what to do?

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I enrolled in a tech school, been there for about 6 months now, and have just now learned they don't certify me for anything in this course, they consider it "experience". Beings we are students we can go to the local testing facility and for a discounted fee get tested and maybe certified. So my question for the experienced welders is what certification(s) should I get to be most appealing to employers? I don't want a year and about $3500 to go for experience. I don't know where I want to apply for a job so I want to be versatile.                                                                                              On another note, when the job description says it requires a 3G test, what does the 3G, 2F or 6G mean? I know it means the type of test, but how do I find out if its vert., horz., overhead, pipe, plate, tube, etc. If y'all could answer this y'all would be more help than my instructor was for the last 6 months
Reply:smokke where are you located? It's there a rop class in you area?
Reply:I am located in TN, what is a rop class?
Reply:Smokke the 3G is a plate test 1G is plate flat 2G is plate Horizontal 3G is plate vertical and 4G is plate overhead 1F is a fillet weld flat 2F is fillet horizontal 3F is vertical fillet 4F is overhead and Pipe welding 1G is horizontal rolled position 2G is horizontal position  5G is horizontal fixed position and 6G is 45% angle fixed position in an inclined position. Most employers are looking for 3G and 6G certifications or both.Lance
Reply:Most schools will not certify as part of their courses.... It is a conflict of interest. Just so you know there are many different ofr different processes. There is no 1 blanket cert. Check with local welding shops see if they look for certs when hiring and if so what are they looking for...._________________Chris
Reply:The other thing that you might consider is just not certify.  A lot of times, when you hire on to a company, they will have a specific procedure that you will have to certify to anyways and they will pay for it out of their pocket, not yours.
Reply:The only problem with having a company pay for your cert is that most likely the company will own the cert. That means it's not your cert it's theirs and you work under it... and it will not transfer with you if you leave._________________Chris
Reply:true, but that hasn't caused me any problems so far.  each company has their own requirements and as long as I can pass the weld test and the interview, I don't seem to have anybody requiring me to have my own certs.
Reply:Originally Posted by weldrwomntrue, but that hasn't caused me any problems so far.  each company has their own requirements and as long as I can pass the weld test and the interview, I don't seem to have anybody requiring me to have my own certs.
Reply:Ah, well I spent enough on school that I didn't really have the money left over for certs anyways.  So far, I haven't need them.  I guess for some situations they might come in handy, but I have done fine w/out them.  It probably also depends on what type of welding that you are going to be doing...