Alors, I am in fact a plumber in France. I know this thread is a little old but thought I would chuck my deux centimes into the ring.
The excellent 4 post thread by Plaousne covers the most of it I think, and covers it pretty well.
There are differences between the 2 systems, some minor and some not so minor.
Yes, brazing is pretty much the only way to be accepted here as a plumber, what we do in the UK is known as DIY plumbing over here.
The process of starting up has been made "easier" with changes in the law, including the creation of the statut of "auto-entrepreneur." in reality, nothing has changed, its still incredibly painful, but if you want to, then its possible.
Be VERY aware that there are many different offices involved in setting up your own business, and none of them talk to each other, and I will now give you a small (one of thousands) example.
I had set up my own business and was working, having not gone through the Chambre Des Metiers at all, but through Le Greffe. All was done, my SIRET number was given, I started work. A few weeks later I received a call from the Chambre Des Metiers, telling me I needed to forward all my paperwork to them so that I could register with them. My plea's that all had already been sent fell on typically deaf ears, so I duly did as asked. I was also told I needed to phone a number in Paris, so they could tell me the equivalent qualification in France. I called said number, woman told me "nothing to do with me guv, thats down to the Chambre Des Metiers to sort out, by official edict of the Minister of Commerce since 28 October 2009. I called my local CDM to inform them, and they refused to even listen to me. "Non non non Monsieur" thats not our job, its them in Paris.
This impasse lasted a good few weeks before finally the CDM admitted that they weren't aware of this.
I would take issue with the fact that the French hate working on the black. The French government hate this, as obviously they lose revenue, but the rank and file Frenchy does it all the time. Yes there are fines and imprisonment penalties in place, but they all do it nonetheless.
All in all, although things are hard here, I was very lucky to move to a place where there are only 2 plumbers covering a very large area. I'm struggling at the moment starting off on my own, but there is no way I would move back to the saturated market that is the UK.
Do it, dont be on your deathbed saying "I wonder what would have happened if we'd gone."
