Plumbing Program
During six months of training at Star Tech Academy, you will learn an array of plumbing skills via classroom lessons, hands-on training with equipment, video tutorials, field training, and working directly with your trainer. This course covers install, service, and maintenance skills for both cooling and heating seasons.
We offer two programs a year, one starts in the spring and the other in the fall. We determine if we are going to have a plumbing program or an HVAC program next depending upon the company’s needs.
Prerequisites
This course is introductory level. No prerequisites are required. You are NOT expected to have working-knowledge of plumbing before starting.
You are required to obtain the required tool list and bring your tools to the first day of class. If desired, we offer a complete tool kit with all required tools on a structured payment plan (a weekly deduction from your paycheck). If you are providing your own tools, they must be inspected by the instructor a week before the course begins.
You must wear long sleeve shirt (provided), work pants (jeans, khakis or similar), and Electrical Hazard (EH) rated safety boots every day. Star Tech Academy branded shirts will be provided to you the first day of class.
A Chromebook will be provided to you on your first day of class as well. The Chromebook is Star Tech Academy property and must remain in the classroom and returned at the end of each day.
In order to pass the course, you must:
- Achieve 98% class attendance (no more than two days missed in first 26 weeks)
- Pass all 4 exams with an 80% score or better
- Receive a letter of recommendation from the instructor
When you officially graduate from Star Tech Academy, you become an American Vintage Home Plumbing Technician. You will receive a brand-new uniform with our American Vintage Home branding and a patch of achievement recognizing you as “Star Tech Academy Certified”. You will begin your 24-month term as a Plumbing technician, with the whole company there to help should you need it.
We have a structured process for moving through the ranks (and pay scale) within the Plumbing department at American Vintage Home. There are six possible levels for Plumbing techs. You can work with the department manager to pinpoint exactly what skills you need to develop to move up.
Your first months will consist of learning the basics of plumbing including history, basic plumbing techniques, personal safety, plumbing mathematics, how to install and service different types of fixtures and systems, and how to service common issues that may occur in the home. You will also learn soft skills such as speaking with customers and presenting your observations and findings. Educating customers on what changes and additions will serve them best is an important but often overlooked skill.
Soon you will be taking your newly acquired knowledge into the field to start working with experienced technicians. Our goal is to build not just your knowledge, but your confidence in the field. The whole class will come back together to share our experiences and gain knowledge from one another, address any gaps in understanding, and explore some more complicated issues in the lab.
Later on, you will continue to learn in the lab how to handle different situations you may encounter in the field. You will also learn more about installation techniques, both in-home and underground. We want you to feel as prepared as possible in every way before entering a customer’s home. Your Star Tech Academy instructor will inspect your work more closely and give you feedback for your continuous improvement.
You will have a final, formal presentation from start to finish including introducing yourself to a mock customer, walking them through your observations and findings, and lastly completing that service in the Academy. After you have successfully passed your final presentation and demonstrate the knowledge you have acquired, the most exciting part happens… you graduate!
Facility
You will be learning in our new, state-of-the-art training facility. The space is fully dedicated to training and has ample room for students to learn and tinker.
Our lovingly nicknamed “stick house” has exposed walls with designated plumbing and sewer stations so that our students can learn by doing.
Benefits as a student
After Graduation, As an HVAC or
plumbing Technician:
JOIN OUR
PLUMBING TECHNICIAN ACADEMY!
We open our online application about two months before the next class is set to begin, so look for it in early February or August on the American Vintage Home Indeed page. Until then, we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact us.