Would you like to work as a welder one day?
It’s fairly easy to break into the welding industry as long as you know how to go about doing it. There are more than 400,000 welding jobs in the country right now—and that number is expected to grow in the coming years.
Before you can start working as a welder, though, you’ll need to consider going to welding trade school. This will equip you with the tools that you’ll need to begin earning welding certifications. These certifications are available through organizations like the American Welding Society (AWS).
Welding certifications will prove to employers that you know what you’re doing when it comes to welding. They’ll also show that you’ve taken the time to learn about welding safety.
Today, we’re going to touch on a few of the different welding certifications that you can obtain. Find out about them below and decide which ones you would like to go after while you’re on your way to becoming a welder.
Certified Welder Certification
When you’re first thinking about launching a career in the welding industry, you should kick things off by getting your hands on a certified welder certification. This is the most basic welding certification that there is, but it’ll open you up to so many opportunities within the industry.
The good news is that there aren’t any prerequisites for obtaining a certified welder certification. But you will need to be able to pass a test administered by the American Welding Society to demonstrate your welding skills. It’s the first step that you’ll need to take in order to become a certified welder.
Visit Wisewelders.com to get some of the resources you’ll need to make it as a certified welder. You can also use that link to get more information on all the different welding certifications.
Certified Welding Inspector Certification
After you’ve spent at least a year working in the welding industry, you might want to think about trying to work your way up the ladder within it. One way to do this is by securing your certified welding inspector certification.
To get this kind of welding certification, you’ll need to be able to pass a series of computerized tests and assessments. They’ll show that you have what it takes to work as a leader within the welding industry.
Getting a certified welding inspector certification is going to open you up to lots of leadership positions. It’s also going to give you a chance to start to make more money within the welding industry.
Certified Welding Supervisor Certification
The certified welding supervisor certification is the highest certification that you can earn as a welder. It’s reserved for only the most experienced welders in the industry.
In order to get this welding certification, you will need to have worked as a certified welding inspector for at least six of the last eight years. You will also need at least 15 years of welding experience under your belt.
Additionally, you will need to pass a two-part exam to get your certified welding supervisor certification. This exam is designed to allow you to show off everything that you know about welding. It’ll prove that you have the skills that it’s going to take to work in a managerial role within the welding industry.
Certified Welding Educator Certification
If you’re interested in teaching up-and-coming welders about the welding industry and everything that goes on in it, you might want to try to work as a certified welding educator one day. To do this, you’ll need to get your certified welding education certification.
First and foremost, you will need to have attended a welding training program yourself to get this welding certification. You will also need to have at least five years of welding experience.
This will help you to obtain a certified welding education certification. You can use it to do things like train younger welders and put together instructional materials for them.
Certified Resistance Welding Technician Certification
There is a huge demand for certified resistance welding technicians in this day and age. They’re responsible for helping to develop things like sheet metal, automobiles, and appliances.
If this sounds interesting to you, you may want to look into locking down a certified resistance welding technician certification. It’ll help you to spread your wings within this particular part of the welding industry.
You’ll need to have a solid understanding of resistance welding techniques to pass the certified resistance welding technician certification exam. It’s a great field to get involved in if you can.
Certified Welding Engineer Certification
Certified welders are the ones who are in charge of doing most of the welding during welding-related jobs. But it’s certified welding engineers who are in charge of coming up with the plans for these jobs.
Those who have an interest in creating plans for welding jobs should consider trying to get a certified welding engineer certification. You’ll need to be able to earn at least 60% on all four parts of the exam that is associated with this particular welding certification. It covers many of the fundamentals of science while also incorporating welding as a whole into the mix.
As a certified welding engineer, you’ll get to do a lot of the careful planning that comes along with welding. But you’ll also have a chance to do some welding fabrication yourself based on the plans that you come up with over time.
Start Earning Your Welding Certifications Today
Working as a welder can be a very exciting and potentially lucrative career. But you aren’t going to be able to begin working as a welder overnight.
You’ll need to start by earning your certified welder certification. You can then add other welding certifications to your name. It’ll make it possible for you to navigate your way through the welding industry and build a brighter future for yourself.
Would you like to get some more useful career tips that can help you find a job that you’re passionate about? Look for them in the other articles that we’ve put up on our blog.