PLEASE HELP! Advice RE Education/Training

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HiI’m trying to figure out the best and most direct path to becoming qualified to seek work as a welder.My fiancé and I are trying to rebuild our lives – we both derailed at different points before we met from some pretty MAJOR poor choices!!I am sure some of you gentlemen have the experience and knowledge to be able to advice someone “If a man did this and that…” I’m asking you to please share a little with me!I’ve seen and read some about apprenticeships…How would someone go about getting an opportunity like that?Would you say that a cert (1 yr training) through a Comm College would be sufficient to get a foot in the door somewhere?What type of welding is most sought after and pays the best? Mig, Tig???Could a person study on their own and then test for certification?I’m asking genuinely for some help/knowledge as to how to accomplish this goal quickly (as possible) as we have a growing family that we are trying like hell to take care of “the right way” and we just need a little help in getting the opportunity to get some stability.Thanks
Reply:First sounds like you need a career/job for something that you know while you learn welding.Look at a community college for classes. School never hurts, plus I believe you can get certified through them.What state/town are you in? You will find a lots of people are self taught and successful.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:You don't list where you live. Around here chances you'll get any apprenticeship is close to zero right now. All the unions  are having trouble finding work for the guys they currently have and aren't taking applications. Those few they are taking in, usually are family of a current member or have an "in" with someone in the union. There's a long list of guys way ahead of you. Used to be the unions all lined up at the tech school to try and recruit the best students. Today they don't even bother to come out and talk to the students since they aren't taking any applications anyways. Things might be different in another area however.As far as landing a job, about 1 in 4 coming out of the tech school manage to land some sort of welding job. That said of those, maybe only 1 out of 10 are starting above $15 an hour. Most are in the $9-12 range. Welcome to the $hitty economy.As far as what pays the best, tig would be #1 usually, with stick 2nd depending on what sort of work you get hired to do. Mig is usually low money production most times, though there are exceptions. If you can fit and have decent fab skills, your value goes up.Honestly there's no "quick" way to a decent paying job right now. Don't expect to simply walk out of school and into big money jobs. There are simply too many out of work guys with more skills and more experience then you will have, that are willing to work cheap to put bread on the table, then there are jobs right now. You are going to have to bust your but, work multiple jobs and hope you catch a break some where. Prove you are a hard worker and your chances improve somewhat. Expect to sit on your but and have it get handed to you on a platter and you are in for an ugly time..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:cjlove,Where are you located?  Have you ever served in our armed forces?  The reason I'm asking is because it might be slightly easier for a vet to get a job in these trades nowadays, via certain programs.  Good luck.Z
Reply:Like DSW said........ You have got to have something that 1,000 other guys don't have. There is work in the oil fields in Wyoming and North Dakota. Any man who could put on a resume he worked a winter up there will certainly step ahead of the "fair weather" hands who went south for the winter. Depends on how bad you want it. The oil patch jobs (welders, roustabouts, floor hands, etc) are there. They won't be coming to a town near you.HoboLincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.