OK, so your goal is to become a certified welder in Goochland VA, but you don’t know how to begin. Just like anything else that you wish to achieve, you really need to be able to invest the proper time and commitment if you want to succeed. Becoming a welder could be as simple as attending a welding course online, finding a free welding class, or attend a welding school in Goochland, but if you want to become a certified welder, you must be fully committed to doing what it takes.
Make Sure You’re Eligible To Sign Up For Welding Classes
Before anything else, you need to at the very least complete tenth grade, which allows you to gain admission into some welding schools. It is preferred however, that you have a high school diploma, or your GED if you want to take welding courses. An increasing amount of people are enrolling in welding classes today, so it’s always better to have more education. If you have failed to complete high school you could attempt to get your GED first. Many welding schools won’t let you in without this prerequisite.
Find Welding Training Near Goochland VA
You’re going to have to seek out a school for welding, preferably close to you in Virginia. These schools can be community colleges or trade schools that offer welding programs. A general welding program can be anything between eight weeks to eight months long. You can nevertheless become a welder without education, but the majority of employers search for certified welders who have completed schooling, and are happy to pay them more.
Top Virginia Welding Schools
Sorry, we could not find any matching schools
Sign Up For the Top Welding School
Once you find a welding school in your location that provides classes, you must apply to one of their welding classes. Usually schools will offer a general welding certification class that trains you the fundamental techniques and basic best practices in the welding industry.
[lme-module module=”yelp” city=”Goochland” state=”VA”]Top specialties to look for
- TIG Welding
- MIG Welding
- ARC Welding
- Underwater Welding
- Laser Welding
Make sure your welding school in Goochland VA teaches you several of the techniques listed, or you may end up without any marketable skills that will get you hired. There are tons of things to consider when enrolling in a welding course.
What Do Welders In Goochland Earn?
I know, I know. We’re always talking about money in our society. But if you’re going to pursue a career I’m sure pay is going to affect your choices – I know it did for me. Indeed.com found that in 2010 (the latest year where stats are available), a welder earned around $36,000 a year. But that figures increases by about $5,000 with a welding certification, and it can also be significantly higher in sparsely populated states where qualified labor is hard to come by.
[lme-module module=”colleges” city=”Goochland” state=”VA”]Sign up For A Welding Apprenticeship
The moment you are done with your welding school, you are going to want to apply for a welding apprenticeship. These apprenticeships will assist you to gain practical, hands-on experience in the welding industry, that can’t be copied by online classes. You may be asking yourself “How long are welding apprenticeships?”, but the answer is not that straightforward. These may range anywhere from 4 months to 4 years, and It all comes down to how much you work, how much welding training you want, and how intense the program is. Once you are done with your apprenticeship it is a good time to consider a welding certification class.
Keep in mind that your apprenticeship is more than just continued education! You can expect a salary that is lower than experienced welders, but enough to live on for sure. More than that, though, the shop you apprentice yourself to will more than likely be your future employer.
Taking Your Welding Certification Exam
To complete your certification exam, I encourage you to check out the American Welding Society (AWS) which has all the information you need to complete the test. This can be a simple Certified Welder test, or a more difficult Certified Welding Inspector test. When you are a Certified Welder, you can apply for virtually every welding job in whatever industry you want.
Once you have read this, you could be excused for thinking that becoming a certified welder is very difficult. But if you follow the guidelines specified here, you will be well on your way to a fulfilling career in welding. Everything in life takes work, and most things that require more work are worth more, so don’t be lazy, instead take this chance and apply to one of the welding schools in Goochland Virginia to get a career you desire.
Much appreciated!
What can I say, I’m impressed. I was able to research the different welding schools in my area and find one that fit my needs. I was actually lucky enough to secure a grant which means I will have a much easier time financially!
Rating: