NCCER Certification Plumbing Syllabus

Plumbing syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Plumbing in NCCER Certification, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Plumbing Safety, Tools, and Math

   3 topics

   • Plumbing Safety Practices
     • Trenching and excavation safety
     • Confined space and gas hazards
   • Plumbing Tools
     • Cutting, threading, and joining tools
     • Test and measuring instruments
   • Plumbing Math and Measurement
2. 2

   Pipe, Fittings, and Valves

   3 topics

   • Plastic Pipe and Fittings
     • PVC, CPVC, PEX, and ABS
     • Solvent welding and crimp/expansion joints
   • Metallic Pipe and Fittings
     • Copper soldering and pressing
     • Steel and cast-iron pipe
   • Valves and Their Applications
3. 3

   Drain, Waste, and Vent (DWV) Systems

   3 topics

   • DWV Theory
     • Traps, vents, and trap seals
     • Fixture units and pipe sizing
   • Slope, Cleanouts, and Installation
   • Testing and Inspection of DWV
4. 4

   Water Supply and Fixtures

   3 topics

   • Water Distribution Systems
     • Cold and hot water sizing
     • Backflow prevention and cross-connection control
   • Fixture Installation and Trim
   • Water Heaters and Pressure Controls

Plumbing flashcards for NCCER Certification

23 of 57 cards from the Plumbing deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the primary purpose of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) on a plumbing job site?

   To provide information on a chemical's hazards, safe handling, storage, first aid, and emergency/spill procedures.

2. What does 'lockout/tagout' (LOTO) accomplish before servicing equipment?

   It isolates and de-energizes energy sources (electrical, water, gas) and tags them so the equipment cannot be turned on while being worked on.

3. When working in a trench 5 feet or deeper, what OSHA protection is generally required?

   A protective system such as sloping, shoring, or a trench box (shielding) to prevent cave-ins.

4. What personal protective equipment is required when soldering or brazing copper pipe?

   Safety glasses/face protection, gloves, and adequate ventilation to avoid inhaling flux fumes.

5. What is the main danger of a confined space such as a sewer manhole or tank?

   Oxygen-deficient or toxic/explosive atmosphere; it requires atmospheric testing, ventilation, and a permit before entry.

6. Why must plumbers be cautious about cross-connections in a water system?

   A cross-connection can allow contaminated water to backflow into the potable supply, causing health hazards.

7. What tool is used to cut copper tubing squarely and leave a clean burr-free edge?

   A tube cutter (with the burr removed by a reamer).

8. What is the purpose of a reamer on a pipe?

   To remove the inside burr after cutting so the burr does not restrict flow or cause turbulence.

9. What wrench is specifically designed to turn threaded steel pipe and fittings?

   A pipe wrench (Stillson wrench), which grips harder as more force is applied.

10. Why should two pipe wrenches be used when tightening or loosening a threaded joint in a run?

    One acts as a backup wrench to hold the fitting steady and prevent twisting/loosening adjacent joints.

11. What tool cuts external threads onto steel pipe?

    A pipe threader (die and stock).

12. What is the function of a basin wrench?

    To reach and turn faucet supply nuts in tight spaces behind a sink/lavatory.

13. What hand tool is used to clear clogs by physically breaking up or retrieving an obstruction in a drain?

    A drain/sewer auger (snake).

14. In plumbing math, what is the formula for the area of a circle?

    A = pi * r^2 (pi times the radius squared).

15. How do you convert a fraction of an inch like 3/8 to a decimal?

    Divide the numerator by the denominator: 3 / 8 = 0.375 inch.

16. What is the 'take-off' (make-up) in pipe measurement?

    The distance the pipe is engaged into a fitting, which must be subtracted from the end-to-end (face-to-face) measurement to get the cut length.

17. What is the constant used to find the travel of a 45-degree offset given the offset (rise)?

    Travel = offset x 1.414 (the 45-degree constant).

18. How do you calculate the volume of water in a pipe or tank in cubic feet?

    Volume = area of the cross-section x length (for a cylinder, pi * r^2 * length).

19. How many gallons are in one cubic foot of water?

    Approximately 7.48 gallons.

20. What does Pythagorean theorem give a plumber when laying out offsets?

    The travel (hypotenuse): a^2 + b^2 = c^2, where the rise and run are the legs.

21. Name three common types of plastic pipe used in plumbing and one typical use of each.

    PVC (cold water/DWV), CPVC (hot and cold water), and PEX (flexible water distribution); ABS is also used for DWV.

22. How is rigid PVC or ABS plastic pipe joined?

    With solvent cement (chemical weld) — primer then cement for PVC; cement only for ABS.

23. Why is primer used before solvent cementing PVC pipe?

    It softens/cleans the surface so the cement can chemically fuse the pipe and fitting properly.

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