Starting a Welding Career

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Currently I am working for Caterpillar and I am in the UAW, but I mainly got this job to really see if this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It turns out I love the job lol The only thing is that I want to expand my career in it, but have no clue where to get started. I'm willing to go wherever there is good work and I am interested in doing rig welding, pipewelding, or even submerged. I'm just not sure if I should go back to school, get an apprenticeship with the boilermakers, or just try to jump right in it. Even if I did go back to school I'm not sure what certs to get.
Reply:I forgot to mention that I'm only 20 and have room to expand. I also have a certification, but I am not sure it's AWS.
Reply:Originally Posted by simmobl1I forgot to mention that I'm only 20 and have room to expand. I also have a certification, but I am not sure it's AWS.
Reply:Yes, a school cert and it was SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and oxyfuel welding.
Reply:Originally Posted by simmobl1Yes, a school cert and it was SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, and oxyfuel welding.
Reply:I'm not real sure why everyone is so concerned with "certs" and not so much as to learn the true craft of the trade. Certs will only get you a shot at a job and learning the job will keep you there. besides a welder will have to prove himself EVERYTIME you go on a job. don't worry about the certs and get the process down pat then you can get something to hang on the wall.JMOMagicial Magician Of Molten Metal2006 Chevy Dually Welding Truck1975 SA-200 Lincoln Red SealMiller AEAD 200-LELincoln 225 AC/DC tombstoneVictor Contractors Flaming TomahawkProfax Tig RigMore pipe fitting tools to mentionMetabo's
Reply:Originally Posted by 74hotrodI'm not real sure why everyone is so concerned with "certs" and not so much as to learn the true craft of the trade. Certs will only get you a shot at a job and learning the job will keep you there. besides a welder will have to prove himself EVERYTIME you go on a job. don't worry about the certs and get the process down pat then you can get something to hang on the wall.JMO
Reply:I know the true reason of the certs,what I am trying to say is that as we say around here"a blind sow can find a acorn every now and then" and I've taken ALOT of test that is bought and paid for before I even showed up.I'm a 20 yr long pipe welder first on cross county pipeline and now on construction,I know a little about the craft.I've gotten all the certs that a welder can ask for,but everytime we go on a new job I've got to retest anyway. As for the internet you can print off certs as long as you have the ink and paper.Magicial Magician Of Molten Metal2006 Chevy Dually Welding Truck1975 SA-200 Lincoln Red SealMiller AEAD 200-LELincoln 225 AC/DC tombstoneVictor Contractors Flaming TomahawkProfax Tig RigMore pipe fitting tools to mentionMetabo's
Reply:Originally Posted by 74hotrodI know the true reason of the certs,what I am trying to say is that as we say around here"a blind sow can find a acorn every now and then" and I've taken ALOT of test that is bought and paid for before I even showed up.I'm a 20 yr long pipe welder first on cross county pipeline and now on construction,I know a little about the craft.I've gotten all the certs that a welder can ask for,but everytime we go on a new job I've got to retest anyway. As for the internet you can print off certs as long as you have the ink and paper.
Reply:Originally Posted by 74hotrodI know the true reason of the certs,what I am trying to say is that as we say around here"a blind sow can find a acorn every now and then" and I've taken ALOT of test that is bought and paid for before I even showed up.I'm a 20 yr long pipe welder first on cross county pipeline and now on construction,I know a little about the craft.I've gotten all the certs that a welder can ask for,but everytime we go on a new job I've got to retest anyway. As for the internet you can print off certs as long as you have the ink and paper.
Reply:Every welding company thats worth a damn will glance at your certs a whole 5 seconds, then tell you to grab your gear and prove yourself.  You earn your salt in a booth, not paper!
Reply:Originally Posted by JeremySVillaI'm not real sure why everyone is so concerned with "certs" and not so much as to learn the true craft of the trade.
Reply:Hmm... I wish I could just get a job with the certs I have without taking the test for the company it hasn't worked that way for me yet :[
Reply:I don't understand this to, for almost 6 months im reading US guys on this board, in US i know absolutely nothing how its work, and i don't pretend to know, but some of ''beginner'' post i've read is all about getting certs!I can understand if you want/need to work outside (pipe, construction, pressure tank)but the only thing i notice is where i live in canada, foreman and boss are more interested in someone who know how to read drawings, smart and know how to work and fit stuff!Im almost 3 years only experience in shops, and every different shops i went (about 4) i always see the same kind of welder guy ''the full certs and proud guy'' this guy say's ''i have certs for this and this and 100% for this and passe this test bla bla bla'' but he's running the same MIG or FCAW process all year long, and most of the time i have a better paychek then those guys!after this if you want to be only a welder and weld all day long the company will manage you for getting you certified at what the company need, but there is no rush about getting certified about every process! like i said i know its different in pipe and boiler job, for this part its the same here in canada, getting full certified its better but i don't know this job really well!Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:I guess it vary's by location. Down here most welders just chase big money contract jobs. And if you know enough people, you can stay busy making 6 figures a year. Hell, alot of pipe companies doing work down here pay double time, without certs. To each is their own though, if certs is what you want, then get em!
Reply:In my situation I have to have certs to be able to weld on the job. I'm a 2nd year apprentice with UA 72 in ATL. If i didn't have certs i would make $10 less an hour and not weld anything be a helper pretty much, but now that i am certified I make 80% of the journeyman scale which is $23.10 pretty damn good for being 20yo. As for getting the certs, the ATRs that test at our hall they want as close to perfection as possible and the UA goes by the nuclear code and i cant speak for other halls but i know 72 keeps to the code. and if you can get close to perfect in a controlled environment then you sure be able to get a pipe weld to shoot in the field 90% of the time and the other 10% they aint gone ask a kid with limited experience to make it. Well that is unless he runs his mouth too much lol
Reply:There is something that im wondering, do you guys in US sould have to go by yourself and your own decision at a place to pass those AWS certs or you work on a plant and someone from their office come to the plant to give you the test ?Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:Originally Posted by jwlambertI guess it vary's by location. Down here most welders just chase big money contract jobs. And if you know enough people, you can stay busy making 6 figures a year. Hell, alot of pipe companies doing work down here pay double time, without certs. To each is their own though, if certs is what you want, then get em!
Reply:You need to QUALIFY for almost every job you go on.....................Say I go in to a plant to do some piping, 9 times out of 10 the binder full of certs I have is not good enough for them and I have to do an inhouse test to get the job.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I've heard pipeline companies are requiring an on site weld test to work on the gas pipeline installations in my neck of the woods. A paper cert will get you the opportunity to weld your test. A few  bruised egos and a lot of 'I haven't had to do this in years!', but it has given a lot of peace of mind to the area.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingYou need to QUALIFY for almost every job you go on.....................Say I go in to a plant to do some piping, 9 times out of 10 the binder full of certs I have is not good enough for them and I have to do an inhouse test to get the job.
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingYou need to QUALIFY for almost every job you go on.....................Say I go in to a plant to do some piping, 9 times out of 10 the binder full of certs I have is not good enough for them and I have to do an inhouse test to get the job.