The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials is now a global industry partner of WorldSkills.

Founded in 1950, WorldSkills is a global organization that promotes vocational, technological and service-oriented education and training. The organization promotes more than 45 skilled careers in 75 member countries and regions, all working with youth, educators, governments, and industries to help prepare the workforce and talent of today for the jobs of the future.

For 90 years, IAPMO has been working with government and industry to implement comprehensive plumbing and mechanical systems around the world. As a global industry partner, IAPMO will expand its work of improving the health of people everywhere through the power of skills.

Education and training is at the core of IAPMO – developing plumbing and mechanical codes and training the professionals who install, design, and inspect them.

Like WorldSkills, IAPMO uses a consensus process in the development of qualification competency standards, to heighten the benchmark for plumbing and mechanical requirements. IAPMO also has a third-party certification program for piping trade professionals, as well as a plumbing and mechanical product testing and certification program.

“IAPMO is known as a global industry leader in the development of plumbing and mechanical standards, and hence a natural fit for WorldSkills in furthering skills development and skills excellence,” said Alexander Amiri, director of sponsorship and partnership for WorldSkills International. “Through the WorldSkills Foundations partnership with IAPMO on the Community Plumbing Challenge, we have supported IAPMO’s global vision for advancing access to clean water and sanitation as a basic human right, and we are excited to expand our alliance with them as a global industry partner.”

“As a WorldSkills Foundation Trustee since 2013, we believe IAPMO has gained a unique perspective on the design and delivery of skills development programs to further the WorldSkills vision and mission beyond the competition, particularly within communities in need,” said Dave Viola, IAPMO chief operating officer. “From our new position as a global partner, we are excited to continue building this expertise and pioneering further innovative collaborations across the WorldSkills global family, specifically in the areas of water, sanitation, and public health.”