What Do You Learn in Welding School?

Thinking about starting a career in welding? It could prove to be a great decision. The American Welding Society projects that the country will need to fill 330,000 new welding jobs by 2028, with an average of 82,500 positions opening up each year between 2025 and 2029 as experienced welders retire and demand grows across construction, manufacturing, and energy. Attending a welding school is one path to this in-demand career. What exactly would you learn in a welding training program? 

A Welder’s Skillset

There are certain skills welders need in order to get a job in welding. You will need to know geometry and trigonometry for measuring angles, forming joints, and calculating the correct lengths. Basic skills with fractions and decimals are also required for working with blueprints, measuring the scope of a project, calculating material needs, cutting pipes, and welding at the correct seams. Besides math, you need to understand the properties of different types of metals. On a practical application level, you need exceptionally good hand-eye coordination.

Types of Welding Programs Available

Once you decide to enter the field of welding, you have to look at what type of training programs are offered at different welding schools. For instance, Tulsa Welding School has a variety of programs.

The Professional Welding Training Program

Welding training can be completed in as little as seven months. Only one day of classroom instruction is required weekly with the rest of the training involving hands-on application. This type of program is ideal for candidates interested in jobs that involve structural welding, pipe welding, thin alloy welding, and aircraft welding.

What Do You Learn During a Welding Program?

You complete many essential classes in the Welding program at RSI. In addition to lectures, you get hands-on experience in real-world scenarios. The classes that are part of the welding program include:

• Welding Fundamentals – this class focuses on welding and safety fundamentals. You learn about safety awareness, the basic layout of construction drawings, how to interpret welding symbols, thermal torch techniques, plasma cutting and carbon arc gouging procedures, arc welding processes, and the various types of electrodes used with arc welding. Project assignments allow students to practice and develop welding and cutting skills.
• GMAW/FCAW Processes – GMAW (MIG) uses torches to shield gas and automatic wire feed systems. FCAW (Fluxcore) torches use a powered flux to shield the weld. You will learn how to set up and operate GMAW/FCAW welding equipment, processes for welding plates in various positions, preparing pipe for GMA/FCAW welding, and knowledge about construction drawings.
• Structural Welding – develops your flat welding techniques in three basic positions. SMAW processes perform basic butt welds using mild steel. You learn about welding electrodes, fundamental procedures to root pass and fill welds, welding diagrams and drawings used to communicate lab project information, basic destructive welding testing techniques, and metallurgy principles.
• Pipe Welding – you expand your knowledge and skills to perform basic pipe welding techniques (SMAW & GTAW). GTAW introduces you to basic root welds on pipe coupons. SMAW allows you to complete fill and cap welds. You will also learn how to read and interpret basic pipe drawings, cutting pipe coupons, beveling pipe using thermal and mechanical beveling processes, and welding in multiple positions.
• Advanced Pipe Welding – you learn to weld mild steel pipe and high carbon steel with stainless steel electrodes. You also learn how to rig and balance pipe loads, use hand signals for communication, and lift and place pipe for welding operations.

Topics Covered in a Welding Program

• Safety: Welding can be a dangerous job and not knowing the proper personal protective equipment required and safety protocols could result in serious accidents.
• Welding Processes: Different jobs require different types of welds. For instance, tungsten inert gas, or TIG welding, is preferred for architecture or automotive jobs where the weld has to have a polished appearance. Within the courses, you’ll learn whether wire, stick, or gas welding is an appropriate choice for a specific job.
• Welding Basics: An introductory class on welding will teach you everything about correct power voltages, metals, and consumables.
• Pipe Welding: Pipe welding classes teach individuals how to weld pipes in different fixed positions.
• Blueprints: You’ll learn how to read blueprints and interpret welding symbols.
• Inspection and Quality Control: For the AOS program, quality control within the welding industry will be touched upon as well as guidelines to follow when inspecting a welding project.

Career Advancement

Attending a welding school can help ensure you have the skills necessary to successfully enter the field. As with any career, formal training and additional certifications can open the door to increased job opportunities and pay. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual pay for welders is $37,420, although with a welding career can earn more depending on the geographic location of the job. 2

1 – http://www.npr.org/2015/09/07/437589596/amid-a-shortage-of-welders-some-prisons-offer-training
2 – http://www.bls.gov/ooh/production/welders-cutters-solderers-and-brazers.htm

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