How a building is constructed may seem truly exotic to someone who has never taken any welding courses and has no knowledge of construction. While there are many talented professionals behind the construction of a building, one (often overlooked) role is that of a welder.
While they may look somewhat intimidating, welders are dedicated professionals who value safety, skill, and quality control. If you enjoy working in a hands-on field that allows you to be a participant in the creation process throughout various steps along the way—from design to finish—you might consider pursuing a welding career.
But how do you become a welder? Do you just pick up an arc welder and some gloves? And what are some ways you can learn welding yourself? A great way to enter the welding industry is through welding courses, some of the best of which we’ll list for you below.
How to Get a Welding Education
When it comes to success in the welding industry, there’s no one singular path towards reaching your career goals. You can find welding courses at several different institutions of learning, including the following.
Community College
Community college is a great way to save money and get an excellent education. Completing two-year programs net you an associate degree in your major of choice. Many community colleges offer a glimpse into what is possible when majoring in a field like radiology or occupational therapy.
For many people, two-year degrees can be a good idea since they can give you a more attractive accomplishment to put on your resume—however, many trades don’t require workers to have two-year or four-year degrees. And since they tend to be the more expensive options compared to others on this list, be sure to explore financial aid options like scholarships or grants.
Vocational Schools
Since vocational or trade schools help students get hands-on training that focuses on a particular vocation, they can offer some of the best learning environments for trades like welding. Some prime examples of trade school career specializations are electricians, plumbers, carpenters, veterinary technicians, and of course, welders.
These schools teach you everything you need to know: welding processes and safety procedures, gas tungsten arc welding, metal fabrication, and TIG welding. For those who want to bypass getting an associate degree and score a job right after graduation, trade schools may be your best bet.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships give future welders the most potential to succeed. Along with learning welding techniques from skilled welders, you can get the chance to network within your field. Apprenticeships pit you alongside a skilled welder who will show you all you need to know about the practical application of welding technology, welding inspection, and more.
You will join experts on multiple jobs, earn job training, and have a chance to prove yourself enough to become a member of the American Welding Society and get your AWS Certification.
Online Courses
Online courses are a great way to get information right now and effectively explore career paths and what they entail. Not sure if you want to jump right in and work in gas metal arc welding? What about flux-cored arc welding (FCAW)? Online courses are fantastic windows into what you’ll experience in the field.
Luckily, you don’t have to go through a lengthy application process like you would for a community college or four-year university. Many of these online courses only require your information and a fee. What follows is first-hand knowledge from skilled welders on how to dominate the field.
Specific Welding Courses to Consider
Below are some examples of excellent welding course options for future welders.
Universal Technical Institute: Welding Training School
The Universal Technical Institute’s Welding Training School offers a 9–10-month long program to transform rookies into skilled welders.
You’ll learn multiple techniques like tungsten arc welding (GTAW), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), and metal arc welding (GMAW). This school allows you to access its VRTEX® virtual skilled welders for excellent online course instruction.
The school also has a curriculum created with the help of Lincoln Electric, a global manufacturer of welding tools and products. By the program completion, graduates will be skilled welders and know all the welding techniques to assist them during apprenticeships and jobs.
The American Welding Society’s Online Courses
The American Welding Society is the be-all-end-all for all things welding in the United States. That’s why taking one of its courses is an excellent way to turn some heads during the job-hunting process.
Its online courses have 24/7 support and a flexible, easy learning schedule. You can go at your own pace, whenever you want. You’ll review areas you excel at and others you need more work in. You’ll be acquiring knowledge from some of the most skilled welders in the United States, all entirely online.
You’ll receive information in multiple ways: class modules, audio narration, and beneficial video footage for optimal visual learning.
Instructables Welding Class
This completely free online course is an excellent primer for a career in welding. Over the course of three beginner lessons, even someone completely unfamiliar with welding basics will feel more confident in their abilities.
The first lesson, consisting of extremely detailed welding safety measures and learning the different welding equipment, is a great place to start. Remember, it’s an entirely free online course, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
How to Choose the Right Program for You
There are many factors to take into account when deciding which path to take. In order to make sure you’re choosing the best one for you, carefully consider your career goals, learning style, schedule, and budget.
Budget. There’s a wide variety of options when it comes to welding training—from paying college tuition, to opting for a less expensive trade school, to working as an apprentice. There are a couple factors to look at when thinking about cost. Which programs fit your budget? And if there’s a course that fits all of your other needs but is out of your budget, do they offer accessible payment options such as scholarships, monthly payment plans, or loans? Consider both what price points and what payment methods work for you.
Reputation and curriculum. First of all, what career path are you looking to follow, and does the program have a reputation for helping graduates qualify for the positions you’re looking for? Read online reviews and testimonials, and see if the school has been mentioned in the news lately. Compare course descriptions to current job openings, to see if the skills taught align with what employers are looking for. After all, you don’t want to enroll in a course that doesn’t cover pipeline cutting processes if that will be necessary to land your dream job.
Learning style. Do you work better in a more traditional education environment, or would you prefer on-the-job training? Would you prefer to get an intro into basic knowledge online, or do you retain information better when in an in-person environment? By finding a path that fits the way you learn best, you can set yourself up for success.
Schedule. While one person may want to invest two years into getting an associate degree, another might prefer a shorter course that allows them to enter the workforce more quickly. So be sure to take your personal and professional timeline into account.
Is Welding a Good Career?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is relatively stable.1 Between manufacturing items using various materials to testing and maintaining structures to ensure their safety, welders are quite literally people who keep things together.
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The BLS also reports that many welders only need a high school diploma. While this is true in some cases, some employers may be more eager to hire someone who has displayed some welding skills through welding courses, trade school, or apprenticeships. It can be a competitive market, so ensuring you have the best credentials possible is ideal.
Conclusion: Education Path for Welding Courses
So what’s the best possible education path for someone interested in welding? It depends. Based on time, money, and potential job opportunities, a great combination might be earning a certificate from online courses, a degree from a trade school, and completing an apprenticeship.
With the welding skills learned from useful online welding courses, you’ll be fusing steel at a stable job in no time. These valuable learning methods will have you more than prepared for your very first welding job.
Sources
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm
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