Private trade schools, are they worth it?

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Hi there I am interested in going to a private trade school called aviron tech, the site being www.avirontech.com and I'm just wondering are they worth it? The cost of the program would be around $10k-14kCDN and is paying all that money worth it when there is another school thats doing the same program for not even $1,000?
Reply:Are you in the US?  I have not even heard of that school.  The big names here are Tulsa and Hobart.  I know Tulsa is around $15K for a master welding certificate.My opinion is that the training is not much better than a good community college could offer.  It is faster and more focused on hands on skills, but at a CC you would get college credits and would have the option to earn a certificate, AS degree, or transfer to a BS Eng or Tech degree. Last time I took classes at the CC it was only $600 for as many credits as a person could swallow.  I took 21 college credit hours in CAD, computer science, and robotics for only $600!!!Last edited by obewan; 02-10-2011 at 12:12 PM.
Reply:You are looking at a training facility in Quebec.  The big problem with this program from what I can see is that it does not lead to any provincial or Canadian Red Seal qualification.  Quebec tends to row their boat differently than other provinces.  If you stay in Quebec that is just fine. I would look for a provincial college training program.  You might try the CWA   It costs nothing to get on their email list and be a member.http://www.cwa-acs.org/weldingInstitutions.html#QCLast edited by lotechman; 02-10-2011 at 05:24 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanYou are looking at a training facility in Quebec.  The big problem with this program from what I can see is that it does not lead to any provincial or Canadian Red Seal qualification.  Quebec tends to row their boat differently than other provinces.  If you stay in Quebec that is just fine. I would look for a provincial college training program.  You might try the CWA   It costs nothing to get on their email list and be a member.http://www.cwa-acs.org/weldingInstitutions.html#QC
Reply:Originally Posted by dormammuWhy do I need Canadian Red Seal qualification?  I'm looking at travelling to other parts of the world maybe over seas if I could get some sort of specialization in welding.
Reply:The Red Seal is a Canadian interprovincial certification.  Often after you have received your journeyman status from an apprenticeship or a trades qualification exam at provincial level you then write an interprovincial exam.  If you pass the interprovincial then you are issued a red seal on your journeyman's paper making you qualified across Canada.  This applies to most trades in Canada.
Reply:Thanks for the replies! What exam(s) do I have to pass in order to recieve something that says I can work overseas in other countries/parts of the world?
Reply:Once you have a basic provincial qualification you should look to train in an area you like.  Some people like to do pressure pipe work such as in boiler work or pipelines.  For that kind of work you will need to do welding tests that usually follow the ASME code.  Most people do these tests in order to qualify for a job position with a specific employer or an employer asks you to do the test in order for the company to take on some special work.  If you are looking to work internationally you will likely need some ASME tickets.  Most out of country work involves pipes and pressure since they usually can get locals to do regular work and will hire locals since it will be cheaper than paying for travel and a work visa.   After a few years BS'ing at lunch time with your workmates you will have a better idea of where you want to work and what type of work interests you.  You will have to ask yourself:  Do you like repetitive work? Indoors? Outdoors?  Cold? Warm? Hot? Shift work?  Do you mind traveling? Do you like repairing things or like to work on new material?  Are you a family guy who needs to see his kids grow up?  Are you after money and nothing else?  Do you like GMAW? GTAW? SAW? SMAW? or maybe some exotic process?   Maybe you will not weld after awhile but instead be an inspector of some sort.... or even, heaven forbid, a lead hand or foreman.  :'))   You start at the bottom and work your way up.  You do not do a test, pass, and walk into a six figure annual salary working on some offshore rig.Last edited by lotechman; 02-11-2011 at 01:26 PM.
Reply:You should contact zbounce and ExpatWelder on here and ask them for suggestions on how to do what you are wanting to do. I believe both of them are over in Africa somewhere working in the welding industry, but are both Americans.
