Plumbing

The Plumbing program consists of 1200 hours of instruction (73 quarter credit hours) and is available in two schedules. Both the Day and Evening sessions require twelve months for completion on the basis of approximately 25 hours of instruction per week. The terms of the program are independent of each other, thus the sequence in which they are offered to the students may vary.

This program is currently taught in a Blended format (lecture material on-line and hands-on skills on-campus) and is also offered residentially (all classes and labs on campus) at certain campuses as conditions permit. As part of their materials, students receive a device which is fully compatible with the Learning Management System (LMS) used in both delivery methods. Veterans’ Benefits are only available for the residential version of this program.

This program covers the installation, service, and maintenance of common plumbing fixtures found in residential and commercial buildings. Additionally, the student will gain an in-depth understanding of fresh water treatment wells, well pumps, sewer system, drainage systems, and venting. The student will learn about safe material handling, pumps, and electrical grounding. The student will gain an understanding of the various piping materials as well as their use according to International Plumbing Code, International Building Code, and related National Fire Protection Association codes.

The Plumbing classrooms are equipped with the same kinds of equipment currently in use by business and industry. Students will work on fixtures, water closets, tubs, pumps and drainage systems. The different kinds of hand tools common in the field, including torches and manual and electrical pipe threaders/cutters are utilized by the students.

Delivery at this campus. Blended Program – lecture online, labs on campus (offered at Bridgeport CT).

If you’re looking for a plumbing school that is right for you and you are eager to begin a career as a plumber, pipefitter, or steamfitter, here are a few reasons to choose the Plumbing program at Porter and Chester Institute:

Job Outlook. About 48,600 openings for plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force.

Concrete Skills. You’ll be trained to install pipes and fixtures. You’ll learn to repair and replace worn parts, and troubleshoot malfunctioning systems. You’ll also learn how to prepare cost estimates for clients, how to read blueprints and follow state and local building codes, and how to determine the material and equipment needed for a job.

Hands-on Training. It’s not just what you learn; it’s also how you learn it. If you’re a hands-on learner, then you’ll appreciate all the time you’ll get to spend in the lab working on real plumbing systems with actual industry equipment.

Soft Skills. We’ll teach you more than just core plumbing training; we’ll also help you understand how to work with professionals and customers in the industry. At Porter and Chester Institute, we’re proud of our students because they make great employees! Are you ready to get to work?

Prior to enrollment at the Institute, an applicant must have graduated from high school or have acquired a state high school equivalency diploma or graduated from a college degree program. Instruction is only offered in English, requiring proficiency in written and spoken English.

Applications for admission are accepted throughout the year. Students may begin classes in the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter. Students are encouraged to make early application for admission, as some forms of financial aid give preference to early applicants; and whenever aid is limited, it is made available to the first applicants.

Student from either delivery method could be assigned to the same on campus lab shifts. Campus lab hours are 7-2 and 6-10. Students taking day labs in the blended program need to plan on 2-3 lab sessions per week, based on course needs. Students taking evening labs in the blended program need to plan on 3 lab sessions per week and an occasional Saturday lab from 8-2. Lab schedules will be distributed to blended students prior to the start of each term. Residential students attend M-TH 7-2.

Students will need approximately 25 hours per week for instruction (whether online or on campus), activities and simulations and for on-campus lab work, with an additional six hours per week for reading assignments and other homework activities. For Blended classes, course materials, assignments, and homework are accessible in an asynchronous format 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week through the Learning Management System (LMS).

Day Schedule: Automotive Technology, Electrical Technology, HVACR, Low Voltage Technology, and Plumbing are typically scheduled over seven (7) hours per day (e.g., 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM) Monday-Thursday and include up to 60 minutes of scheduled breaks. Evening Schedule: they are typically scheduled Monday through Thursday over six (6) hours per day (e.g., 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM), to include an online day for a total of 24 hours per week.

Upcoming class starts published in the catalog's Program and Term Schedule are January 11, 2027; March 22, 2027; May 31, 2027; August 16, 2027; October 25, 2027; January 17, 2028; and March 27, 2028. If, in the opinion of the Institute, there is insufficient enrollment to make the class start of a program session or section feasible, the Institute reserves the right to cancel that class.

Tuition is $5,625 per term for 5 terms, for total tuition of $28,125. The Materials Fee is $2,720. Program fee by term: Term 1: $2,300; Terms 2–4 ($100 per term): $300; Term 5: $120.

Program fees may include materials, laboratory, technology, and graduation expenses. These fees are applied at various points throughout the student’s training, depending on the specific requirements of the program. All applicable fees are disclosed in the student’s Enrollment Agreement and are included as part of the overall cost of attendance. The Materials Fee covers all books, devices, tools, instruments, uniforms, supplies, and other materials that the students will receive from PCI during the course of their attendance in their program. Even if costs increase, students will never pay more than the fee specified in their Enrollment Agreement.

