The responsibilities of a plumber in Ontario can include laying out and installing piping and fixtures, assembling water and waste systems and interpreting blueprints and design drawings. Plumbers in Ontario must have a Certificate of Qualification given by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. As of 2010, 70 percent of plumbers in Ontario work in the construction industry and the average journeyman plumber in Ontario made CA $43.50 ($42.50) an hour.

Find an experienced plumber willing to take you on as an apprentice.

Contact and Ontario Workplace Training Branch Apprenticeship office. Once you have found an experienced, certified plumber willing to take you on as an apprentice, inform your local Workplace Training Branch Apprenticeship office. They will send a consultant to meet with you and your employer to assess and approve the apprenticeship arrangement.

Work as an apprentice. To qualify for certification, you must gain 9,000 hours of work experience. This usually takes about five years.

Complete your classroom training. In addition to the apprenticeship requirements, you must also complete an approximately 720-hour classroom training program. Most candidates complete this training on a part-time basis so that they can continue working as an apprentice. Training programs are offered by community colleges and include courses in welding, safety and plumbing codes.

Apply for your provisional certificate of qualification. Once you have completed your required apprenticeship and classroom training, you can apply for a provisional certificate of qualification. Apply for your certificate through your local Workplace Training Branch Apprenticeship office.

Pass your certification exam. Make an appointment at your local Workplace Training Branch Apprenticeship office to take your qualification exam. The three-hour, multiple choice exam tests your knowledge of workplace tasks. As of 2010, the fee to take the exam is CA $100 ($98). Your full certificate of qualification will be mailed to you once you pass this exam.