Professional Welders

[nuclassic]

Hi y'all,

I'm trying to find out what school or certifications I need to obtain to be a proficient welder. I'm not looking to run any machines, just to be able to weld with TIG,MIG and stick. My goal is to have enough certifications to be able to get a job with it if need be, but I'm starting at ground zero. I had a few classes in high school on stick welding but that was it. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

NC

 

[xr75er]

check out your local comunity college.

 

[shane96ranger]

I agree, check your Community College. My Dad used to be a welder some 20 years ago, and obtained all of his training and certificates through the Trade School, which has now become a Community College.

 

[Jody]

An AWS Welding Certification is usually sought after by welders with several years experience in welding. Though you can just register for the test and go take it at any time. The AWS Welding Certification must be re-certified every 6 months by filing the correct paperwork signed off by your employer proving that you are currently using the applicable welding standards.

You do not need any certifications to get an entry level weld job. Most employers issue you their own "weld certification" upon completion of their weld school. Those certifications are useless outside of the company that issues them.

A lot of the bigger manufacturing companies will hire you as a welder with your current credentials (high school welding class). They have their own weld school, usually a two week crash course. You will just need to be able to lay a half decent bead to pass their hiring/weld test which you will likely pass if you have any idea what it is like to lay a simple bead.

Many vocational schools, colleges and other adult education institutions offer welding. If they offer more than one class I would recommend going to the school and speaking to the instructor before enrolling. My local college has basic and advanced welding classes were the advanced class covers all the same material as the basic class and more, meaning that either class is suitable for an introduction to welding but you will get much more out of an advanced class.

Going the school route will let you learn about weld theory as well as hands on learning how to use Stick, MIG, TIG, Brazing, Plasma, Oxy/Ace etc. depending on the class. Again speak to the instructor before you enroll.

If you go to an employer weld school you will most likely only learn how to run beads with a MIG. Then if you get pretty good at it, have a little luck, and the employer has a need for someone with skills in other forms of welding like TIG, they may train you for that process as well.

Edit: Employers will pay for certifications and schools that they require you to have.

 

[wayfast73]

There is a lot of different certifications it all depends. If you are trying to get into structual work you will have to take a test with the D1.1 code which will usually be 3vertical up and overhead beveled joints with 7018. Then they will do 3 seperate root bends and 3 face bends. There is a test for pipe which I believe is 6010 6G, and I know there are certs for tig and flux core. Best bet is to go to a community college. I took welding in Highschool my junior and senior year and thought I had the basics down, and then I got to college.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I have a friend that thought he knew how to weld because he had been doing it for 10/12 years. [edit; and his welds looked awesome] Then he decided to get certified in pipe [oilfield] and learned how much he didn't know. I would suggest going to school, the more you know the better off you'll be. Apprenticing is another option.

 

[wayfast73]

I have a friend that thought he knew how to weld because he had been doing it for 10/12 years. [edit; and his welds looked awesome] Then he decided to get certified in pipe [oilfield] and learned how much he didn't know. I would suggest going to school, the more you know the better off you'll be. Apprenticing is another option.

Exactly. I took a semester class on passing the structual test, It was real easy to make a nice looking root pass and fill and cap it, but the bend test said otherwise.

 

[nuclassic]

Thank you for all your replies guys. I really appreciate it.