| Have you been shopping welding schools? Are you | | | | You cant afford to make a bad choice. |
| thinking about changing careers and becoming a | | | | Enrolling in one of the big 3 welding schools is almost a |
| certified welder? Unless you have living in a cave, you | | | | sure fire way to learn what you need to become a |
| have probably heard about a welder shortage in this | | | | well paid certified welder. The instructors are top notch |
| country. With new construction of power generating | | | | and All of them: Hobart Institute of Welding, Lincoln |
| plants, paper mills and hydro dams, there is a demand | | | | Welding training, and Tulsa School of Welding, all have |
| for certified qualified welders that we have not seen | | | | good reputations for turning out qualified welders. The |
| since the 70's. | | | | only drawbacks are location and tuition. |
| If you have been seriously considering becoming a | | | | Unless you live down the street from Hobart, Lincoln, |
| welder, you have a key decision to make that could | | | | or Tulsa welding schools, you are going to have to |
| determine whether you become a high-paid, | | | | travel and pay room and board for your time in |
| sought-after certified welder, or just a 9 dollar an hour | | | | welding school. |
| rod burner. | | | | Applying for an apprenticeship into the pipe fitters or |
| Here are your choices: | | | | boilermakers union is a pretty good option for young |
| - Attend a local community technical college | | | | people still living at home. But not everyone wants to |
| - Enroll in one of the big 3 welding schools | | | | work as a pipe welder or boilermaker. |
| - Apply for an apprenticeship to one of the skilled | | | | Here is a 4th option : Both Hobart and Lincoln welding |
| trades unions | | | | schools have one and two week TIG welding |
| Lets explore these options: Attending welding school at | | | | programs. The cost is around 400 a week plus |
| a local community college can save a ton of money | | | | expenses. So for no more than 1500 bucks total you |
| on room and board and tuition but unless you know for | | | | can test the water and see if this is really what you |
| sure that the welding instructor is top notch, this might | | | | want to do. And you will have the TIG welding training |
| be the fast track to becoming a rod burner instead of | | | | under your belt too. Who knows, you might even be |
| a real welder. The criteria for becoming a welding | | | | able to land a job as a TIG welder with only the 2 |
| instructor at a technical college is very weak, since a | | | | weeks training. |
| technical college welding instructor's pay is marginal, | | | | I also recommend at least visiting a local technical |
| sometimes you get what you pay for. Don't get me | | | | college and getting a feel for the quality of instruction. |
| wrong , there are some really good ones out there. | | | | Then you will have enough information to make this |
| But this is your livelihood we are talking about here. | | | | key career decision: Choosing the best welding school. |