Education · 1 of 5

The path

Short, cheap and practical. You are judged on a test coupon that gets cut apart and inspected, not on a transcript.

1. 1

   High school diploma or equivalent

   Grade 12

   A diploma or a GED (high school equivalency credential) is enough almost everywhere. A school metal shop is a real head start.

2. 2

   Learn the processes

   6 to 12 months

   Stick welding, MIG (metal inert gas) welding and TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding, plus blueprint reading and weld symbols. Community college, trade school, or on the job.

3. 3

   Pass a weld test

   One afternoon

   Employers test you before they hire you. You weld a coupon, they bend it or cut it and look at the inside. That is the whole interview.

4. 4

   Get certified

   Year 1 to year 2

   A performance certification from the American Welding Society is taken at an accredited test facility, with no prerequisite courses, and travels with you between employers.

5. 5

   Specialize

   2 to 10 years

   Pipe, pressure vessels, aluminum, stainless, aerospace or underwater. Each one narrows the field of people who can do it and raises your rate.