Phoenix launches first-ever Spanish-language plumbing certification program

Versión en español

Mizael Garcia has worked in the plumbing industry for over 20 years. 

The 49-year-old Arizona-native found his way back to his home state from Minnesota in 2000 and soon after began working in the trade, leading him to discover a passion for giving back to others through teaching.

Garcia is a plumbing instructor at the National Technical Institute (NTI) in Phoenix, a trade school operating in Arizona, Nevada and Texas that specializes in HVAC, electrical and plumbing skill-building.

A fluent Spanish speaker, Garcia has seen firsthand the barriers that native Spanish speakers can face when attempting to get jobs or get certified in the field.

As a full-time instructor at NTI for nearly a year, Garcia looks forward to assisting students whose preferred language is Spanish as the technical institute prepares to roll out its Spanish language plumbing program — a first of its kind for the trade school, for the city of Phoenix and for the state of Arizona, according to Jeff Kozloski, the Phoenix campus director.

“They’re adding a Spanish program. I learned to speak Spanish before I could speak English, so I’m even more excited,” Garcia said.

The state-approved 16-week course will begin on June 18. Registration is now open for students.

While Garcia won’t be teaching the initial course, which will be taught once a week at night, his knowledge in the field has been the driving force behind the development of the program, creating a course plan that mirrors the current classes he already teaches in English but that also incorporates the cultural nuances of Spanish speakers — which isn’t without its challenges.

“Most of the problems that we find is that the actual terminology here in the States is different… For example, if we’re talking about a garbage disposal, in (Spanish-speaking countries) a lot of people know them as ‘trituradores de comida’, but in the States no one will understand that,” he said. 

They plan on shifting the teaching style to include a bit of Spanglish, he said. Instead of using the correct terminology, Garcia said they’re going to use the term that everyone understands. “Vamos a trabajar con el ‘garbage disposal,’” he offered as an example.

Kozloski added that Garcia’s work in developing the certification has been essential, working with George Medina, the primary instructor and a plumber with over 35 years of experience, to offer a program of the highest quality, just like its English-language counterpart.

The program is directed at independent contractors who are looking to expand their knowledge in the field, like a granite worker who wants to learn how to install a sink and a garbage disposal when hired to do a kitchen job; recent high school graduates who are looking to start working in the field; or people who simply want to learn the skill and see where it takes them.

According to Kozloski, students are treated like family and the institution’s end goal is to supply these industries with certified individuals ready to deliver, either for their own business or that of Arizona contractors.

“We are playing a big part in this life-changing, learning moment,” Garcia said. “Once they get the job with their shirts on, they send me pictures… it becomes more of a friendship and I love that part of it.”

The course will begin on June 18 as a 16-week program where students will spend every Wednesday night in a classroom setting doing labs and hands-on work, while outside of the classroom, they will be required to complete three to four hours a week in coursework.

The cost of the program ranges between $8,000 and $10,000, Kozloski said. NTI offers several financing options, including special financing for veterans, scholarships and student loans.

By the end of the four-month program, students will receive a certificate as entry-level technicians in plumbing, a tool bag filled with $500 worth of equipment and an EPA certification. It's a one-stop shop, Kozloski said, offering life skills and all the certifications necessary for graduates to enter the industry.

“I’m really excited about the Spanish program… I just feel like it will give a lot to the community. A lot of the plumbers that came to me, knocking on my door when I had my company, most of them were Spanish-speaking, so I think we’re going to hit the nail on the head right there.

Kozloski said the plumbing certification is the first Spanish-language course offered by the institute, but the goal is to offer one for each trade. The electrical course will launch in December and HVAC early in 2026, he said.