Ensuring Texans have plumbers for the next disaster

A ribbon-cutting held Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Texas State Technical College’s Waco campus marked the opening of a high-tech testing facility for licensing by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (TSBPE).

TSTC, the state’s leader in technical education, and TSBPE have joined forces to provide a greater and more efficient method of administering exams for Texas plumbers. The testing facility houses areas for both written and practical exams, including 1/5-scale models of residential structures in the framing stage to test applicants’ knowledge of plumbing. TSTC administrative officials and faculty members were joined by TSBPE board chair Frank S. Denton, state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, and others for the ribbon-cutting.

Mike Reeser, Chancellor & CEO of TSTC, noted that last February’s winter storm underscored the value of plumbers and brought to light the shortage of these skilled craftspeople in a state that is rapidly growing.

“That blizzard met head-on with a lack of qualified talent, and Texans suffered,” he said. “Frank Denton called TSTC and said, ‘Could we get together and solve some of these problems?’ So, less than a year ago that happened, and here we are today cutting the ribbon on a remote testing facility — the first of its kind in Texas.”

Denton noted that TSTC and TSBPE, as two state agencies, worked together seamlessly to get the testing facility built.

“Needless to say, what we’re doing here today is just going to absolutely change the dynamics of the plumbing industry in Texas,” Denton said. “When Mike and I first met, it was apparent from 15 minutes from the time we began talking that our goals and objectives were exactly the same.”