Apprenticeship
I went through Apprenticeship training - in our Province it is the only way to get certified as a welder. Apprenticeship training consisted of 3 – 1500 hour terms of work experience and 3 – 8 week periods of technical training. When I went to school for welding in 90-93 I think it was $300 per 8 week term. It is now $400 for the same classes now, so you can tell that they are well supported by the government. All of this is administered and certified by the provincial government. At the end you can also write your Interprovincial exam which if you pass will recognize your certification country wide (Canada). After/during school you can test for your certification at both the federal and provincial levels. Strong fabrication/layout/blueprint reading scales are a must if you are going to advance. Up here IMHO most of the money and jobs are in pressure welding – I.E. ASME Section 9 in the States. I would concentrate on strong SMAW and then GTAW ( Stainless, Aluminum, Chrome, Monel, Inconel etc.) skills because these are the pressure piping process most in demand and the most $$$$ when you are working. I am currently certified for: SMAW – Carbon, GTAW – Carbon, Chrome, Stainless, Stainless/Titanium, and Aluminum. GMAW – Carbon, STT Stainless. Currently hold level II CWB inspector certification, and I am also a Journeyman Steamfitter/Pipefitter/Gasfitter(Just Finished) and I am also a first year Apprentice Instrument Technician. Many career paths in welding that do not involve you holding a stinger, but you cannot get these jobs if you do not know how to hold the stinger. Willingness to learn is a big key and I have always found that I have learned more from working and screwing up and then fixing my mistakes than I did in school. I would also beware of the “Big Buck Union Job’s” that the school is touting to you. Once again, in my experience they are heavy industrial jobs, not located near home, and you may work out of town for periods of 4 to 24 days and they are wanting to get $$$ from you. On the other hand, any construction job is excellent for learning your trade because you are going to be welding in the worst possible situations so you are forced to learn how to perform. Since 97 all I have worked is the “Big Buck Union Job’s” as things are very busy up here due to the development of the Oilsands around Ft. McMurray. Excellent wages and benefits, but working many long hours – last job was a 1 hour drive each way, and I was working 12 hour shifts, usually 24 and 4. Depends on the situation down there I guess. If you have any more questions just reply to the thread and I will try to respond and hopefully Weldpro and Choke will also respond to give you information more geographically specific for you.
jasonmt