Will a AWS certification would land me a good job in Canada?

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Hey guys,I am looking for a career in welding. I am from Ontario and am 30 years old. I have a few years of experience in welding with both MIG and ARC welders; I was more into rebuilding/fixing motorcycles. I needed to have a change of scenery, so after a break, I decided to use my experience and knowledge for the better and try and find some work in welding! So I thought of getting some jobs in the US, but when I did some online research, many jobs in this field requires AWS certification. I went on to get certified in TSSA/AWS PREP. G.T.A.W. (Tig) Welding Program, it's an AWS certification welding course in Canada. Now with the current situation, moving to the US is a lost cause. So I was wondering whether the AWS certification would land me a good job in Canada. Is there a good job portal for welders where I could register myself?Some personal experience or any help would be appreciated, thank you very much, guys!
Reply:This gotta be a spammer. Don't click the linkLast edited by Woznme; 05-22-2020 at 07:16 AM.
Reply:It's too well written for a spammer.You're not goingo to get a job with one course and one certification.Especially if you consider all the out of work fellow you are now compeitng with.If you took a full welder fitter course from a college, the college would have a whole placement services division.If you were the best and brightest in the class, the teacher would have companies to refer you to.I recommend more courses, more certifications, more experiences.Build a portfolio of projects you did with drawings, photos and so on so you have something to show.Papers might get you to the interview but the interview is often a welding test  in house everywhere you go.
Reply:Training and Certifications, in any field, are more for building a resume than anything else, and those items typically end up at the bottom of the resume.   It is just a small part of the complete package that an employer is looking for.  These days the main items they desire are experience and good work ethic.Century buzzbox that I learned on 40+ years ago (was Dad's)Crappy Century 110volt mig 70 amp pigeon pooper.Lincoln Idealarc TIG-300
Reply:I agree with all that. It's just that on another site he claims to be an experienced aerospace welder and not taking questions.
Reply:Usually you have to get all of your stick certifications before you can get your Tig certifications. Mig is a form of arc welding. Whenever I see a comment like this I really question how much experience the person actually has.
Reply:The Canadian equivalent to the AWSD1.1 is the CWB (CSA W47.1). Having a CWB will get you a job in most provinces in canada. It won’t get you a job in Alberta as the welder trade is a required trade there. You must also have an Alberta journeyman (or apprentice) ticket or have an Interprovincial Red Seal jman ticket if your from outside Alberta.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I am retired for about ten years now but there was a reciprocity agreement between AWS and CWB.  If you qualified doing this course you describe possible employers would ask you to do a test when the CWB inspector next came by to the shop.  Weld tests in Canada under CWB rules are only good for two years and you have to retest even if you are doing that procedure eight hours a day.  Qualifying on a procedure really does not make you a welder as many shops have found out trying to qualify employees in a rush to do a job.  The only shops that would seriously show interest in your AWS qualification would be a Canadian shop that has AWS certification.  This is not unheard of but it is rare.   Since you are in Canada you should seriously look at taking a welding course at a local college.  If you already have some experience it will be a slam dunk and fill in the gaps that are missing in your knowledge and skill.
Reply:Depending on where in Canada you may have to be an indentured apprentice or journeyman to work as a welder. What's really dumb is an ironworker can pass a CWB test and be qualified without having to do anything else. CWB is a cash cow in a lot of cases. The 1st year test at Nait is the same as the CWB test but you still have to pay the $100, or whatever it is now, and do the same test for the CWB. What's the sense of going through apprenticeship training if the tests aren't recognized? CWB came after most of my experience but I worked where a CWB contractor was brought in and they were running downhand 7018 on platforms and stair case railings for a new roller coaster. This isn't accepted by any standards. They tried to help us out with new magnetic brake stations on the other coaster but it all had to be cut out and redone. They were lining everything up all square and level with the ground instead of lining the brackets up with the actual roller coaster cars. There wasn't a lot of room to play with and although you want things as level and square as possible it doesn't always work out that way when you're dealing with large complex structures. The other welder and I just kind of shook our heads when we saw the quality or lack of quality in their work.Last edited by Welder Dave; 05-23-2020 at 07:09 PM.
Reply:Looks like a pretty good  tech school in Missasaugga Ontario. If this is the course, it offers aws cwb tssa testing certs at the end of the course. Kind of figured that they would of discussed some of this during the course.G.T.A.W. (Tig) CWB / TSSA Preparatory CourseTSSA Preparatory CourseCourse Objective:This program is designed to upgrade skilled trades persons, technicians, apprentices and others in the industry who have welding experience, to the proper techniques and theory based knowledge using the G.T.A.W. ( Tig ) process in all positions. At the conclusion of this course trainees will demonstrate new and or improved skills preparing them for the C.W.B., T.S.S.A., and or A.W.S. welding certification.Course Content:Health and Safety for arc welding & cutting.GTAW (TIG) Theory Fundamentals (Advanced)Industry Certification Qualification & RequirementsWelding Machine FundamentalsFiller Wire/Electrode SelectionWeld Faults (Causes and Cures)GTAW (TIG) Welding Techniques For CWB, TSSA, AWS, Preparation and TestingAt the conclusion of the course Journeymen welders maybe tested for the CWB, TSSA, and or the AWS Test.Evaluation Methods:A theory and practical welding test is given, in which 70% is required to pass. Weldtech certificate awarded to successful trainees.Course Duration:Five days (8:00 AM – 3:30 PM) 37.5hrs.This program does not require approval under the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.Good luck , hope you find some work.Airco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:That will give you a certificate from the course but to test for the certifications you need to be a journeyman welder. Similar to taking a "B pressure" upgrade course. You can take the course but need to test through the boilers branch to get the actual certification/ticket. There is a C ticket that apprentices can get but as soon as they receive their journeyman status have to upgrade to a B pressure ticket. Have to do a retest every 2 years.
Reply:Skip those classes and apply for a union apprenticeship. I don't know about Canada but my union in Chicago has a welding hybrid program. Definitely investigate it and I'm pretty sure being a UA member you can come to US to work. All benefits and pension applies. I did this 50 years ago and collecting a pension with awesome health care benefits .http://www.ua.org/canadaSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

