Looking for advice about moving to Alberta for a welding apprenticeship

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Hello everybody25 year old from Toronto, ON here looking to find a new career. I have been looking into learning a trade, and have been leaning towards welding. I have no prior experience in trades work or welding for that matter, but from all the research I've done it looks like an interesting line of work.I understand that in order to work in Alberta as a welder, one must be a journeyman or registered apprentice. My question is, would it be best to get vocational training and some work experience here in Toronto, and then seek apprenticeships out in Alberta? Or should I save myself the time and money on training and try to seek some kind of general labour employment out in Alberta that can potentially lead to an apprenticeship?I have my high school diploma (with grade 12 college math and English), as well as some unrelated post-secondary education (includes a COMM200 credit). Thanks in advance.
Reply:Don't let me spook you but it's the 'no prior experience in trades work or welding' that caught my eye.  Most lifetime welders end up in the racket by way of at least some background.  Hopefully you've had the opportunity to run some overhead 6010 and smell your hair burning, heard the screech of the grinders, and know what it's like to wear a respirator all day.  Ever had a wet glove shock?  Given enough time anyone can learn to weld, some will be naturals, others may struggle.  Curious to see what responses you get as to when's best to head for Alberta.  Being a newbie, what other trades have you considered.  One that comes to mind...instrument mechanic.  Remote control valves and sensors....the instrument guy sets up the necessary vacuum lines and gauges running back to the control room.   Same good money, little more design work, little less need for natural ability.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldSparksDon't let me spook you but it's the 'no prior experience in trades work or welding' that caught my eye.  Most lifetime welders end up in the racket by way of at least some background.  Hopefully you've had the opportunity to run some overhead 6010 and smell your hair burning, heard the screech of the grinders, and know what it's like to wear a respirator all day.  Ever had a wet glove shock?  Given enough time anyone can learn to weld, some will be naturals, others may struggle.  Curious to see what responses you get as to when's best to head for Alberta.  Being a newbie, what other trades have you considered.  One that comes to mind...instrument mechanic.  Remote control valves and sensors....the instrument guy sets up the necessary vacuum lines and gauges running back to the control room.   Same good money, little more design work, little less need for natural ability.
Reply:Originally Posted by ElectricEyeWhen I say no trades experience, I mean none at all.
Reply:Since you have really good experience and backround in math I would go to the best trade school available and take the most advanced pipe fitter coarses available. A real good school will have job placement availibilities when your done. You won't be rolling in money at first and may have to travel or relocate, but it's a start. Get your foot in the door for a lifelong journey and be prepared to take welding coarses at night and tighten up the belt and and use your fitter pay to pay for them on top of living expense on a fitters pay. You're the right age and can make it work. Get your dlck kicked in for a while and eventually you'll be making good if not exceptionally good money. With zero experience I say start at the bottom and rise to the top. Put your tough face on and go for it, but it won't be easy. College to me in this day and age is a waste. I tell kids today the world needs grunts, but you gotta be tough it's not easy but there is real good money out there for the taking! Go get it bud!I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Most colleges have counselling services free to anyone considering entering a program.  Make an appointment and sound them out if you can take an interest inventory and aptitude test.  This is pretty standard stuff and will help you and the counselor suggest several choices.  There is no right or wrong answers to these type of tests but give general indications about what you are suited for.   Once you have narrowed your choices down then talk to people in the vocation that you seem interested in.   So many people coming out of the school system now have never gotten their hands dirty and worked up a sweat ... other than at the gym.  I have seen some pretty muscular guys who definitely did weight training shrink from the rain, cold, noise, dust and awkward lifting in the steel trades.   Two reps from the local Ironworkers union trying to recruit apprentices told me about looking out on a sea of faces in a city high school and seeing blank faces more interested in their smart phones.  One of their apprentices made 100 K out of town in his first year.  They started looking at farming communities outside the city.  In farming communities they figured the young people knew was cold, wet, and work meant.
Reply:I'm an Alberta iron worker welder myself. It is tough to get a job welding being an apprentice. Most jobs in the unions are calls for journeyman welders. Not many companies are looking for apprentices. There are some calls for apprentice welders but most companies want journeyman welders. Most sites will not allow an apprentice to weld period unless your a 3rd yr with an all position ticket like a CWB stick.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:it's a good trade, learn all you can.
Reply:Im not sure what is going on in Alberta right now but Nothern B.C. is busy. Don't waste your time on a trade school. Google pipe line builders Fort St John and Grande Prairie and start calling, tell them you would like to work as a welders helper or labourer. if you get to work as a helper your hrs will count towards your aprenticeship if you choose to start one.There are other trades where the $ to bullcrap ratio is better and the demand is better during down turns, Power enginer, instrument mechanic, Protection & Control Field Technologist, and power line tech
Reply:If I were 25 again I'd go to California Wind tech school. You get to eventually work and live in some of the most beautiful areas of the world. Sure. Welding too but everything else that goes with them from elec, mechanical, heavy equipment.http://www.nwe.siemens.com/windpower...ages/jobs.aspxBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)