals apprenticeship. Your work 4 days and 1 day of class per week, plus you get paid going to class (via your contractor) . Usually about 138 days of class in the 5 yr apprenticeship

Very informative

I just started as a plumber helper in a apartment complex. I Know how to install sinks and garbage disposal and helping with water heater setup. I’m going to push for my Card registration as soon as possible. Don’t want to waste time and hours

From my experience number 3 (constant yelling and pretentious towards helpers) is a huge thing. There is plenty of dickheads in the industry and I absolutely agree it’s not worth to stress yourself with a job because of that plus it’s not helping to learn/work more effective!

Hello! Just started following your content and I'm so grateful for this information. I am new to the plumbing world, but I've had an interest for a few years, ever since I started uni really (for marketing,lol). I really want to start a career in the trades. Which one would you recommend if I wanted to start training to be a plumber - a training course (runs for a few months + costs some money) or an apprenticeship? Thank you in advance!

Thank you for the info! Just started my plumbing apprenticeship in September this year. However they did start me as a serviceman, I did get my own work van and I do run service calls as far as clogged drains. Nothing more severe than that right now. Other than that I work with a journeyman doing rough in’s, above rough in’s and finishing jobs.

Alot of plumbing companies seriously take advantage of experienced apprentices, they will hire you with promises of giving you your own truck soon or paying you a higher wages soon, and still have you doing the entire jobs and not paying you what you are truly. This is the reason the trade is so hard to get into

Another problem I've seen with companies' lack of transparency with guys who want to go back to school. They constantly leave guys in the dark as to WHEN they can go to school, at whatever level they're in. There are some guys on my crew who have been in their apprenticeship for 6 years and are only level 4's because of how many times the company held them back from going to school due to their own reasons. The excuse is usually to do with the company being "too busy" to send guys back to school, I feel it's more of an issue with not wanting to pay guys more money if they can get the same quality of work from them at a lower level wage. Guys end up having to quit the company to go back to school on time and miss out on E.I coverage through the apprenticeship program in our province. A five year apprenticeship can turn into 8 really quick if you hook up with a company who promises you the world but doesn't help you get your education in the right time frame.

My first day as an apprentice I was a helper in a commercial stack replacement. I got my van at 6 months and it was scary doing my own jobs especially because I was so used to commercial repairs. So service and drain cleaning was scary but I could change out a 4” CI main line for a building no problem. I had to learn service calls and drain cleaning myself. I’m a year half plumber and doing shower valves and brazing 3” copper pipes solo. The learning and experience is awesome but I was still getting apprentice pay. The true question is: are you in it for the trade or the money? Tbh it started as the money and I fell in love with the trade. I’m with a different company now and making commission but I owe my skills to my previous company. Ya, I wasn’t getting paid the amount I should have for the jobs I was doing. But I took the skills I learned and went to someplace where the pay accordingly. I made $600k for my company my first year and made $34k now I’m at a company that pays 24% on every job I do is awesome. So, apprentices get your hand dirty and keep pushing on and every time your in a dirty shitty job, just say “smells like money”

Beware the Craigslist "plumbing apprentice" ad!!!

Thanks Kenny! I lost my GC business from being scammed by a preacher who stole $18k for lumber and set my destruction in motion 😤

This happened to me lol they told me i was going to be an apprentice but never got me the paper work , then later oh work is slow ima have to let you go , luckily i got hired by another plumber company that is going to start me as an apprentice and pay my school keep working on your journey one company may not be good but that doesn’t mean you’re journey as a plumber ends there .

