Plumber
Military installation and repair of pipe systems and fixtures directly overlaps civilian plumbing work.
How to prepare: Submit documented military plumbing experience to an apprenticeship sponsor and the licensing authority for assessment against the typical 4- or 5-year apprenticeship, identifying remaining experience, local-code instruction, and examination gaps rather than assuming a full restart. Most states and some localities require plumbers to be licensed, often requiring 2 to 5 years of experience and a trade examination before independent work.
What the civilian work involves
- Install underground storm, sanitary, or water piping systems, extending piping as needed to connect fixtures and plumbing.
- Assemble pipe sections, tubing, or fittings, using couplings, clamps, screws, bolts, cement, plastic solvent, caulking, or soldering, brazing, or welding equipment.
- Locate and mark the position of pipe installations, connections, passage holes, or fixtures in structures, using measuring instruments such as rulers or levels.