A certificate or associate degree program can get you started in this growing field.
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Young people seeking a line of work with a living wage and job opportunities across the country should consider welding, a field that professionals say is both a science and an art.
Welders generally need a certification or associate degree to practice the trade. Those interested in a four-year degree might consider welding engineering or welding engineering technology.
Tim Baber, chair of the department of Welding and Advanced Manufacturing Technology at College of the Canyons, a public community college in Santa Clarita, California, that offers both certification and two-year associate degrees in welding, says the big motivator for his students is money and lifestyle choices. “I ask my students: How many of you want to move out of the house at 18? How can you become independent? Welding will afford that opportunity for you,” he says.
Welding is the joining together of pieces of the same type of material, such as metal, thermoplastics or wood. A welder can use a variety of techniques, depending on the industry. These include shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and flux-cored arc welding. Many welders specialize in a specific manufacturing industry, like aerospace, automotive or shipping.
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