"BIDDEFORD — Biddeford Regional Center of Technology graduate Nate Leary of Saco became the first high school graduate in the State of Maine to pass the State’s journeyman plumbing exam through a new career pathway option created by state legislation. Passed last year, the legislation allows graduates from Career and Technical Education plumbing programs to take the journeyman plumbing test upon graduation and become a journeyman-in-training.
“What a fantastic opportunity for high schools students,” said Brad Harding, former plumbing instructor for the plumbing program at Biddeford, in his press release. “CTEs are really diamonds in the rough, there is just so much potential for the students.”
Nate graduated from Biddeford’s Regional Center of Technology’s plumbing program in 2017. He is currently employed at Jim Godbout’s Plumbing & Heating. Owner Jim Godbout has been a major force in getting the plumbing program started at Biddeford Regional Center of Technology.
Paul Kennedy, the Lewiston CTE plumbing instructor, who was instrumental in getting the legislation passed into law said, “Maine businesses see it as a long overdue for schools to focus on preparing students for the world of work in the trades. There is a shortage of plumbers and while there is no one solution for this problem, a strong start is the job training program we have right in our CTEs.
An act to provide a Career and Technical Education Training Option for plumbers was approved for public law by the governor on March 24, 2017. After working one complete year in the trade under a Master Plumber, the student can transition from a JIT to a journeyman plumber.
Nate took the plumbing code course offered by Brad Harding as a refresher to help prepare him for the test. Brad Harding offers plumbing code courses throughout the year to help plumbers pass the State journey or master plumbing exam. "