What Education do you Need to be a Welder in Hampton Roads, Virginia?

Over 70 percent of all manufactured products are produced through skilled welders. This is enough proof that the welding industry is blooming. Results from a recent study on the connection between the welding industry and American economic strength revealed that educated welders will continue to be in high demand. You’ve seen several products written “Made in the USA,” this isn’t a marketing tactic but a proud statement of quality products that prompts people to purchase goods from the U.S.

America has numerous active markets, including electronics, automotive, medical, and aeronautical technology. All these markets demand trained and highly skilled workforce, especially in the different types of welding. Therefore, if you want to become a welder in Hampton Roads, Virginia, you should be prepared to undergo formal welding education.

Benefits of Formal Welding Education

To start your welding career, it’s important that you complete a formal training program. Because welding is a specialized skill, HR managers and employers look for candidates that have formal training and hands-on experience, and not just an interest in the field.

Due to the special equipment used in welding tasks, expertise needed, and safety considerations, this isn’t something you can just pick up and practice on your own. To get started, one of the best ways to acquire welding skills is through a vocational school. Other reasons why you should go to welding school include:

A focused curriculum: Unlike most community colleges, trade schools have small class sizes, which equate to a greater teacher-to-student ratio. Additionally, a trade school in Hampton Roads, Virginia will provide you with job-focused training. If you have an idea about which type of welding you want to learn, then a trade school is a better place to train than community colleges which offer general training.

Specialized skills: Welding requires an understanding of the process, training, and using special equipment. This isn’t something that you can do without formal training.

Hands-on practice: Although welding classes also include reading books and attending lectures, trade schools offer more on-the-job practice compared to community colleges.

Safety precautions: According to a recent report by the BLS, Cutters, brazers, solderers, and welders have a high rate of illnesses and injuries. There are several hazards in the welding industry and it requires a great deal of coordination, physical strength, and endurance.

A technical school will give you the appropriate training you need from trained instructors before you can attempt to work on your own. Formal training in this field will also give you the opportunity to learn about using the right welding tools, equipment, and safety gear including welding goggles, gloves, helmet, and masks.

Difference Between Formal Education and Learning on the Job

With the challenges most graduates are facing repaying their student loan debts, many are wondering whether formal education is worth the cost.

However, formal training could pay off. Although the cost of formal education has gone up, so has the demand for trained graduates. Some of the differences between formal education and learning on the job include:

Well-structured learning environment: Formal learning has a well-designed course outline that is pre-defined. This educational approach is suitable for those who are getting started in welding and want to learn specific skills. Learning on the job doesn’t mean disorganized, but it has no formula or set guidelines.

Quantifiable learning: Formal welding education is quantifiable meaning that it is measurable. This is because learning occurs in a classroom setup and is offered by trained and experienced instructors. For instance, in a welding class, you will start with one type of welding before you proceed to the next. However, it’s difficult to quantify learning on the job approach since it’s not pre-designed to achieve a specific set of skills. Because learning on the job isn’t well-planned, then there will be no exams or tracking to gauge your skills.

Welders play a major role in the American economy. If you’re looking for a career that will allow you to work with your hands, visit Advanced Technology Institute today and as about our Associate in Occupational Science Degree in Maritime Welding with Service Management.

Maritime Welding Training