Build Your Future

in The Trades

Why Apprenticeship Matters

A man with a beard wearing a cap and black hoodie is working at an outdoor table with various plumbing parts, paperwork, and a soda can. There are other people in the background standing in front of a building with glass windows.

Learn While You Earn

PHCC Virginia's registered apprenticeship programs combine classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job training. Apprentices gain real-world experience while developing the technical knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the plumbing and HVAC industries.

Highlights:

✔ Earn a paycheck while training

✔ Industry-recognized credentials

✔ Classroom and hands-on learning

✔ Career advancement opportunities

✔ Registered with the U.S. Department of Labor

Explore the PHCC Apprenticeship Program

PHCC offers Plumbing and HVAC apprenticeship programs designed to combine industry-focused education with valuable on-the-job experience. Apprentices can choose from online or in-person learning options based on their needs and availability.

Online Apprenticeship

PHCC Academy® provides a flexible alternative to traditional classroom instruction. Each online course is equivalent to one year of classroom instruction (156 hours), allowing apprentices to complete their education while gaining hands-on experience with a participating employer.

In-Person Apprenticeship

Through vocational training facilities across Virginia, apprentices can work during the day and attend classes in the evening, combining structured classroom instruction with approximately 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year. The four-year program is BAT-approved and recognized in Virginia and many other states.

Please note: Apprenticeship programs require coordinated on-the-job training with a participating employer. In-person programs are employer-sponsored, with enrollment available once per year.

Apprentice Events & Competitions

Showcase Your Skills. PHCC Virginia offers apprentices unique opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, compete against peers, and connect with industry leaders.

Two workers in a warehouse organizing black storage bins filled with various supplies, with shelves stocked with boxes, pipes, and equipment in the background.

Plumbing Apprentice

The Annual Plumbing Apprentice Contest gives third- and fourth-year apprentices the opportunity to put their skills to the test in a hands-on competition. Contestants complete a half-bathroom rough-in and are judged on the quality of their workmanship and technical skills.

First-, second-, and third-place finishers receive awards, with top finishers having the opportunity to advance to the PHCC National Apprentice Contest.

A man wearing a white safety helmet, clear safety glasses, a high-visibility vest, and a checkered shirt inspects machinery in an industrial setting.

HVAC Apprentice

The HVAC Apprentice Contest gives apprentices the opportunity to showcase their skills in a hands-on national competition held in conjunction with the PHCC National Convention. Participants gain valuable experience while networking with industry professionals and exploring the latest HVAC technologies and products.

PHCC VA sponsors a top-performing HVAC apprentice to participate in this exciting industry experience.