Plumbing Programs at Ontario Colleges
See how plumbing training is structured across Ontario colleges, ranked on an independent six-criteria score.
Compare plumbing programs in Ontario across independent colleges. Learn how the plumber apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship streams, the Ontario 306A trade, and the Red Seal endorsement work.
| Rank | College | Location | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Skilled Trades College of Canada 1
Top Rated
Skilled Trades College of Canada (STC) is a private trades-training college with six campuses across Toronto and the GTA. It offers condensed 12-week pre-apprenticeship programs in electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and home renovation, delivered as 80% hands-on learning in lab-based simulated work environments with small class sizes. STC bundles a full professional tool kit, PPE, and industry safety certifications into every program to graduate job-ready apprentices, and has trained over 1,000 students. Woodbridge | Woodbridge | 9.4 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 2 |  Conestoga College is a publicly funded Ontario college whose Reuter Drive Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge — at 322,000 square feet on 40 acres beside Highway 401 — is among the largest dedicated trades training facilities in Canada. It delivers Red Seal apprenticeships in carpentry, electrician, plumbing, millwright, welder, and CNC machinist, plus the fully funded Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) pre-apprenticeship. Over 150,000 sq ft of purpose-built shops and labs include AR/VR-ready training spaces. Cambridge | Cambridge | 7.7 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 3 |  Humber Polytechnic is a publicly funded Ontario college (established 1967, rebranded from Humber College in 2024) offering apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training in the skilled trades. Its Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology at Carrier Drive features a 2024 expansion with new HVAC, gas/oil, AR/VR/XR and woodworking labs designed like an actual worksite. Programs span construction and maintenance electrician, plumber, carpenter, millwright, welder, and arborist trades. Toronto | Toronto | 7.5 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 4 |  Mohawk College is a publicly funded Ontario college serving Hamilton and surrounding communities, whose Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship at the Stoney Creek campus trains roughly 2,400 apprenticeship students per year. It offers Red Seal apprenticeship training in electrician, plumber, carpenter, millwright, steamfitter/pipefitter, welder, and motive power trades. The college is recognized as one of Ontario's leading trades training institutions, with a dedicated initiative supporting women and equity-deserving students. Stoney Creek | Stoney Creek | 7.4 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 5 |  George Brown Polytechnic is a publicly funded Ontario college (rebranded from George Brown College in 2024) offering Red Seal apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship training across its downtown Toronto and Casa Loma campuses. Skilled trades training includes carpentry, construction and maintenance electrician, industrial mechanic millwright, and plumber, with hands-on lab time and employer placement support. The college acts as a Training Delivery Agent for several Red Seal trades through Skilled Trades Ontario. Toronto | Toronto | 7.4 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 6 |  Durham College is a publicly funded Ontario college (established 1967) with campuses in Oshawa and Whitby, offering nine skilled trades apprenticeship programs at the OPG Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology. The 60,000-square-foot Whitby facility, opened in 2022, features advanced labs, shops, and a purpose-built boiler lab unique among Durham Region colleges. The college shares its Oshawa campus with Ontario Tech University and offers over 60 academic pathway opportunities into degree programs. Oshawa | Oshawa | 7.3 /10 | No reviews yet |
| 7 |  Herzing College is a registered private career college whose Toronto Skilled Trades campus is an approved training facility of Merit Ontario and the CLAC Union. It offers pre-apprenticeship programs in carpentry, electrician, and plumbing, plus Gas Technician 3 and 2 certification, network cabling, and construction management. Programs are hands-on with in-house workshops and union employer connections that help graduates line up work. Toronto | Toronto | 7 /10 | No reviews yet |
About plumbing programs in Ontario
Plumbing is one of Ontario's core construction and maintenance trades, covering the water-supply, drainage, venting, and fixture systems that keep buildings safe and functional. If you're researching plumbing programs in Ontario, this page explains how training is structured, how certification works, and what to compare as you shortlist colleges. This directory is independent — we don't run any programs, and specifics like length, intake dates, and cost vary by college, so check each college's profile for the details.
What you'll learn
Plumbing training blends classroom theory with hands-on shop and on-the-job practice. Programs typically introduce the fundamentals of the trade and prepare you for entry into the apprenticeship pathway. Common topics include:
- Reading drawings, codes, and specifications, and applying the Ontario Building Code
- Pipe materials, joining methods, and system layout for water supply, drainage, waste, and venting (DWV)
- Installing and servicing fixtures, valves, and water-heating equipment
- Tools, rigging, soldering and brazing, and trade math
- Workplace health and safety, including WHMIS and working-at-heights awareness
The exact curriculum, equipment, and shop time differ by college — review each college's profile to compare.
Apprenticeship and certification
In Ontario, the Plumber trade (trade code 306A) is administered through Skilled Trades Ontario, which oversees apprenticeship and certification.
Pathways
- Pre-apprenticeship programs help newcomers build foundational skills and improve their chances of finding an apprenticeship sponsor.
- A plumbing apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training under an employer or sponsor with periods of in-school technical training at a college or training provider.
Certification
- Plumber is a Red Seal trade. Completing the apprenticeship and passing the certifying exam can earn the Red Seal endorsement, recognized across most Canadian provinces and territories.
- Gas work is regulated separately in Ontario by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), with technician levels G3, G2, and G1 — distinct from the plumbing trade certification.
Career paths
Plumbers work across residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial settings — new construction, service and repair, renovation, and, with additional TSSA gas qualifications, gas-related work. Many later move into supervision, estimating, inspection, or running their own contracting business. Wage and demand details vary; this directory doesn't publish wage figures.
How to choose a college
When comparing Ontario colleges offering plumbing programs, weigh:
- Stream offered — pre-apprenticeship vs. apprenticeship in-school training
- Hands-on facilities — shop space, equipment, and lab time
- Location and schedule — commute, intake timing, and full- vs. part-time options
- Pathways and supports — help finding a sponsor, credit transfer, and student services
Use the college profiles in this directory to compare programs side by side and find the right fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Ontario trade code for plumbing?
In Ontario, the Plumber trade is identified by trade code 306A. The trade is administered through Skilled Trades Ontario, which oversees apprenticeship and certification. You'll see the 306A designation referenced in apprenticeship and certification materials.
Is plumbing a Red Seal trade in Ontario?
Yes. Plumber is a Red Seal trade. After completing your apprenticeship and passing the certifying exam, you can earn the Red Seal endorsement, which is recognized across most Canadian provinces and territories, making it easier to work elsewhere in Canada.
What's the difference between pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship plumbing programs?
A pre-apprenticeship program helps people new to the trade build foundational skills and improve their chances of securing an apprenticeship sponsor. An apprenticeship combines paid on-the-job training under an employer with in-school technical training at a college. Not every college offers both streams, so check each college's profile.
Do plumbers in Ontario need a separate licence for gas work?
Yes. Gas work in Ontario is regulated separately by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), with technician levels G3, G2, and G1. These gas qualifications are distinct from your plumbing trade certification, so plumbers who want to do gas-related work pursue them in addition to the 306A trade.
How long does a plumbing program take and what does it cost?
Program length, schedule, and tuition vary by college and by whether you're in a pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship in-school stream. This directory doesn't publish those figures — see each college's profile for current details on duration, intake dates, and cost.
How do I choose the right plumbing program in Ontario?
Compare which stream each college offers (pre-apprenticeship or apprenticeship in-school training), the hands-on shop facilities and lab time, location and scheduling, and supports like help finding a sponsor or credit transfer. Use the college profiles in this directory to compare options side by side.
Still have questions? Contact us.