3 answers
Michaela
Student
1
Question
Asked
675 views
How do i become a professional welder?
I know the basics of welding but I want learn about the other types of welding and how to read welding blueprint. #skills
Login to comment
3 answers
naveen bharadwaj
Tech support
94
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
naveen’s Answer
Follow the steps below to pursue a welding career:
1. Research the different types of welding jobs.
2. Take welding courses.
3. Earn your welding certificate.
4. Gain hands-on experience.
5. Become a certified welder.
6. Begin your job search.
1. Research the different types of welding jobs
Before becoming a welder, you should research the different welding options available. This can help you learn which tasks and responsibilities of specific welding positions best align with your strengths and abilities. Since the responsibilities of various welding careers can vary, different training or certifications are required.
Researching the tasks each welding career entails can help you gain a better understanding of what type of education and training you should pursue. You can also research different welding jobs to learn which duties you may enjoy completing.
Related: The Essential Job Search Guide
2. Take welding courses
Once you've chosen the type of welding career you'd like to pursue, research what the educational requirements are for that specialty. Most welding careers require a high school diploma or GED. If your high school offers welding courses, take these to learn more about the various types of welding. It's also best to take math courses that complement welding, like geometry, since welding often involves measuring dimensions.
3. Earn your welding certificate
After receiving a high school education, you can pursue further education by enrolling in welding certificate programs or community college. Welding certificate programs typically last approximately six months to two years and can help you build your general knowledge of welding duties and responsibilities. Some welders, based on their specialty, may choose to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Welding.
4. Gain hands-on experience
Once you've gained accreditation as a welder, you can begin hands-on training through an apprenticeship for the specific type of welding you hope to pursue. With an apprenticeship, you can shadow and complete supervised work to learn more about the regular schedule and responsibilities of a welder.
Once you've completed your apprenticeship, you can either stay with the company you served the apprenticeship for if they allow it, or you can take this experience and apply it to a new, full-time welding position.
5. Become a certified welder
Before you work full time, you will need to become certified to complete the specific type of welding you're aiming to pursue. There are many certifications available to welders, depending on the skillset you earn and the welding career you plan to work in. The main certification employers will require is the basic AWS Certified Welder certification.
You will take an exam to earn this certification, which is offered at many AWS Accredited Testing Facilities. There aren't any requirements needed to take this exam. It will consist of a written portion as well as an examination of your welding skill and performance.
6. Begin your job search
Once you've received the necessary education, training and experience, you can start searching for welding positions. Look for job postings online to find jobs that match your current skills or experience. You can highlight these skills in your resume. List each skill within your job experience using detailed and specific examples.
You can also include your skills in a specific section of your resume. Try to feature the skills listed on the job posting within your resume.
Welder FAQs
Below are common questions about becoming a welder:
What types of welding are available?
• Arc welding: Employees often use this type of welding when working in construction and manufacturing to weld larger and thicker materials together. It's also referred to as "stick welding" and involves basic fusion practices.
• MIG welding: As one of the most popular welding practices, MIG welding involves fusing stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. Many consider this the simplest type of welding to learn. Many employers will require welders to know this type of welding.
• TIG welding: This is one of the more complex welding types to learn. It uses tungsten inert gas to create fusions that are considered more high-quality than others. This welding type often requires higher-level education, training or certifications.
• Hyperbaric welding: Hyperbaric welding can be conducted in a dry environment, but the same method can be used when welding underwater. Workers who learn this specific type of welding can work on ships, pipelines and oil platforms.
• Oxyacetylene welding: Steel melts from this type of welding using acetylene gas and oxygen. It can be used for maintenance or cutting of various metal types.
1. Research the different types of welding jobs.
2. Take welding courses.
3. Earn your welding certificate.
4. Gain hands-on experience.
5. Become a certified welder.
6. Begin your job search.
1. Research the different types of welding jobs
Before becoming a welder, you should research the different welding options available. This can help you learn which tasks and responsibilities of specific welding positions best align with your strengths and abilities. Since the responsibilities of various welding careers can vary, different training or certifications are required.
Researching the tasks each welding career entails can help you gain a better understanding of what type of education and training you should pursue. You can also research different welding jobs to learn which duties you may enjoy completing.
Related: The Essential Job Search Guide
2. Take welding courses
Once you've chosen the type of welding career you'd like to pursue, research what the educational requirements are for that specialty. Most welding careers require a high school diploma or GED. If your high school offers welding courses, take these to learn more about the various types of welding. It's also best to take math courses that complement welding, like geometry, since welding often involves measuring dimensions.
3. Earn your welding certificate
After receiving a high school education, you can pursue further education by enrolling in welding certificate programs or community college. Welding certificate programs typically last approximately six months to two years and can help you build your general knowledge of welding duties and responsibilities. Some welders, based on their specialty, may choose to continue their education and pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Welding.
4. Gain hands-on experience
Once you've gained accreditation as a welder, you can begin hands-on training through an apprenticeship for the specific type of welding you hope to pursue. With an apprenticeship, you can shadow and complete supervised work to learn more about the regular schedule and responsibilities of a welder.