That will give you a certificate from the course but to test for the certifications you need to be a journeyman welder. Similar to taking a "B pressure" upgrade course. You can take the course but need to test through the boilers branch to get the actual certification/ticket. There is a C ticket that apprentices can get but as soon as they receive their journeyman status have to upgrade to a B pressure ticket. Have to do a retest every 2 years.
Reply:I thought they were trying to standardize the testing across Canada to the same standards as Alberta so a Red Seal from another province actually meant something. I've worked with guys from Ontario and other provinces in the East and they said Alberta has higher standards. They had the opportunity to challenge the Alberta tests but their provincial J welder tickets weren't recognized in Alberta. I think with CWB becoming more of a requirement there's more standardization. Not sure about pressure welding requirements but the one guy from Ontario said the Alberta practical test was much more difficult. An Alberta pressure ticket is recognized as one of the highest standards in the world and no it doesn't mean there aren't other very qualified welders in other parts of Canada or the world. Just that Alberta has very high standards.
Reply:

Originally Posted by BD1

Skip those classes and apply for a union apprenticeship. I don't know about Canada but my union in Chicago has a welding hybrid program. Definitely investigate it and I'm pretty sure being a UA member you can come to US to work. All benefits and pension applies. I did this 50 years ago and collecting a pension with awesome health care benefits .http://www.ua.org/canadaSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Welder Dave. Your right. Other provincial jman tickets are not recognized in Alberta. However, the interprovincial red seal jman ticket is recognized in Alberta, regardless of where it was written.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:

Originally Posted by monsoon-mech

he's reffering to the current restrictions on travel due to covid 19 shutdows also the unemployment levels worldwide due to same has left a cr@pload of highly experienced outa work welders etc.. for someone to have to compete with if trying to get started..
Reply:That's supposed to be the purpose of an interprovincial Red Seal ticket. I'm not sure if it was even available in all provinces back when I got it in the 80's. I think the practical tests now match the Alberta tests or are the same across Canada. The Red Seal when I took it, I thought was kind of a farce but I'm in Alberta so the practical tests were a higher standard. The reason I thought it was a bit of a farce is because it's a theory test that was basically the same as the NAIT test but 50 questions longer. A guy in my class was pizzed because he got one question wrong on the IP Red Seal test. Not all the questions are easy. I inquired about a question in the Tig section and the instructor thought I read it wrong. I picked the right answer but didn't read the question wrong. The question was, "What is the purpose of leaving the shielding gas on after the completion of the weld?" There were 4 multiple choice answers. 2 of them were correct. I don't remember the exact answers but 1 was to shield the puddle till it cooled and the other was to cool and protect the tungsten. The instructor agreed both answers were correct and thought the question was what is the main purpose of post flow. I said it just said what is the purpose. He said he was going to look into it. They go hand in hand.
Reply:

