| If you enjoy working with industrial materials including | | | | these certifications. |
| steel, titanium, and plastics, you might want to consider | | | | Some employers are willing to pay for the training of |
| a career in welding. Welders are in demand in | | | | employees at accredited welding schools. Many |
| manufacturing and repair jobs and if you have the right | | | | welding schools offer the American Welding Society |
| training you can make a very good living. | | | | certification courses. The Institute for Printed Circuits |
| Welding sounds simple, doesn't it? You just put on the | | | | offers certifications and training in soldering. The |
| big helmet and the gloves, fire up the torch, and fuse | | | | increased use of lead-free soldering, which requires a |
| pieces of metal together in a shower of sparks. | | | | higher level of skill than standard lead-based soldering, |
| Perhaps that's what the guy next door does - the one | | | | has increased the importance of certification to |
| who makes those big metal sculptures he's got | | | | employers. |
| arranged around his yard like rusty dinosaurs - but in | | | | Job Prospects Are Good for Trained Welders |
| reality welding is a complex business that requires | | | | According to the U.S. Government's Bureau of Labor |
| professional training. | | | | Statistics, for welders trained in the latest technologies |
| There are many different types of welding including | | | | job prospects should be good. Trained welders can |
| arc welding (using an electric current to create heat), | | | | earn up to $20 an hour or more. Welding schools |
| soldering, brazing, plasma, and oxy-gas cutting. Welders | | | | report that even in today's economy graduates have |
| have to know how to join a wide variety of materials | | | | success in finding work, and many welding employers |
| within rigid specifications. They work in every | | | | report difficulty finding properly skilled welders. But |
| conceivable environment, from factories to | | | | welders without professional training are facing stiff |
| construction sites to bridges and even under water. | | | | competition for job openings. |
| The jobs they work on range from welding huge | | | | How Can You Get Trained? |
| skyscraper beams to creating custom-made | | | | The best way to learn about welding careers and |
| motorcycles for Hollywood stars. They have to know | | | | career training is to click onto a reputable college |
| how to work from blueprints and have knowledge of | | | | directory service like the one below. The directory |
| mathematics, physics, electricity, metallurgy, and | | | | features only accredited and quality career and tech |
| engineering. | | | | schools. Many offer financial aid for those who qualify |
| Qualifications for Welders | | | | and job placement services for grads. |
| Most employers seek to hire welders who have been | | | | It's easy to get free information. Simply enter your |
| through formal training programs. Knowledge of | | | | search terms (such as your ZIP code) and you'll see a |
| computers is increasingly important, especially for | | | | selection of schools that meet your criteria. Choose a |
| welding, soldering, and brazing machine operators, who | | | | few schools and contact them. They'll send you free |
| work with automatic welding robots and other | | | | information about their welding and other tech |
| computer-controlled machines. | | | | programs, financial aid, career services, and much |
| Some welding positions require general certifications in | | | | more. Once you have made your comparisons and |
| welding or certifications in specific skills such as | | | | narrowed down your choices, you're ready to contact |
| inspection or robotic welding. In industries such as | | | | the admissions department. In less time than you think, |
| defense and aerospace, where highly skilled and | | | | you could be training for a rewarding job as a welder. |
| accurate work is required, many employers require | | | | |