Reply:worcester polytech in mass is the besti went to southeastern university for aluminum welding
Reply:Personally, I would go the cheaper community college route and use your money towards buying a decent engine driven welder, mig, or tig machine, and metal to practice at home. It would be cheaper and you would be ahead of the game because you would own your own equipment. Then try and find a job or apprentiship where they can send you to school on their dime. Im sure all these expensive schools can be well worth it, but you can still learn alot from a cheaper class and not be broke after. As long as you really want to learn, the information is out there. Plus, maybe youll find out that you like it as a hobby but wouldnt want to do it everyday as a job. But thats just cheap ol me and my 2 cents!Lincoln ac/dc 225/125Millermatic 211 w/ Spoolmatic 100Miller 330 a/bpDynasty 200 dx
Reply:Trust me!From my own experience...the trainig you get from that place is a bunch of crap.How do i know this you may ask. i enrolled with them for courses quite a few years ago and it really is just a sales scam or maybe not a scam but it is like most of the infomercials you see on tv late at night. not really worth the two easy payments of 29.99...loli actually live close by to the offices and they were in a real bad part of town.i really do not know how these people are still in business for all these years.i guess there's suckers born every minute.i took other courses than welding. i took or started to take a small engines course from them and well...like i said above they just want to sell you tools or the tools of whatever trade you are taking. years before i started the small engine course i took a photography course from them and i really didn't learn anymore than what i had been taught in high school. it was a bunch of crap and just wasted my money . live and learn.oh ya you will learn something of whatever course you're taking but very little. you'll learn more about how sales scams work and as for me it did eventually help me when i was working in sales many years ago cus i used some of their tricks to sucker people into buying what i was selling.learn from my expensive mistakes and stay away.its too bad that apprenticeships are not really happening anymore...someone to take a young'n under his or her wing and teach them. imo, that is the best way to learn any trade or anything for that matter.fab
Reply:Originally Posted by HeisenbergPersonally, I would go the cheaper community college route and use your money towards buying a decent engine driven welder, mig, or tig machine, and metal to practice at home. It would be cheaper and you would be ahead of the game because you would own your own equipment. Then try and find a job or apprentiship where they can send you to school on their dime. Im sure all these expensive schools can be well worth it, but you can still learn alot from a cheaper class and not be broke after. As long as you really want to learn, the information is out there. Plus, maybe youll find out that you like it as a hobby but wouldnt want to do it everyday as a job. But thats just cheap ol me and my 2 cents!
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanOnce you have a basic provincial qualification you should look to train in an area you like.  Some people like to do pressure pipe work such as in boiler work or pipelines.  For that kind of work you will need to do welding tests that usually follow the ASME code.  Most people do these tests in order to qualify for a job position with a specific employer or an employer asks you to do the test in order for the company to take on some special work.  If you are looking to work internationally you will likely need some ASME tickets.  Most out of country work involves pipes and pressure since they usually can get locals to do regular work and will hire locals since it will be cheaper than paying for travel and a work visa.   After a few years BS'ing at lunch time with your workmates you will have a better idea of where you want to work and what type of work interests you.  You will have to ask yourself:  Do you like repetitive work? Indoors? Outdoors?  Cold? Warm? Hot? Shift work?  Do you mind traveling? Do you like repairing things or like to work on new material?  Are you a family guy who needs to see his kids grow up?  Are you after money and nothing else?  Do you like GMAW? GTAW? SAW? SMAW? or maybe some exotic process?   Maybe you will not weld after awhile but instead be an inspector of some sort.... or even, heaven forbid, a lead hand or foreman.  :'))   You start at the bottom and work your way up.  You do not do a test, pass, and walk into a six figure annual salary working on some offshore rig.
Reply:If you are seeking professional status you might start with a program much like SAIT in Alberta.  I believe there are similar programs in Ontario.http://sait.ca/cometosait/academic/diplomas/awet.shtml  You are not an engineer but would be employed by a company to oversee welding specifications and procedures.   As a certified technologist you would join a professional association.  Often the association is affiliated or is part of the provincial engineering association.  As either an engineer or technologist you have to show proof of ongoing training and upgrading as well as that you are actively practicing in your profession.  In most cases the courses you take are transferable to university if you decide to become a professional engineer.Also, if you start any welding program you should join the local welding association.  The Canadian Welding Association would be a good choice.  Do not be intimidated and go to the regular monthly meetings.  They are always looking for young blood and people who want to learn.  I am an AWS member out here on the West Coast of Canada and the monthly meetings are attended by regular welders and welding engineers.  It is a feather in your cap to know the people around you.  I have on occasion have recognized an engineer doing an inspection while I am working on the shop floor in my coveralls.   It breaks the ice and smooths things over when it is on a personal level.Last edited by lotechman; 02-17-2011 at 12:16 PM.Reason: addition
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanIf you are seeking professional status you might start with a program much like SAIT in Alberta.  I believe there are similar programs in Ontario.http://sait.ca/cometosait/academic/diplomas/awet.shtml  You are not an engineer but would be employed by a company to oversee welding specifications and procedures.   As a certified technologist you would join a professional association.  Often the association is affiliated or is part of the provincial engineering association.  As either an engineer or technologist you have to show proof of ongoing training and upgrading as well as that you are actively practicing in your profession.  In most cases the courses you take are transferable to university if you decide to become a professional engineer.Also, if you start any welding program you should join the local welding association.  The Canadian Welding Association would be a good choice.  Do not be intimidated and go to the regular monthly meetings.  They are always looking for young blood and people who want to learn.  I am an AWS member out here on the West Coast of Canada and the monthly meetings are attended by regular welders and welding engineers.  It is a feather in your cap to know the people around you.  I have on occasion have recognized an engineer doing an inspection while I am working on the shop floor in my coveralls.   It breaks the ice and smooths things over when it is on a personal level.
Reply:Before doing "specialized" welding you should learn to weld.  Welding is a hand skill and has to be learned by practice.  It is not much different that learning to play a musical instrument.  You have to practice.  Once you learn to weld using a given process learning how to weld using a different process is much easier.  Getting a commercial diving certification and the welding certifications will be expensive.... really expensive.  If you want something exciting join the armed forces and you will have all the excitement you want.