The Building and Fire Code Academy offers a four-year Plumbing Apprenticeship Education (PAE) to supplement an apprentice plumber’s on-the-job training. This education prepares Illinois apprentice plumbers for the Illinois state licensing exam, and the wide range of technical experience expected of them throughout their careers.
Curriculum
The Plumbing Apprenticeship Education course of study includes:
- State of Illinois License Law
- State of Illinois Plumbing Code
- Practical Application of Codes and Standards
- Blueprint Reading and Drawing
- Construction Document Production and Permits
- Hydrodynamic Theory
- First Aid and Safety Procedures
- Hands-on Shop Instruction and Practical Assembly Techniques
- Industry Updates – Techniques and Materials
- Construction and Plumbing Mathematics and Geometry
- Illinois Plumbing License Examination Preparation
Course Materials
Each participant is provided with the following materials:
- Understanding the Illinois Plumbing Code workbook
BFCA charges a one-time fee of $75 for the required course workbook. This workbook is used for the full four-year education. Students are also required to have a copy of the 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code, which is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Schedule
The Plumbing Apprenticeship Education is offered twice a year. Each 15-week, 30-session trimester is conducted at the Building & Fire Code Academy in Elgin, Illinois. The Spring 2025 Session begins January 14th and runs through April 24th. Students attend class Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The overlapping curriculum splits activities between academic class – code and math instruction – and the practical instruction sessions – shop and blueprint.
Instructors
Plumbing Supervisor
Contracting, inspecting and academic backgrounds make this a comprehensive educational curriculum. Illinois Certified Inspectors and apprentice instructors provide code enforcement education to complement extensive practical experience in the construction industry. Highly qualified authorities on codes, industry standards, and the application of evolving mechanical technology create, interpret and train in this program.
Experienced Instructors
Each instructor affiliated with the Plumbing Apprenticeship Education is an Illinois licensed plumber with a broad range of field experience. The apprentice candidates’ learning experience will be enhanced by the real-life knowledge and experience that instructors bring to the academic and practical instruction sessions.
Tuition & Fees
Participation in the Plumbing Apprenticeship Education is $725 for new students and $650 for returning students. This amount is per semester, which includes a lab fee of $20 to cover the cost of in-class projects.
Tuition is due before the start of the first class for the semester. If registration is canceled prior to the beginning of the semester, all monies paid are refunded, less a $25 registration fee. Cancellation received after this date will be refunded per Illinois Statutes 105 ILCS 425. See the Student Handbook for full refund policy.
The required texts are the Illinois Plumbing Code and the Understanding the Illinois Plumbing Code workbook.
The Illinois Plumbing Code is available from the Illinois Department of Public Health –
www.dph.illinois.gov/
Description
A comprehensive four year supplemental education for the apprenticeship to plumbers’ on-the-job training preparing the Illinois apprentice plumber for the Illinois state licensing exam.
Prerequisites & Other Requirements For Admission
Applicants must be a high school graduate or possess a General Educational Development certificate (GED) and be able to demonstrate reading comprehension and basic mathematical skills.
Objectives
To advance the educational application, analysis and synthesis of the Illinois apprentice in order to participate in and pass the Illinois State Licensing exam.
Required Courses
- State of Illinois License Law
- State of Illinois Plumbing Code
- Practical Application of Codes and Standards
- Blueprint Reading and Drawing
- Construction Document Production and Permits
- Hydrodynamic Theory
- First Aid and Safety Procedures
- Hands On Shop Instruction and Practical Assembly Techniques
- Industry Updates – Techniques and Materials
- Construction and Plumbing Mathematics and Geometry
- Illinois Plumbing License Examination Preparation
Number of Weeks: 15 per semester
Scheduled End Date: 4 years from the start
Total Credit/Clock Hours: 90
Consumer Information and Disclosures
| Reporting Period: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024 | Number |
| Number of students who were admitted in the program as of July 1 of this reporting period | 42 |
| Number of additional students who were admitted in the program during the next 12 months and classified: | – |
| New starts | 21 |
| Re-enrollments | 21 |
| Transfers into the program from other programs at the school | 0 |
| Total number of students admitted in the program during the 12 month reporting period who: | 42 |
|
0 |
|
3 |
|
8 |
|
42 |
| Number of students enrolled in the program who were: | |
|
42 |
|
0 |
|
0 |
| Not available for placement due to personal reasons | 0 |
| Not employed | 0 |
| Number of students who took a State Licensing Examination or professional certification examination during the reporting period | 3 |
| Number of students who took and passed a state licensing examination or professional certification examination during the reporting period | 3 |
| Number of graduates who obtained employment in the field who did not use the school’s placement assistance during the reporting period | 3 |
| Average starting salary for all school graduates employed during the reporting period | $61,550 |
The Building and Fire Code Academy Accreditation
BFCA is an Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) approved vocational school. Established in 2001 as an academy offering continuing education and consulting services to those in the building, fire and code enforcement industry, BFCA became an official Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) in 2006. The mission of the Building & Fire Code Academy is to provide comprehensive and practical education in the administration, application and enforcement of building and fire codes by offering both continuing education courses and complete career programs to people of all experience levels.
To validate the quality of training, BFCA has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IAECT). In obtaining this accreditation, BFCA has demonstrated that it complies with the ANSI/IACET Standard which is recognized internationally as a standard of good practice. As a result of their Authorized Provider status, BFCA is authorized to offer IACET continuing education units (CEUs) for its programs that qualify under the ANSI/IACET Standard. In addition, BFCA is an American Institute if Architects/Continuing Education System (AIA/CES) registered provider. Students completing courses receive CEUs, contact hours and/or state credit where applicable. All courses qualify for the Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) credit.
To deliver the highest quality of training, all Building & Fire Code Academy instructors are approved by the IBHE as highly qualified experts in the fields in which they teach.
