(ABILENE, Texas) – To help address a growing statewide and national shortage of skilled tradespeople, Texas State Technical College is expanding its Plumbing and Pipefitting program by offering evening classes at its Abilene campus starting this spring.
The classes at the Power and Mechanical Center in Abilene will run from 6-9:40 p.m., Monday through Thursday, providing working apprentices and evening students the same hands-on training opportunities as daytime students. Registration for the spring semester is currently open, with classes set to begin on Monday, Jan. 11.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, national demand for plumbers and pipefitters is growing “much faster than average,” with approximately 42,000 job openings nationwide expected annually over the next decade due to retirements and career transitions.
The workforce need is equally pressing across Texas, where more than 45,000 licensed plumbers currently practice and total workforce numbers are projected to reach nearly 50,000 by 2034. Labor Market Index (LMI) data shows jobs in West Central Texas will grow nearly 4% over the next eight years, even as an average of 16 local plumbers leave the field each year. Statewide, Texas is projected to lose 1,441 licensed plumbers through 2034.
“Having licensed plumbers is critical for all of Texas,” said Frank Denton, a member of TSTC’s Board of Regents and former chairman of the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. “With the fastest-growing economy in the country, Texas will rely on these skilled professionals for years to come.”
To narrow this skills gap, TSTC offers plumbing programs at its Abilene, Harlingen and Waco campuses. Students who complete TSTC’s Associate of Applied Science degree in Plumbing and Pipefitting – Journeyman become eligible to take the journeyman’s license exam. Without a college degree, individuals typically must log 8,000 hours, or four years, of field experience to qualify for the exam.
“We know there are a lot of plumbing companies who have apprentices training to become journeymen, and we are here to help make that easier,” said Nathan Loflin, TSTC’s Plumbing and Pipefitting program team lead.
Loflin noted that degree graduates who earn the journeyman’s license can also sit for the master plumber license exam after two years of field work and an associate degree, compared to three years for non-degree candidates.
Denton emphasized the importance of higher education in workforce development.
“(The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners’) partnership with TSTC is key to building the future of the plumbing profession in Texas,” he said. “TSTC’s instructors deliver the hands-on, high-quality training needed to prepare students for licensing and leadership roles.”
Students in the program cite the quality of instruction as a primary driver of their success.
“You can’t find better instructors,” said Lolo Granado, a third-semester TSTC student. “Those guys have a lot of passion for the profession. They want to see the trade survive. With their knowledge, passion and insight, it is the best you can get from a program. This college impressed me in the amount of effort they put into seeing you succeed.”
Registration is open for the spring semester. For more information, visit TSTC.edu.