There are no additional charges for programs delivered via Distance Education (Hybrid or fully Online). After deducting all anticipated educational funding from the total charges for each term, any balance due to the Institute must be paid by the student out-of-pocket prior to the start of each term. Or, the student may request a monthly payment plan. The first payment on a monthly payment plan is due prior to the start of the first term.

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. Federal Title IV programs available to qualified students include Federal Direct Subsidized Loans, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Federal Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). PCI also participates in the Imagine America scholarship program and offers institutional grants and awards to specific student populations.

Veterans’ Benefits are only available for the residential version of this program. All Porter and Chester Institute campuses are approved to train veterans and their qualified dependents who are eligible for Veterans Administration educational benefits.

FAFSA code: 010779 (all PCI campuses other than Hamden). Use the Porter and Chester Institute Net Price Calculator to estimate how much your total career training program will cost you.

Cost of Attendance (COA). For federal student aid purposes, postsecondary institutions must estimate a student’s total cost of attending the institution for a specified period of time, as established by law. The COA includes tuition and fees; room and board (or an allowance for housing and food); an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and dependent care (if applicable); disability related expenses, and some miscellaneous expenses as well. Below is Porter and Chester’s estimate of a student’s cost of attendance, including estimated living expenses.

• Tuition and Fees: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)
• Books and Equipment: Included in the Student Services Fee (student living with parents); Included in the Student Services Fee (student with dependents)
• Room and Board: $906/month (student living with parents); $1576/month (student with dependents)
• Personal Expenses: $231/month (student living with parents); $353/month (student with dependents)
• Transportation: $348/month (student living with parents); $348/month (student with dependents)
• Loan Fees (other): $25/month (student living with parents); $25/month (student with dependents)
• Disability Costs: Actual (student living with parents); Actual (student with dependents)

The program provides the student with the knowledge and skills required for competent performance as an entry level Plumber. Graduates of the Plumbing program are usually hired for positions that carry titles such as field engineer or service technician (servicing equipment on the customer’s premises), Typically, these positions are found in the following industrial, commercial, or institutional firms - Gasoline Pumps; Water Supply Systems; Wells, and Well Pumps; Fixture Installations; Water Treatment Systems; Drainage Systems; Storm and Water Line Installations

Licensing and certification. This program has been approved at the CT campuses for the 720 “Related Instruction” hours required for the Connecticut P-2 license. Only courses passed with a grade of 75 or higher are counted toward Related Instruction hours. Candidates also need to accrue 8,000 hours of work in the field (approximately four years) prior to being eligible to apply to sit for the licensing exam. As part of their program, Porter and Chester students have the opportunity to earn their OSHA 30 certification.

Graduation and employment rates. From the 2025 ACCSC annual report, for the 10/2022-9/2023 start cohort at this campus, Plumbing reported a graduation rate of 52% and an employment rate of 71% (starting population 27, graduate population 14).

How these rates are calculated. Porter and Chester Institute calculates a Graduation Rate and an Employment Rate for each program using formulas specified by our accrediting agency, the Accrediting Commission for Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). The graduation rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period as the denominator, and as the numerator uses the number of students from that group who graduated within 150% of the program length. The employment rate formula uses a cohort of students who began school during a given 12 month reporting period and proceeded to graduate as the denominator. Those of the cohort whose self-reported employment in their field of training, or a related field has been verified by the school, form the numerator. The rate is calculated for the cohort after 150% of the program length has elapsed for all students in the cohort, with an additional three month allowance for placement related activities.

Graduation rate for the student body. The graduation rate for first-time full-time students who began their studies at Porter Chester Institute in Fall 2019 (310 students) and graduated within 150% of their program length (178 students) is 57.4%.

Where graduates work. Bridgeport campus graduates are working at employers such as Main Enterprises, Roto Rooter.

The Bridgeport campus consists of approximately 25,000 square feet of space. All classrooms are air - conditioned, brightly illuminated and tiled or carpeted. There is about 150,000 square feet of parking space on the premises. Each curriculum division operates its own reference library which contains appropriate resource materials and multimedia. All student workstations are equipped with the same kinds of tools, equipment, and instrumentation in current use by advanced industrial and commercial firms.

Students attending distance education courses in either a hybrid or fully online program may receive their online, didactic instruction from faculty assigned to various campuses and may be in online classes with students from other campuses. Weekly lesson planning among faculty ensures that all students in hybrid courses receive online didactic instruction that aligns with their on campus, hands-on labs and that each student is adequately supported.

Each term, each campus holds a mandatory online or on-campus New Student Orientation, specifically for the incoming student body. Key staff are on hand to share important information.