First tip: we can guarantee that most of the settings you work in will not be as pristine as this one.

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More and more people are choosing to become plumbers in 2014, and it’s not hard to see why. In Sydney, plumbers are in greater demand than ever. Here are our six tips to take when considering plumbing as a career.

Land an apprenticeship: Let’s be honest, apprenticeship wages are quite low, however, you must consider that your employer is also paying for your TAFE training costs, ensuring that you are covered by Workers’ Compensation insurance, paying your superannuation and covering pay for annual leave. Your apprenticeship is just as much of a valuable investment to your employer as it is to you.

There are no minimum educational requirements to start a plumbing apprenticeship, but many employers will hold applicants with their Higher School Certificate and a drivers’ licence in higher regard.

Become a Journeyman: Once you have completed your apprenticeship and passed the compulsory exams, you will be eligible to register as a journeyman, which means you may work for another licensed plumber but you may not operate your own business. Only after completing advance courses at TAFE and spending two years as a Journeyman will you then be eligible to run a plumbing business.

Do your research: If you are planning on starting your own plumbing business, market research helps you to understand the industry, assess the viability of your business idea and identify key factors that could affect the success of your business.

Get registered: You will require a Plumbers and Drainers Licence to work as a plumber in Australia. Keep in mind that the cost of registration is dependent on the type of business you are trying to register and it can take some time (up to eight weeks) for the application to be processed.

Join a plumbing association: This will help you connect with other plumbers, as these associations often arrange events and networking opportunities where you are able to find suppliers, make contacts and potentially generate new business. The Master Plumbers Association (MPMSA), Australia’s largest plumbing industry association, provides representation and extensive services for members in the plumbing and mechanical services industries.