certifications?

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I've been welding for 3 years professionally, 5 years of experience with MIG on stainless, aluminum, and steel. I want to start a serious career as a welder. Can anyone give me pointers on what certifications i should seek out?
Reply:If you want a serious career as a welder, you're going to have to start practicing stick and tig in all positions in earnest, as well as fluxcore.  Mig welding isnt a big money maker, mostly shop work in manufacturing which most shops only pay slightly better for mig welders than for other mildly skilled jobs. Basic structural (construction) certs are 3G/4G stick and 3G/4G fluxcore.  I'm not a pipe guy but there are many different certs for tig and stick in piping.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:jimmyjazz,The problem you're going to find out about is that certifications are very complex and very, very specific.  If you're going to go to the trouble of getting them for yourself, you need to figure out what kinds of things you're going to weld, and then figure out what certication you need to get.  Once you get it, you'll have to worry about maintaining that certification.Having a certification is a bit like having a drivers license.  It says you were able to pass the test on a given day at, a particular time.  But it doens't really prevent you from going out and crashing your car the next Friday night...Welding certifications cover a specific welding code, like AWS, API, or ASME.  They cover specific materials or classes of materials (Steel, Stainless Steel, Aluminum, etc).  They cover shape of material, pipe, plate, or sheet.  In some codes pipe certs also cover welding plate.  Welding certs are by position, although most codes have a position that covers all other positions, like a 6G pipe cert coversl pipe and plate in all positions, under AWS code.  Certifications are by material thickness, usually a certificaiton will cover a range of thicknesses.  They cover specific welding processes, SMAW, GTAW, FCAW.  Lastly, they usually cover a specific welding procedure.  These are usually 'pre-qualified' otherwise the procedure and the welder need to be evaluated together. All this means that you'll usually wind up needing a whole book of certifications to cover all the work you might do.  This is why most welders let their employers assume the responsibilities for choosing what certs are needed and making sure they are maintained.  Most employers will insist that you re-test when you're hired, so your past certifications aren't portable.If you're looking for a certficiation so you can say you're certified as a self-employed welder, then go to your welding instructor, find a certified welding inspector who'll give you free advice, or talk to the organization you planned to pay to supervise your testing.  Someone knowledgable could help you decide what cert to get that best applies to the work you're going to do.I went this route and tested on 8" schedule 80 pipe in 6G position, under the AWS code.  I welded the joint with Tig Root and hot pass, then fill and Cap with E7018.  This gives me some credentials in pipe-welding(steel pipe, 4" to 12", I forget what wall thickness), and covers me for AWS structural plate welding from 1/8" thickness and up.  It still leaves a lot of holes in what I'm 'certified' to do.  But it covers some ground and lets me get my foot in the door. I paid $300 for the testing and certificaiton.  I could have tested with Stick root, but decided not to.  I have to fill out paperwork and send it in every 6 months to maintain my certification.  It's a pain, which is why I don't have more certs.  I'll get them if I ever get a job that requires them.Clear as mud now?Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector