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Thinking to build a carrier as a certified welder? Well, it is not easy to become a welder, but once you go through the learning process, it will become more comfortable for you. It is a lucrative profession that opens the doorway in the construction, shipbuilding, automobile, and manufacturing sectors. Through the learning process, you will learn how you can fuse metal depending upon the requirement, strength, and specification. So let’s take a look at how you can become a certified welder;
1. Getting the High School Diploma
You can’t obtain certification in welding until and unless you have done a high school diploma. This profession requires a basic level of education so that as a welder, you can give your best in the industry. Most importantly, high school education serves as the essential criteria for an interview in any industry and also higher education in welding.
In addition, primary education includes science, so it also facilitates you to understand how welding works and various other factors. However, if you already have a high school diploma from any recognized university, then you won’t have to worry.
2. Enrolling in a Basic Certification Program
Welding is not a matter of joke, and it is a hands-on skill that you can only learn after you start welding by yourself. So the best way to learn to weld at a basic level is by enrolling in a certification program or basic-level classes that last for a few months. It is essential for readers who don’t have any experience, so it will provide them to build the base and have a mental preparation for welding.
In this program, you should learn the necessary welding skills and opt for basic welding tasks. In addition to welding skills, you should also get exposure to different welding machines that is important so that you can learn how to handle them.
3. Learn Different Types of Welding
Welding may seem just like a job that requires fuse metals, but there are a lot more than meets the eye. Different sectors require needs varied types of welding jobs, so you need to understand the type that will help you to grow, or you can learn all of them to secure your position. Let’s check out all those types;
- Metal inert gas welding – It is a popular type used mainly in shipyard, manufacturing, automotive, etc. sectors where metals are welded for structuring purposes. This type is used for fabricating aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. Due to its popularity, the demand for this job is also high, but it offers good pay.
- Tungsten gas welding – It is another popular welding process that is used to delivering top-notch welding for any metal. It requires a lot of skill as it is a slow process and mostly used for fabrication. It is a problematic welding process to learn, so you will have a massive chance of landing a job in excellent organizations.
- Shielded Metal arc welding – Often known as stick welding, it is easy to learn and affordable welding technique. It is commonly used in home renovation and construction sites, but it has huge competition.
Apart from these welding types, there are many other types you can learn to broaden up your skillset.
4. Taking Part in the Apprenticeship Program
Joining an apprenticeship program is a great way to put a start to your welding carrier. When you enroll yourself in an apprenticeship program, you get industrial-level hands-on welding experience that comes useful in the future. It is basically an on-job training curriculum where you are introduced to all the latest work practices.
However, in the beginning, you will only perform entry-level welding tasks, but this curriculum helps you to gain experience in welding. In the US, it takes almost three years for students to gain a “journey-man” rank in any apprenticeship program.
This program not only allows you to earn a salary from your work but also lets you get a job placement. It serves as a good base for aspirant welders to build skills and gain industrial welding experience. However, you won’t learn everything, but it acts as a foundation for you to allow you to grow in the future.
5. Getting The Welding Certificate
The welding certificate serves as the last stage, where you will have to sit for an exam along with a welding test. Almost all the welding certification is done through the body of AWS or the American Welding Society. However, the accreditation is given depending upon the type of position.
- Welder Certification – This certification is a basic level certification program where you can just weld metal. As a welder, you can get a job in different sectors, but you won’t be able to participate in assembling, overseeing, or operating.
- Welding Inspector Certification – Welding inspector certification requires you to have on-job experience and working experience under the welding inspector for some years. It is a reputed job where you will examine the welding job done by welders in different organizations.
- Welding Instructor Certification – If you want to be a welding instructor, then you need a complete welding instructor exam from AWS. You will teach other welders to weld and develop their skills. But this certificate requires years of experience in welding and valid welding certification.
- Welding Engineer Certification – As a welding engineer, you will have to have a welding engineering degree to apply for this certification. It is a high-level job where you will have to manage projectors, perform metallurgy jobs, plan out processes, and oversee welders.
Sean Coby is a welder par excellence and well respected among the welding community in Woodbridge, VA. He prides himself to be the fabricator and mechanic in the automotive/ diesel industry for the past more than eight years now. As the chief editor of his https://weldinginfocenter.com, he shares his experience to be safe during welding and to take proactive steps for becoming a successful welder like him.