Looking to start a new and lucrative trade where you will get to be hands-on with metal? Becoming an apprentice welder is an increasingly popular option for people on the job search in 2022.
In a welder apprenticeship, you will learn practical skills, how to interpret blueprints and inspect work, keep track of materials, and maintain your equipment. What’s best is: You receive all of this training while still getting paid! Welding apprenticeships can be completed in around three to four years, requiring about 144 hours of class and 2000 hours of training.
Here’s everything you need to know about becoming an apprentice welder in 2022:
What Qualifications do I need?
To become an apprentice welder, you should first consider if you have the correct qualifications. Around 8 percent of welders have a degree. However, it is by no means necessary to get into the profession.
A welding apprentice must obtain a high school diploma or a GED, and that’s all! If you have this, you can be considered for an apprenticeship. It’s important to note that your physical health will be checked in a welding apprenticeship, so ensure you are fit enough to lift heavy equipment and stay on your feet for a long time.
What Experience Should I Have to Become an Apprentice Welder?
If you are looking to improve your chances of becoming an apprentice welder, you should try to obtain a High School Diploma degree or Associate Degree. These are the most common majors for a Welder apprentice, so they should be all you need to get your foot in the door.
Although there are welding institutions that may offer you an apprenticeship based on your academic merit alone, having experience in other roles is a great way to improve your chances of becoming accepted.
These roles needn’t be related to welding, but they can certainly help! Positions that employers specifically look out for are ones that require similar skillsets of being hands-on and on your feet.
This doesn’t mean you have to have been in a trade to become a welder’s apprentice; plenty of applications we have analyzed have seen people with experience as cashiers and sales associates shifting into a welding apprenticeship.
However, experience in different roles will show your employer that you are a serious candidate and improve the likelihood of landing a welding apprenticeship.
Summary
Becoming an Apprentice Welder in 2022 is as easy as ever! If you are a hands-on person with excellent coordination and fitness with a high school diploma, you could be on your way to becoming a welder.
To improve your chances of getting accepted into a welding apprenticeship in 2022, consider whether you have previous experience in different roles to highlight to your employer that you are a serious candidate. This could be something closely related to weldings, such as a trade or even a simple grocery store cashier job that can highlight your commitment to a potential employer! Contact us today and see if you might be a good fit at Wilson Welding Service.
