A lot will depend on what you want to do. Most high school votech schools in my area have night welding classes that sound a lot like #2 in your post. On average they are there to give guys a chance to learn the basics. Often the guys taking the classes are those who want to learn as a hobby, or get a basic entry level job, usually in mig. Some are simply looking to pick up the basics of welding for general shop maintenance at work. These are great, but I wouldn't take one with the goal of trying to land a solid well paying job with no experience. Often guys will keep coming back to continue to learn.

There are also some intensive courses given by trade schools. Usually these are anywhere from 6 months to 18 months 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. Generally they will give you all the skills to pass certain certifications by the time you graduate. They can be all encompassing and cover mig, tig and stick, or just concentrate on one process like say tig. These schools are usually not inexpensive, but students usually leave being able to pass any weld test an employer might give. I'd recommend a class like this if someone wanted to land say a job doing sanitary pipe work for example. Most places usually have some sort of job placement help for students when they graduate.

 

Awesome thanks for the response!

My first assumption was to take one of those quicker courses that are like 24-72 hours of teaching then try and find an unpaid apprenticeship or helper position to get the experience. I'm willing to work for free for several months to learn to land a beginner job.

Or a several month course (Ideally done around summer 2013) and then find a job but the little thing about paying for the school might be an issue.


I'm not expecting to take a weekend class for a couple weeks and be making crazy money I just want to find myself with a career.

 

Call this number and tell them what you have told us - 303-428-6541

http://www.pipe208.com/

Hobo

 

such a great idea find a place or any organization which can provide you a training programming, otherwise apprenticeship or helper position, it will help you a lot to make your career as a welder.

 

You are welcome to come down to my home in Colorado springs if u want a basic introduction to the main welding processes. I can teach you what I know. I can also help you find a good deal on a used machine locally... Pikes peak and I think Arapahoe community college have good welding programs.

 

Taking the local class will at least give you some quick hands-on and let you see if you have the aptitude for welding.

 

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Awesome thanks everyone for the input!

Hobo I will be calling them first thing Monday morning and talking to them about everything. I actually saw on their website that they are looking for an apprentice position right now so maybe I could even get lucky enough to score that! At the very least they would probably know the programs in the area that are good for learning so hopefully I can at least get a list of good schools.

Alan Murfee and Oldendum-
I was hoping that would be the case! Just gotta find a school that is quick and affordable. I don't have the money in the bank to not be working much more then a year so Ideally I can find a school that would be done around summer 2013 or just an apprenticeship and get some hands on knowledge.

soutthpaw-
I might take you up on that! I'm north of Denver so it is about a 100 mile trip but I live in apartments right now and I don't think they would appreciate me practicing welding on my balcony or in the bathroom much.

bazgkfdcgl-
Ummmmm que?

 

Good..... I want to give you a "heads up" about the United Association... There are thousands of people who would like to join. The apprenticeship coordinators have heard every bull**** story. I know nothing about you. You are going to have to be "the best of the best" in order to become an apprentice. You are wanting these folks to make a 5 year investment in you in order for you to become a journeyman. It's not the Army or Marines where someone is going to have a boot in your ***..... The only boot in your *** will be your own. An opportunity with the UA is yours to win or yours to loose.

Good Luck.

Hobo.

 

I called the number you gave me Hobo and talked for about 15 minutes. I was told that they just had opening for apprenticeships and that probably around Feb next year they will be opening up again. He explained the same thing about the five year investment into me and I'll need to make myself the right candidate for the position when it opens up.

As far as the schooling goes he said do what I can. Every thing I do on my own too learn or practice shows my interest and desire to get into welding. I'm going to look around a little more and talk with some of the people I met on this lovely website for more info on all the classes I can take to have a shiny resume to hand them next openings.

He also mentioned about working with some of their contractors, maybe not welding, but showing my work ethic and desire to learn. Assuming they have machine shops in their arsenal I've been working in machine shops for four years and seem to be very mechanically inclined so that might be a good option for me to show off what I got.

So far my plan is-

I'm going to find all the classes I can take and afford and cram them in.
And/Or Find work with a contractor of the union while taking some classes too prove I'm a hard worker and quick learner.

So now I guess my question is forming into-

Any other tips to landing an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship with the union is appearing to be a lot harder to land then I anticipated. Is it realistic to find one without any welding work experience or 2 years, and tens of thousands of dollars in school later?

 

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