Help.....?

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So I posted a couple weeks ago about a 12 week welding course and from the replies it sounds like a rip off... I found a guy in town that offers one on one sessions. I'm not sure what he charges yet or his qualifications, but I will be sure to look into that soon. He says he'll help with certifications. Let's just say he's qualified and knows his ****.  Is it a good idea? Will certifications make me desirable to employers even with only experience working with this dude? If I pass the weld test am I hired?
Reply:Welding is a widely varied field. There aren't many people well versed in all facets of welding. Spend a week with Zap, you'll learn more about TIG than any other week. Does that make Zap qualified to teach pipeline welding? Not necessarily. The questions you need the answers to are does this guy know the technique I will need. Can he teach, Can I afford him.An optimist is usually wrong, and when the unexpected happens is unprepared. A pessimist is usually right, when wrong, is delighted, and well prepared.
Reply:Originally Posted by Tonzalito Will certifications make me desirable to employers even with only experience working with this dude? If I pass the weld test am I hired?
Reply:Certification may help, but it depends on what you do. There are many employers that provide their own welding test even if you are certified. Many jobs require their certification too. Maybe consider a train as you go type employer if available in your area. Some employers would rather train or teach a newbie instead of paying more money to a person that can weld. There is more to being a welder than pulling a trigger or dragging a stick rod.
Reply:Learn how to weld first and worry about certifications later. If you found someone like CEP on here, you'll learn more one on one in a couple hours that you would in a 12 week course. Check the guys qualifications and look at his welds. It's pretty hard to fake being good at welding.
Reply:Certifications are hard to keep up with. Around here all structural welders are required to have a WABO card to be dispatched out of the union hall. But the Navy will not accept this card. You take their welding tests. In the mid 1970s I worked in a Fab shop. Our #1 contract was building nuclear waste tanks. Every 3-months the NRC required we recertify on all processes.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I go through quite a few welders each year and am constantly hiring.............I firmly believe that ALL a cert is good for is to wipe your a$$ with.  IF a guy or girl gets to the interview, he or she has already passed MY welding test.  I typically go through 2-300 resumes several times per year, then test 25-30, there is usually only 3-4 that can pass the test, of these 3 or 4 I will usually interview them all and maybe hire 2.  My test is just a basic D14.3 test......nothing difficult.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveLearn how to weld first and worry about certifications later. .
Reply:Something i found out when i qualified as a journeyman machinest. No exp. + highest payscale = no job.esab 260 multimasternew tech 150 invertorlincoln 140 cheapo