Originally Posted by BD1

I know what you're saying about traveling. I'm saying apply for an apprenticeship and see what's available. As bad as things are, qualified tradesmen will be at a premium. All us old guys are retiring and my local Union can't get enough apprentices in the USA. I did see a Canadian Facebook post wanting union Sheetmetal apprentices. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:

Originally Posted by monsoon-mech

and I'm going to focus on building all the "projects" I've accumulated the last 40 years of my 54 years) ...
Reply:

Originally Posted by 12345678910

It's too well written for a spammer.You're not goingo to get a job with one course and one certification.Especially if you consider all the out of work fellow you are now compeitng with.If you took a full welder fitter course from a college, the college would have a whole placement services division.If you were the best and brightest in the class, the teacher would have companies to refer you to.I recommend more courses, more certifications, more experiences.Build a portfolio of projects you did with drawings, photos and so on so you have something to show.Papers might get you to the interview but the interview is often a welding test  in house everywhere you go.
Reply:Thanks, everyone for the replies, I appreciate all your interests.What I could deduce from all this is either I should get into a top college or get CWB certifications in welding. But it would only help me to fill up my resume; To increase my chances of getting hired by a top company, I apparently should test for the certification to become a journeyman welder.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Summer

I apparently should test for the certification to become a journeyman welder.
Reply:The only time you can challenge the journeyman test or one of the years of apprenticeship is to have proof of hours in the trade. There is a practical test, and a theory test and maybe a cutting test too. I worked with a welder from Sweden who challenged the test but failed the cutting test because in Sweden fitters do all the cutting. He was a good welder and worked building ships. Often going to a trade school will credit your hours and sometimes allow you to challenge the first year of apprenticeship. Welding apprenticeship in Alberta is 3 years with 8 weeks per year in school and min. 1560 hours per year. It used to be only 6 weeks school per year and 1800 hours each year. Interesting is that one of the long time instructors I talked to said they used to teach a lot more when it was only 6 weeks. O/A welding used to be a requirement and you learned how to braze and fusion weld cast iron.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

Welding apprenticeship in Alberta is 3 years with 8 weeks per year in school and min. 1560 hours per year.Alberta has pretty high standards for welding. An Alberta pressure ticket is recognized world wide and apparently Alberta has a reputation as the best pipe welders but pipelining is almost a different trade altogether. Good welders come from all over though. There's a difference between just being a welder and being skilled craftsman. Skilled craftsmen don't have a good enough attitude.
Reply:

Originally Posted by monsoon-mech

its not a test.. its putting in time usually 5 years of apprenticeship under a journeyman welder  as well as classes
Reply:You usually do the Red Seal test at the same time you finish your apprenticeship training. I don't know if there's an hours requirement for it but you have to have your J welder ticket before you can get the Red Seal ticket. Now if you don't pass your J welder tests you can't get your Red Seal even if you passed and took it at the same time. Coming from another province you can take the Red Seal test as long as you have a Provincial J ticket.
Reply:Thats the Alberta Process. BC also I believe. Ontario doesn’t have a provincial jman welder ticket or license. The IP Red Seal is the jman ticket in Ontario. The trade is not a required trade in ONSent from my iPhone using TapatalkJasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:They don't have apprenticeships in Ontario?
Reply:

Originally Posted by Summer

Well, I started welding more as part-time work and later thought of doing it full time. If I had taken it seriously, I could have got into a college, and that would have landed me an excellent job probably. However, I should presumably prepare myself and earn more certificates in welding, as you have suggested.Thanks!
Reply:

