Welder Training & Certification
- What Does a Welder Do?
- What You’ll Learn in Welding School
- Education & Apprenticeship Options
- Skills You’ll Need to Succeed
- Certification & Licensing
- How to Become a Welder
- Professional Associations & Resources
- Career Paths
- Related Skilled Trade Careers
- Find Welder Training & Certification Programs Near You
Join strength with precision.
Welders use heat and specialized tools to join metal parts in construction, manufacturing, and repair work. This 2025 guide explains how to train, certify, and begin a career in this in-demand skilled trade.
What Does a Welder Do?
Welders create and repair metal structures, machinery, and equipment using a variety of welding techniques and tools.
Typical responsibilities include:
- Reading blueprints and interpreting welding symbols
- Measuring, cutting, and aligning metal components
- Operating MIG, TIG, stick, or flux-core welding machines
- Inspecting welds for strength, accuracy, and safety
- Maintaining welding equipment and safety gear
- Working in shop or field environments, sometimes outdoors or at heights
Welders work across industries including construction, shipbuilding, automotive, energy, and aerospace.
What You’ll Learn in Welding School
Welding programs blend classroom theory with extensive hands-on practice.
Core topics include:
- Welding Processes: MIG, TIG, stick, and flux-core welding
- Blueprint Reading & Metal Layout: Understanding project specifications
- Metallurgy & Materials: Properties of steel, aluminum, and alloys
- Safety & OSHA Standards: PPE use, fire prevention, and ventilation requirements
- Cutting & Fabrication: Plasma cutting, grinding, and finishing techniques
- Inspection & Quality Control: Visual and non-destructive weld testing
Students gain practical experience through shop labs, mock projects, and certification testing.
Education & Apprenticeship Options
Training for welders is available through trade schools, community colleges, and union apprenticeship programs.
Common training paths:
- Certificate or Diploma Programs (6–12 months): Entry-level welding and safety skills
- Associate Degree in Welding Technology (2 years): Advanced metallurgy and inspection training
- Apprenticeships (3–4 years): Paid training with classroom and field experience
- Specialized Manufacturer Training: Pipe, structural, or underwater welding certification
Programs accredited by the American Welding Society (AWS) prepare students for professional credential exams.
Skills You’ll Need to Succeed
Welders combine hand-eye coordination, focus, and technical precision.
Top skills include:
- Manual dexterity and steady hand control
- Understanding of weld types and metallurgy
- Ability to read blueprints and follow specifications
- Attention to safety, detail, and quality
- Physical stamina for long hours in varied environments
A steady hand and patience are critical for producing clean, structurally sound welds.
Certification & Licensing
Certification proves proficiency and can qualify welders for higher-paying or specialized roles.
Common credentials include:
- AWS Certified Welder (CW): Entry-level performance-based certification
- AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI): Advanced credential for inspection and quality control
- OSHA Safety Certification: Required for many job sites
- NCCER Welding Certification: National credential for trade professionals
- Specialty Welding Certifications: Pipe, aerospace, or underwater welding
Certification tests typically assess technique, position, and weld strength.
How to Become a Welder
- Earn a high school diploma or GED with courses in math and shop
- Enroll in an accredited welding trade or technical program
- Gain hands-on experience through labs or apprenticeships
- Pass AWS or NCCER certification exams
- Apply for entry-level welding positions
- Continue training to specialize or advance into inspection or supervision
Experienced welders often move into fabrication, inspection, or project management.
Welder Salary & Job Outlook
Based on BLS occupation: Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers (51-4121)
Data Year: 2024 • U.S.
Mean Pay (2024)
Wage Percentiles
Employment Outlook
Employment: 457,300 → 467,200 jobs by 2034 (2.2%)
45,600 projected openings each year
Additional Details
- Share of U.S. Employment
- 0.3%
- Employment per 1,000 Jobs
- 2.75
- Employment RSE
- 0.7%
- Projected Annual Openings
- 45,600
Welders remain in strong demand for construction, infrastructure, and manufacturing projects. Certified welders and those trained in multiple processes have the best job prospects and higher earning potential.
Professional Associations & Resources
- American Welding Society (AWS): Certification, standards, and professional development
- National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER): Skills training and credentials
- Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA): Industry resources and education
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Workplace safety and compliance
Career Paths
Experienced welders can specialize or move into roles such as:
- Pipe or Structural Welder
- Fabricator or Metalworker
- Welding Inspector or CWI
- Maintenance or Industrial Welder
- Welding Instructor or Project Supervisor
Some welders pursue niche fields like aerospace, underwater, or robotic welding for advanced career growth.
Related Skilled Trade Careers
Find Welder Training & Certification Programs Near You
Ready to build a career that joins strength and skill?
Compare accredited welding programs near you to gain the certifications and experience needed to launch your welding career.
Related: Top Trade Schools · Skilled Trades Salary Guide
Notice an update we should make?
We strive for accuracy. Contact us here if you see incorrect or outdated info on this page.