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When you are ready for a job, time is important. Well, this article is about how to become a professional welder in America.

People know that America is one of the best places to hire welders.

They also have a number of schools where you can find classes and training that are right for you in less time.

Who is a Welder?

A welder is a skilled worker who uses high heat and gas to join pieces of metal together or fill and fix holes in metal structures.

Welders work in all kinds of industrial, manufacturing, and construction settings.

Some of them even work underwater to fix oil rig bases, ship hulls, and other structures that are submerged in water.

Welders are in high demand all over the world because almost everyone needs their skills.

What Does a Welder Do?

Welders have different tasks to do depending on how skilled they are and what industry they work in.

Unskilled Welders

Unskilled welders work on assembly lines and do the same welding tasks over and over.

Robots may be used to join the body panels of a car or truck together or to do spot welds when building specialized equipment.

They might not know much about how metal works or what kinds of gas, wires, and settings are used to make a strong, stable weld.

Skilled welders

Skilled welders know how to work with a wide range of metals and their welding requirements.

Either by working as an apprentice or by going to school, they learn advanced welding techniques.

They can then weld metal parts by hand or with robots.

Most people who use robots can only work in a factory. People who weld by hand, on the other hand, can work in almost any setting.

Welders in construction put together steel I-beams for high-rise buildings, skyscrapers, and any other type of metal building.

Welders can also work on a car racing team, fixing or building a new chassis for a damaged car.

NASA even hires welders with a lot of experience to work on space projects.

Welders use one of more than 100 ways to join welding together, depending on the project. Welding with an arc can be done by hand or by a machine.

It is the most common way of welding.

A special welding rod and an arc of electric current are used to join two pieces of metal.

Oxy-fuel welding, oxyacetylene welding, and gas welding all use gases and oxygen to make the heat needed to melt and join pieces of metal.

There are also resistance welding, shielded metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, and the more modern laser beam welding processes.

Welders may choose to specialize in one or more of these types, as different metals require different welding methods.

What Does a Welder’s Job look like?

Many welders work a regular 40-hour work week.

But because welding is in high demand, they often have the chance to work extra hours.

It is thought that one out of every five welders works 50 hours or more in a week.

On the job, they face a number of risks related to weldings, such as breathing in gases and small particles.

Moreover, there’s also a risk of falling for construction welders who work on high platforms.

Some companies hire welders to work overnight shifts so that work can go on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Professional Welder in America?

You can become a welder in more than one way. How long you spend on the process depends on which educational track you choose

Welders in America must have a certificate from the American Welders Society.

The best thing to do is to find a good program at a local school and then participate in the test for certification.

The length of these classes can be anywhere between 12 weeks and two years.

Here are some types of Welder certifications you can get in the USA;

  • Welding apprenticeships: To become a professional welder through apprenticeship and training depending on your employer.
  • You’ll need to spend 6 to 18 months for a Welding Certificate
  • Two years for an Associate’s Degree in welding
  • Four years to get a Bachelor’s degree in welding

However, you don’t need a college degree to work in welding if you don’t want to.

America requires welders to have an American Welders Society certification.

You can learn what you need to know to pass the certification test if you go to an accredited school.

Should I Be a Welder?

Before going into this field, people who want to be welders should think about what it takes and what it offers.

Commercial welders need to be in good physical and mental shape, have good hand-eye coordination, and be able to stay focused on the same task for a long time.

Every day, welders deal with hot metal, bright lights, and smelly fumes.

In a lot of jobs, you have to work around heavy, dangerous equipment.

Welders need to be ready to work in tight spaces, at high heights, and outside in all seasons.

They must be able to stand or crouch for long periods of time and be willing to wear goggles and other safety equipment.

The welder job calls for a number of skills such as;

  • Being able to understand technical plans, blueprints, and drawings
  • The ability to imagine what you need to do before you do it.
  • Attention to detail, so you can spot mistakes, worn parts, and other problems at work.
  • Problem-solving skills.
  • Math skills, or the ability to calculate dimensions and take accurate measurements.

As a professional Welder, you can work in the following fields of specialization:

  • Construction
  • Civil engineering
  • Construction engineering
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive
  • Agricultural engineering
  • Power
  • Shipbuilding and repairs
  • Renewable energy
  • Oil and gas
  • Overseas construction projects

If you are comfortable with the typical working conditions and have the skills needed, then you can consider becoming a professional welder in America.

Be informed that the industries that hire welders are interesting to you, this could be a good career for you.

What are Welders like?

Based on our users, most welders are realistic and like to learn more about things.

These two traits clearly reflect the practical tasks of a welder: to use heat to melt, mix, and join two pieces of metal; to keep an eye on the welding process to make sure it doesn’t get too hot, and to check the welds for flaws.

How to Become a Professional Welder In America?

People sometimes say that welding is more of an art than a craft.

To become a welder in America, you need to take a course at any of the American Welder Society accredited welding schools.

Most of the courses will take you a minimum of 12 weeks to as much as 2 years depending on your area of specialization.

You have to commit to a job with a lot of different aspects and levels that require a lot of training and, often, more than one certification.

Who is the American Welders Society (AWS)?

The AWS is a non-profit group that helps the welding industry set and keep up high standards.

They help welders and businesses work together for a common goal.

In the welding community, the nonprofit has become a well-known place to get certified and take tests.

There are a few AWS certification programs, such as:

  • Certified Welder (CW)
  • Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
  • Senior Welding Inspector (SCWI)
  • Certified Welding Educator (CWE)
  • Certified Welding Supervisor (CWS)

The Certified Welder certification is based on how well you do. You don’t need to take any classes or take tests before you can get the certification.

It is a good idea to find a way to get some welding experience.

In America, you need to get a license if you want to work as a welder.

Take courses or programs that teach you about common welding techniques and standards. This will help you do well on the AWS test.

Accredited Testing Facilities (ATF)

For the American Welders Society to certify you, you have to take a test at an Accredited Testing Facility.

If your school is not an ATF, you must go to a third-party resource or another school to take a certification test.

Here are some AWS-accredited facilities in America that could be used as a third-party option, according to the AWS website:

It’s a good idea to ask for suggestions from the welding school you’re already attending. They will probably know which place is best for what you need.

Welder salary

Welders in the United States, make an average of $47,010 per year. Most welder salaries start at $31,350 and go as high as $63,660.

Popular welding jobs in America:

  • Pipe Fitter
  • Structural Welder
  • Welder Machine Operator
  • Welding Inspector
  • Underwater Welders

Welder are often hired indifferent part of the state in America, especially Texas.

They may not have the highest average annual wage, but they hire welders all the time.

Getting more experience in welding can help a person make more money in the future.

American Welders Society (AWS) Certification Renewal

Every six months, the welder must send in a form to the American Welders Society in order to keep his or her certification.

It’s important to keep your certification up to date after you get it. You must always remember to do this.

You can request a 60-day administrative extension. If you’re late, you’ll have to pay a fee.

If the date is missed, the welder in America will have to take the test again in order to get certified.

Abbreviations for Welding

Some welding terms have been used throughout this article. These abbreviations save time and make them easier to remember.

This will help you while doing some research since this is a common way listed in educational materials.

The terms below describe ways to weld that are taught in most schools and should help you get certified.

  • Oxy-fuel is a way to weld or cut metals that use fuel gases and oxygen.
  • GTAW– Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
  • FCAW – Flux-Cored Arc Welding
  • GMAW– Gas Metal Arc Welding
  • SMAW – Shielded Metal Arc Welding

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