A career in welding can be as challenging as it is rewarding. You may have a knack for repair or fabrication, but you aren’t really sure what type of skilled trade would apply best to your innate abilities. Working at a welding shop might be the right choice for you, but what do you need in order to succeed there? Are you interested in a career in welding and receiving a welding certification but aren’t sure where to start? We have answers to some of your most common questions:
Does SCI Offer a Welding Program?
Yes, Southern Careers Institute offers an extensive welding program at multiple campuses across the state. We offer a combination of hands-on and technical training to help you discover which career path is best for you. There are many types of businesses seeking welders, from the commercial and industrial world to small shops. Learn the skills with us first and then explore the best environment for you to use them in.
What Types of Welding Should I Learn?
SCI provides training on the four most common types of welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG).
Do I Need to Have a Welding Certification to Work in a Shop?
You don’t have to be certified to secure an entry-level position or apprenticeship at a welding shop, but if you are looking to enter the workforce at a higher pay rate and have the most opportunity for work, being certified is the best way to go. It will take years to gain the skill and experience provided solely by on-the-job training in order to achieve the skill level that you could learn here at SCI’s welding program with our technical and hands-on training in less than a year.
In addition to passing certification courses on the different types of welding techniques listed above, there are some specific fields of study which require additional certifications in order to set foot on the job. The Texas Department of Transportation requires a Steel Structures Welding Certification in order to perform specific repairs to transportation structures.
The American Welding Society lists many benefits of receiving your welding certificate. While the certification holder reaps many benefits such as competitive pay and a sense of accomplishment, the employer also receives a marketing edge among competitors whose employees may not be certified.
The more education you have, the less welding experience is necessary in order to pass a welding certification examination. There are also certain endorsements available for specific welding applications, such as structural steel, structural aluminum, bridge welding, pipeline welding, and aerospace welding. All would be unachievable without the necessary training and schooling to obtain higher skills-based knowledge.
Employers want to be confident that when they send a welder on a job, the work will be completed to industry standard. The best way to ensure your skills are up to par is to obtain the welding certification necessary to prove yourself before the job even begins. To learn more about SCI’s welding program visit our website today.
This article was published on: 01/24/22 2:35 AM
* SCI does not guarantee employment or a starting salary upon graduation, completion, or withdrawal from SCI. As an accredited post-secondary institution, SCI has various federal financial assistance programs available for students who qualify and are enrolled in SCI programs. This does not apply to seminar students.
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