It took me 7 years.....

[Pipefitter]

At 46 years of age I made a career change, joined the plumber and pipefitters union. A 5 year program of school twice a week and working to get on the job training. As you all know the economy had tanked in the last few years and construction jobs were few and far between. It took me 7 years to get the required amount of hours to pass a five year program (passed the schooling with a 3.90GPA) and finally had the extra cash to take the licensing test. A three hour test took me 1 hour and 18 minutes, and I ACED IT!!!!!! Time to celebrate with a glass or 2 of the single malt I have been hoarding for a special occasion.....

[PS Paul]

Congratulations, man!

[Plate plinker]

Great news. Things are picking up some around our area south of you.

[slim1836]

Way to go, congrats.

Slim

[Mica_Hiebert]

Congrats! Good things come to those who wai... work their *** off for it!

[Pablo 5959]

Pipefitters is a good move, at least most still speak English.
congrats.

[CastingFool]

Congrats, Pipefitter! That is quite an accomplishment.

[DCM]

Congratulations!

[ph4570]

Good on ya!

[lightman]

Congratulations! Enjoy that drink, you earned it!

[rancher1913]

so was that a journyman test or a master test.

[Blackwater]

Good on ya' Pipefitter. Having to change professions in mid life isn't easy, but it's worth it. You ARE in command of your life, and there's no substitute for that. It's tough, but sure leads a man to be proud of himself, and nothing makes a man more satisfied that meeting a challenge head on and conquering it.

[Artful]

Brave move - Congratulations on the completion of your formal education -
May you now reap the rewards of all that hard work.

[dtknowles]

Bravo

[xs11jack]

An admirble achievement, congratulations. Plumbing and pipefitting is a trade that will be outsourced to some strange country where they talk funny.
Ole Jack

[redriverhunter]

congratulations, glad for you.
rrh

[Rustyleee]

Congratulations!

[shoot-n-lead]

Congratulations!

Man, you made my day. After watching all of the idiot politicians wanting to "give" everybody, everything...it is very refreshing to see someone that realizes that hard works pays off.

[Pipefitter]

so was that a journyman test or a master test.


That would be the journeyman teat.

[facetious]

Congratulations!

I got a apprenticeship as a web pressman in 1979 (took five years, I was 22 when I started) and have been working printing newspapers for 37 years now.

When I was in high school learning a trade was seen as being as good going to collage. Then somewhere along the way having your kid going to school to learn a trade was seen as low class or some thing and every one sent the kids off to collage to get some useless arts degree so thy could move back home and live in the basement. The guys that learned a trade always had a job and made good money doing it.

IMHO we need we need more apprenticeships teaching skilled trades. Like me not every one was cut out for collage but are good with their hands.

[bullet maker 57]

Congratulations! That took guts.

[Greg S]

It's a long hall, and as an apprentice its not always easy in the first couple of brackets coming home and then going to night classes after you've been running around the job all day looking for a left handed smoke shifter and cutting torch. ;) Congrats. Master your craft.

[MrWolf]

Congratulations! Nice job and changing one's life like that is never easy.

[Wayne Smith]

Congratulations! Lot of them work around here - in the shipyards.

[41magjh]

Congratulations Pipefitter on your success. It's not a easy road to travel but you can not beat the training the unions give their members. I have an had a few uncles an cousins that belong to 195 in beaumont tx . May you enjoy it til you retire

[bedbugbilly]

Congratulations and a big "good for you"! It just shows what determination and hard work can accomplish - you should be very proud of your accomplishment and all the hard work you put in to it!

[smokeywolf]

Good going Pipefitter. Have known quite a few plumbers, pipefitters/steamfitters over the years; all good guys, good workers, good friends.
Also, regardless of technology, you might be able to plan fluid transfer using electronics and even use electronics to make the transfer of fluids more efficient, but it still takes pipes.

[flyingmonkey35]

Good on ya.

[bearcove]

Congratulations on turning out.

Rod
Local 412

[Pipefitter]

Local 172, South Bend, IN home of the Fighting Eyerash

[Nose Dive]

Good job son.

Nose Dive Local 211

Cheap, Fast, Good. Kindly pick two.

[fatnhappy]

Congrats.


You know the difference between a plumber and a steamfitter don't you?

Steamfitters can pick their noses at work.

[rancher1913]

was always thought that a plumber only needed to know three things, **** runs downhill, don't chew your nails, payday's on Friday.


don't take this the wrong way, pipefitter and the reason I can say it is I are one too.

[deep creek]

started my apprenticeship in sept of 1969 retired in may of 2007. being a fitter is a damn good trade!! my dad was a fitter so was my daddy in law.my brother just retired as a fitter.my two sons are fitter welders.youhave done well getting into the trade. plumbers and pipe fitters local 648 pocatello ,idaho

[clintsfolly]

My good friend is a pipe fitter. I joke with him and say the only difference in a pipe fitter and a plumber is the last day of their apprenticeship. Their make them stand neck deep in a cesspool and swing a ballbat at their head. Plumbers duck and Pipe fitters just stand and take it! Congratulations and have fun

[tim338]

Good job. It feels good to set a goal and see it to the end. I was in a very simular situation myself a few years ago so I can relate to how hard you worked to get where you are today and it ain't easy.

[TenTea]

Fine job fitter / caster!

Congratulations on reaping the rewards of your work, so far...

[MT Gianni]

Congratulations, I have been employed in the industry since 1980, apprenticed out of Pocatello and been in the gas industry since then.

[MtGun44]

Congrats on sticking to it.

Now go out there and fit some pipe! ;-)

[woodbutcher]

:grin: Outstanding sir.Congrats.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Frosty Boolit]

Maybe you can check with local 420 pipefillers for work

[Frosty Boolit]

Just kidding but that is a solid career choice. I am trained as HVAC with pipefutting as it used in refrigeration and I have found my training to be priceless in my life

[Lloyd Smale]

I give you lots of credit. Its not easy competeing with young men. Not as young as you but I decided at 30 years old that I wanted to be an electrical lineman. I loved the idea of working outside and making good money while doing it. I started an apprenticeship at 30 and in the school the next youngest man was 22. I was like a grandpa to those 18 year old guys. It wasn't easy and I was scrutinized more then the rest of them because most of my teachers were younger then me. I made it though and topped out and passed my test as a journeyman lineman 4 years later and a year after that was promoted to lead lineman. So I have lots of respect for what you did. Not one in a 1000 would have the nerve at that age to go after a dream. Most resign themselves to going to work every day at a job they hate because it pays the bills.