Once you've completed your apprenticeship, you can either stay with the company you served the apprenticeship for if they allow it, or you can take this experience and apply it to a new, full-time welding position.
5. Become a certified welder
Before you work full time, you will need to become certified to complete the specific type of welding you're aiming to pursue. There are many certifications available to welders, depending on the skillset you earn and the welding career you plan to work in. The main certification employers will require is the basic AWS Certified Welder certification.
You will take an exam to earn this certification, which is offered at many AWS Accredited Testing Facilities. There aren't any requirements needed to take this exam. It will consist of a written portion as well as an examination of your welding skill and performance.
6. Begin your job search
Once you've received the necessary education, training and experience, you can start searching for welding positions. Look for job postings online to find jobs that match your current skills or experience. You can highlight these skills in your resume. List each skill within your job experience using detailed and specific examples.
You can also include your skills in a specific section of your resume. Try to feature the skills listed on the job posting within your resume.
Welder FAQs
Below are common questions about becoming a welder:
What types of welding are available?
• Arc welding: Employees often use this type of welding when working in construction and manufacturing to weld larger and thicker materials together. It's also referred to as "stick welding" and involves basic fusion practices.
• MIG welding: As one of the most popular welding practices, MIG welding involves fusing stainless steel, mild steel and aluminum. Many consider this the simplest type of welding to learn. Many employers will require welders to know this type of welding.
• TIG welding: This is one of the more complex welding types to learn. It uses tungsten inert gas to create fusions that are considered more high-quality than others. This welding type often requires higher-level education, training or certifications.
• Hyperbaric welding: Hyperbaric welding can be conducted in a dry environment, but the same method can be used when welding underwater. Workers who learn this specific type of welding can work on ships, pipelines and oil platforms.
• Oxyacetylene welding: Steel melts from this type of welding using acetylene gas and oxygen. It can be used for maintenance or cutting of various metal types.
Sheila Jordan
Lead Network Proj/Prog Manager
711
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Sheila’s Answer
Hi Michaela:
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. They also fill holes, indentations, or seams in metal products.
HOW TO BECOME A WELDER
A high school diploma or equivalent, combined with technical and on-the-job training, is typically required for anyone to become a welder, cutter, solderer, or brazer. High school technical education courses and postsecondary institutions, such as vocational–technical institutes, community colleges, and private welding, soldering, and brazing schools offer formal technical training. In addition, the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces operate welding and soldering schools.
Courses in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, and metallurgy are helpful.
An understanding of electricity also is helpful, and knowledge of computers is gaining importance as welding, soldering, and brazing machine operators become more responsible for programming robots and other computer-controlled machines.
Although numerous employers are willing to hire inexperienced entry-level workers and train them on the job, many prefer to hire workers who have been through training or credentialing programs. Even entry-level workers with formal technical training still receive several months of on-the-job training.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATIONS
Courses leading to certification are offered at many welding schools. For example, the American Welding Society offers the Certified Welder designation.
Some welding positions require general certification in welding or certification in specific skills, such as Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Robotic Arc Welding. I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!
How to Become a Welder • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm#tab-4
Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers use hand-held or remotely controlled equipment to join or cut metal parts. They also fill holes, indentations, or seams in metal products.
HOW TO BECOME A WELDER
A high school diploma or equivalent, combined with technical and on-the-job training, is typically required for anyone to become a welder, cutter, solderer, or brazer. High school technical education courses and postsecondary institutions, such as vocational–technical institutes, community colleges, and private welding, soldering, and brazing schools offer formal technical training. In addition, the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces operate welding and soldering schools.
Courses in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, and metallurgy are helpful.
An understanding of electricity also is helpful, and knowledge of computers is gaining importance as welding, soldering, and brazing machine operators become more responsible for programming robots and other computer-controlled machines.
Although numerous employers are willing to hire inexperienced entry-level workers and train them on the job, many prefer to hire workers who have been through training or credentialing programs. Even entry-level workers with formal technical training still receive several months of on-the-job training.
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS & REGISTRATIONS
Courses leading to certification are offered at many welding schools. For example, the American Welding Society offers the Certified Welder designation.
Some welding positions require general certification in welding or certification in specific skills, such as Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Robotic Arc Welding. I hope this was helpful. Best of luck to you!
Sheila recommends the following next steps:
Melissa Silverstein
SEO & Paid Media Director
3
Answers
Rutherford, New Jersey
Updated
Melissa’s Answer
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has useful information for a variety of careers, including welding (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm#tab-4). According to their website, a high school diploma combined with technical and on-the-job training is typically required for anyone to become a welder. However, while some employers are willing to hire entry-level workers and train them on the job, many employers will prefer to high workers who have been through formal technical training. You could choose to pursue training via high school technical education courses, vocational–technical institutes, community colleges, or a private welding school. Helpful course may include blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical drawing, physics, chemistry, and metallurgy.
Look up schools offering welding training in your area.
Melissa recommends the following next steps: