How the USA Elite Trades Championship and International Code Council Collaboration is Elevating Standards in the Industry
The Plumbing National Championship is instrumental in advancing the plumbing industry by showcasing exceptional skills and promoting adherence to the highest standards of practice.
The ServiceTitan Elite Trades Championship is a prominent event across the skilled trades industries, celebrating the expertise and craftsmanship of professionals across multiple disciplines, including plumbing, electrical work and HVAC.
Organized by ServiceTitan, a leading software provider for the trades, and sponsored by the International Code Council’s Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas (PMG) team, this championship brings together top talent from various regions to compete and showcase their skills.
The qualifying rounds for the 2025 ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship are being held throughout the year:
Round 1 Digital Quiz Presented by Trane (March 1 – June 30)
- Competitors will enter the competition via a 5-minute Online Digital Quiz, with questions provided by NATE, during a 4-month period.
Round 2 At Home Challenge Presented by Johnstone Supply (August)
- A narrowed field of competitors, (38) Professionals and (38) Apprentices, from the round 1 digital quiz will be sent an at home kit that tests the competitors skills.
The National Championship Finals will be held in West Palm Beach, FL in October, welcoming the top 10 students and top 10 professional HVAC technicians to compete in a one of a kind-built competition arena at the Palm Beach Convention Center.
Event Structure and Challenges
During this event, contestants faced a series of complex challenges designed to test their abilities in several key areas of plumbing, including:
- Installation: Participants demonstrated their proficiency in assembling and installing plumbing systems, adhering to precise specifications and safety standards.
- Maintenance and Repair: Competitors had to diagnose and fix common plumbing issues, showcasing their problem-solving skills and knowledge of current best practices.
- Innovation and Efficiency: Tasks involved designing or modifying systems to enhance water conservation and energy efficiency, highlighting the industry’s move towards sustainable practices.
Judges, including industry experts such as Code Council’s own Gary Gauthier, Director, PMG Technical Resources, evaluated contestants based on criteria such as accuracy, adherence to code, speed and overall craftsmanship.
Winning the championship not only brings prestige to the individuals but also to their employers and regions, spotlighting areas with strong vocational training programs. The competition promotes the importance of technical education and apprenticeship in building a skilled workforce, aligning with national efforts to address labor shortages in skilled trades.
To learn more about the 2025 competition, click here.
Plumbing National Championship
The Plumbing National Championship stands as a prestigious event in the United States, where the finest plumbing professionals from across the nation compete to demonstrate their skill and mastery of the trade.
Hosted annually, this championship gathers participants from various regions, offering a vibrant platform for showcasing the technical prowess and innovative solutions of the country’s best plumbers.
The competition invites participants from all parts of the United States, representing a broad spectrum of geographic and demographic backgrounds.
Regional qualifiers typically precede the national event, allowing top performers from local competitions to advance. This inclusive approach ensures a diverse array of talents and techniques, reflecting the varied challenges and practices encountered in different areas.
Organized by industry leaders, this annual competition gathers the best plumbers from various regions to showcase their technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities and adherence to safety protocols.
The qualifying rounds for the 2025 Plumbing National Championship are being held throughout the year:
Round 1 Digital Qualifier (February – June)
- Round 1 online competitions will take place via the PNC website over a 18-week period crowning winners that will advance to the next round.
Round 2 At-Home Challenge (June – July)
- Round 2 will be a hands-on challenge. Each contestant will receive a kit delivered to their homes, containing materials for constructing a pressure-tested copper pipe fixture. This task demands a diverse set of plumbing skills for successful completion. The top 5 contestants will progress to the finals.
The finals will take place in West Palm Beach, FL in September. To learn more about the 2025 competition, click here.
The Plumbing National Championship has garnered significant interest beyond the professional community. Many events are available for public viewing, both in-person and through live streams. This accessibility allows a broader audience, including aspiring plumbers and enthusiasts, to witness the competition and gain insights into the trade.
Moreover, the championship serves as a valuable educational platform, offering participants and spectators insights into the evolving plumbing industry standards and technologies. It highlights the critical role of plumbing in ensuring public health and safety, reinforcing the need for ongoing professional development in this essential trade.
Code Council Sponsorship
A key aspect of the championship is its emphasis on standards and best practices, which is where the Code Council’s sponsorship plays a crucial role.
The Code Council, renowned for developing the widely adopted International Plumbing Code® (IPC), partners with championship organizers to ensure the competition incorporates the latest advancements and compliance standards in plumbing. This collaboration not only enhances the technical rigor of the event but also highlights the critical importance of current training and certification for plumbing professionals.
The Plumbing National Championship is instrumental in advancing the plumbing industry by showcasing exceptional skills and promoting adherence to the highest standards of practice. The Code Council’s involvement guarantees that the competition remains relevant and impactful, driving the growth and development of plumbing professionals across the nation.
To access the Code Council’s PMG-related resources, click here. To subscribe to the PMG newsletter, click here.
About the Author
Jim Cika, director, PMG technical resources for the International Code Council, where he serves as a subject matter expert to the plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas codes. He represents ICC in federal and state coalitions, task forces, committees, and councils where expertise in I-Code subjects is required. Cika has more than 20 years of experience in the manufacturing and construction industry where he has served as chief technical expert for regulatory, product standards, building code and product engineering matters.
Gary has over 40 years of experience working within the Construction and Plumbing Industry. He is a seasoned Construction Project Manager as well as a Licensed Master Plumber in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
In addition, Gary holds an Unrestricted Construction Supervisor’s License (CSL) within the state of Massachusetts and completely understands the significance of code correlation. Lastly, while working with the International Code Council, he is currently an Adult Educational Master Plumbing & Fuel Gas Instructor and Continuing Education Instructor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Member of the International Code Council PMG Team responsible for developing, coordinating, directing and implementing programs to ensure the successful completion of the Government Relations goals and objectives as they apply to the International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and the International Private Sewage Disposal Code (and related services and programs of the International Code Council).
Tom Roberts is the Director of PMG Global operations with the International Code Council. Prior to this role, Tom was the Director responsible for the Plumbing Code of Australia with the Australian Building Codes Board. Tom is also the chair of Standards Australia’s WS-014 committee responsible for the AS/NZS 3500 series of Australian and New Zealand Standards.