This is true , I studied pre apprentice then worked with different plumbing company's they all say yes but then forget about it , its been almost 4 and half years on and off with company's Still looking for a company to register me when I now can work independently and spend thousands of tools. Toronto plumbing is built like this but there are good company's out there but hard to get in unless you know someone

Another thing that has happened to me many times is that I was doing all the hard work and then the foremen who was smoking on all corners of the job site all day, talking to everybody took all the credit for it because he is the one that talks to the boss directly . So my advice for apprentices that can work on their own is to take pictures of the work they do and keep it for their records (I also used that as proof of what I can do when I was looking for a new job) and don't get caught on your phone doing that lol

You're from Toronto correct? Could you do a video on the steps to secure an apprenticeship? I'm 29 with 0 plumbing experience and kind of intimidated by how hard it seems to be able to successfully break into the trades in general, not just plumbing. I was working for a shipping company for awhile and they promised me welding experience, which was a total sham so I would come in every day and do crap jobs no one else would do. It's seriously hard to secure anything if you have no friends/family or are working already doing this kind of stuff.

Does anybody know about plumbing companies in the state of Florida? I was looking to be an apprentice at this one company but when I asked about licensing they said they don't really do that, everyone works under the master plumber's license. They said that if I want to go to school to get a license they have a tuition reimbursement program, though.

What are your thoughts on Roto rooter and their apprenticeship?

I just started a plumbing helper job and they said they’ll put me into an apprenticeship how many weeks in should i follow up?

I would not call this environment as "delicious plumbing", I would call this "rotten cheese plumbing" but I see so much of what you are saying in my day to day job, when we work, as we are laid off again. By the way is Sigma hiring?

Is PHCC a scam? Iv'e been working for about a week at a non union plumbing company, but they told me I will be starting a training program called PHCC, and am unsure if it's a trade school......

people scamm if they think you don't know nothing

Hey kenny quick question. Im 33 years old and looking to go into plumbing. Is it realistic for me to go in or should I cut my losses and try something else? Im thinking between now and when I get my apprenticeship it might be at 35 and maybe some guys won’t want to drag a green guy along. What are your honest thoughts?

I got offered a apprenticeship for roto rooter they offer commission pay is this a good opurtunity or no and i will have to end up getting own van

Hey is doing a pre-apprenticeship course worth doing (20 weeks) or should I jump right into an apprenticeship? I'm 28 years old and I have no knowledge or experience of Plumbing but wanting to get into the trade. Thing is I have no connections or know anyone in the industry and through the course maybe I'll learn how Plumbing works and get networking there for an apprenticeship through a company or something. Some insights would be good, cheers thanks!

31...been a home automation technician/manager past 8 years. What would you recommend for me if I'm considering plumbing? And I know, I'm not too old to begin :D

I know it’s a bit off topic, but.......where did you get that shirt !? ❤️❤️❤️

Any word on the honesty of the company roto-rooter?

That’s crazy 2 years of just cutting fittings and tool toting?

What papers are you talking about? I am new to the trade. I will be working in NC. Can you tell me where to find info on that.

I’ve been a helper for 2 years at a plumbing company and haven’t done plumbing hands on all I do in this company is I only clean

HI Where can i get the government apprenticeship registration papers forms for signing by my pluming company boss to start collecting the hours? can i get it online? or place ?

I’m in my final year of high school now and looking to go into plumbing , do you think an apprenticeship is the right way to go

Good morning. I’m 38 years old and I’m getting into the plumber field super late in life. I graduated from trade school this past August. I’ve been trying to get a entry level apprenticeship but every job I applied to either wants a minimum of 1 year experience or they want to pay me 10 dollars an hour in cash. The only opportunity I have is for roto rooter which I have a interview for. Any advice

Hey Kenny, I know this is an old video - but what do you mean by “signing you up” as an apprentice? I thought being an apprentice was just working under a licensed plumber for like 4,000 hours and then you’re good to go to get your license?

Is roto rooter apprentice plumbing a scam or is it godo

Any input on roto rooter?

Is plumbing more beneficial than being a carpenter ??

Is this to say plumbing is like this

I work for a guy for almost 2 years and never registered me. Feeling like a sucker when he let me go 3 weeks ago his company is in Connecticut Stratford drain king he really took advantage of my time and really paid me poorly I was so depressed when I got laid off and he hired 2 licensed guys and bought a new truck the following week.

please help answer this I have an apprenticeship with roto rooter but have to buy a van that I don't have the money or credit score but I really want to stay. @kennyMolotov