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

They don't have apprenticeships in Ontario?
Reply:Seems like standardizing the qualifications to the highest level would be a good thing.
Reply:I agree. I’d love to see the trade classified as a required trade in Ontario. Job security’s a good thing. This is how Ontario thinks it’s keeping cost down for construction and welding work. The jman Millwright who has a CWB does his/her own welding on pump bases. The jman ironworker with a CWB does his/her own structural welding....etc.Im pretty sure this is how it is in most states in the US as well.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:The CWB seems really bizarre to me. An ironworker can pass a test and work as a structural welder without having to go through any formal training or theory even in Alberta. Kind of a slap in the face to those who went through an apprenticeship and know more than just how to run a bead.
Reply:The CWB code when I was exposed to it in the early 1980's was exclusively for structural steel work.  In fact the original code actually had a rule in the first few pages that stated that the code could only be used for structural welding on steel structures.  Yes it has a bizarre beginning where now the code can be used by many other industries and those few sentences were removed.   The important thing to understand is that the company is certified by CWB and that requires that they have a welding engineer who oversees operations and does regular audits.  So in effect the company ensures the procedures are followed and that the welding is inspected according to the dictates of the code and customers requirements.  When they hire a "welder" the onus is on the company to see that things are done right.   There have been occasions where I have popped my little head into the office and asked if they really want us to do it that way.  Sure enough an hour or two later someone comes out and changes the weld procedure.  I know in most cases they thought it prudent to phone the welding engineer and run it by him.   Because of code requirements the trade of welder really did not apply and there was no such thing as a journeyman welder.  As an example Westcoast shipyards pre WW2 were building ships using rivetting.  Welding comes along in WW2 and so all the riveters became welders.  Since the plate fitters did not rivet shipfitters, which is a trade, were not allowed to weld ( union rules)  Last time I experienced it ship fitters were only allowed to tack no longer than two inches.   Ships are welded up properly but I heard from old timers how during war time welders were paid by the pound they consumed from the tool room tally.  Tons of rod was tossed into the water.  Also they would sneak out a 20 foot length of rod from the machine shop and drop it into the bottom of a joint then doing a cover pass.  I cringed when someone in the 1980's boasted that they did that trick when welding up the frame of a large shovel for an open pit mine.   If you look at the history of pressure vessels and tanks they were originally riveted.  There is a long and bloody history of boilers and pressure tanks exploding so riveters did not jump directly into welding jobs.  The petroleum industry made sure that welders qualified to very high standards.  That means practical testing on procedures the welder will do on the job.  So each region is dominated by different industries.  The welding jobs are also different.    I have yet to find a "journeyman welder' who can jump from welding pressure tanks to heavy equipment to structural steel.  It is all welding but if you have not worked in that area you are a fool to call yourself any kind of expert.  In fact the best journeymen I have encountered always start a job with caution and care even if they have done the same job for years.  There is a surprise just around the corner for all of us.
Reply:Pipeline welding is almost another trade too. In Alberta anyways the CWB seems like they are trying to run things similar to the way pressure vessels are but for structural welding. NAIT students having to do the same test over and pay the CWB is a cash cow. I've known a few guys that are just good welders that have done everything from heavy equipment to oilfield to pressure vessels and I've also seen outstanding pipeliners that are a little lost on general fabrication. Structural welding has different meanings depending on who you talk too. Some consider structural buildings and bridges, etc. Other's consider oilfield skids and such structural. The CWB certified union shop that was building platforms, stairs and railings for a new roller coaster at the mall was doing downhand 7018 which wouldn't meet CWB or any other requirements. There was no CWB supervisor (which is a requirement) checking anything. I've said it before there is a difference between someone who welds and someone who is a true craftsman that takes pride in their work.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Welder Dave

The CWB seems really bizarre to me. An ironworker can pass a test and work as a structural welder without having to go through any formal training or theory even in Alberta. Kind of a slap in the face to those who went through an apprenticeship and know more than just how to run a bead.
Reply:Nothing like you'd learn in a welding apprenticeship. Seeing a CWB, union no less, shop somehow allowing downhand 7018 tells me that maybe the CWB isn't everything they claim it to be although it could have just been this shop. You cut corners and do things that aren't approved in a vessel shop and you'll lose your license to build vessels. I had a foreman that worked at shop that lost their U stamp.
Reply:Hi.!! Hope you are fine and enjoying good day. No doubt welding is a good and high paying job, but to get job frequently is a hard task. My suggestions are to earn handsome salary by driving vehicles. You can learn not only about vehicles but also about the license and license exam preparation, by reading motorbike theory test. It is one of the best way to learn & earn in UK and USA.