Should I go to this school?

admin

There is a technical school in my area (Florida).  They have an "Applied Welding Technologies" program that lasts 13.5 months and with the following curriculum:Welder Helper - Course PMT0011 (250 Hours) – Content includes oxyfuel gas cutting, basic shop skills, and basic shielded metal arc. Students are taught cutting, bending, drilling, punching and finishing skills as it relates to working with metals. Welder, Shielded Metal Arc - Course PMT0012 (250 Hours) – Students are taught how to interpret basic elements of a drawing or sketch, fabricate parts from a drawing, identify metals, and arc weld and cut. Welder, Gas - Metal Arc - Course PMT0013 (125 Hours) – Instruction concentrates on set up and operation of gas metal arc welding. Students will be taught how to make groove and fillet welds in overhead, vertical, and horizontal positions. Welder, Flux Cored Arc - Course PMT0014 (100 Hours) – Content focuses on set up and operation of flux cored arc welding. Students are taught how to make groove welds, in all positions, on plain carbon steel. Welders, Gas Tungsten Arc - Course PMT0015 (GTAW) (175 Hours) – Students are taught how to perform external inspections and make minor repairs to GTAW equipment and accessories. Techniques for groove and fillet welds on aluminum and stainless steel, and carbon steel are also taught. Welder, Pipe - Course PMT0016 (270 Hours) – The content of this course includes fabricating and welding pipe joints. Students are taught how to tack and weld carbon steel pipe; repair products of ferrous and non-ferrous metals; and fabricate products from drawings and/or blueprints.   After completing all competencies, students are required to take the AWS certification test. Upon passing, the student earns a certification card from AWS.Articulation Agreement(s): St. Petersburg College Industrial Management Technology, A.S. DegreeIndustry Certification(s):  Certified WelderThey advertise:BEGIN AN EXCITING CAREER IN APPLIED WELDING AS A• Welder Helper• Welder Fabricator• Pipe WelderUpon completing Pinellas Technical College’s 14 month program graduates can earn between $10 and $40 per hour.What are your thoughts? I was also told on here to see about getting an apprenticeship through a union.  Where can I find more info about this (Such as a website)?  Any advice is appreciated!
Reply:1170 hours huh? Works for me. How much is the tuition?Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:$5300
Reply:Why such a long course for so few hours? 1100 should only be like seven months. Unless your doing this four hours a day. Tuition seems like a good price if it includes all consumables and materials.
Reply:The info on the union would be on you UA Local union website, or look up Florida pipe trades for a list of all the UA locals in Florida. It's is a 5 year apprenticeship. Feel free to ask me any questions as I am in the apprenticeship.
Reply:Tuition includes everything.  Classes are Monday through Friday 4-5 hours a day.  I mentioned welding to my family but received negative comments.  One said that I would go blind and the other told me welding jobs aren't as popular as they use to be because more things are being made out of plastic.  I believe they also don't see me as the "welder type" as well (I'm not that tough or knowledgeable about "manly" things.  I'm also quiet and can be labeled more as a "bookworm.)"  However, I do really want to improve where I'm at financially and feel like in order for me to do that;  I need to learn a skill.  My dad argues that since I have a degree in Marketing, I should be able to find work if I apply for more jobs.  However, I get so frustrated when I can't find any jobs that I'm qualified for.
Reply:Originally Posted by BillyMThe info on the union would be on you UA Local union website, or look up Florida pipe trades for a list of all the UA locals in Florida. It's is a 5 year apprenticeship. Feel free to ask me any questions as I am in the apprenticeship.
Reply:I would contact your UA local and find out when they take applications for their apprenticeship each year. Some take them year round and some like mine only take them for a short period in the spring. I applied during this application period and then had a board interview with the local's JATC committee. You are then ranked on a list and called as spots open up for apprentices. They don't require you to know everything walking in the door,that's why it's a 5 yr program . You will go to school 2 nights a week usually and work during the day for one of the union contractors.
Reply:How many hours per week do you work and do you get paid?   What was the interview like and what do they rank you on?
Reply:You work 40 hrs a week and you get paid. You receive benefits after a probation period. The interview was with a committee and they asked you about your background, why you want to get into the trade and other general questions. They rank you on your people skills during the interview, how you look and what you bring to the table over the other applicants. It doesn't hurt to have a construction or mechanical background, but I have seen them hire people with no skills and a college degree.
Reply:$5300 for the course is very reasonable. There's a private school here that has a pre-employment welding course and I think it's about 3 times that and maybe even more. What's missing from the course is oxy/fuel and plasma cutting but it could just be there isn't a separate component for cutting and it's included in the welding portions. A union is another way to go if they are looking for new apprentices. If things are slow and they don't need any newbie's, they aren't going to accept you.
Reply:Originally Posted by morgothaod$5300
Reply:The price is fairly reasonable, but still seems high to me. Who's their accrediting body?