If you want metalworking to be your professional craft, then it’s time to look for fabrication and welding schools to learn the basics, hone your skills and move on to more advanced welding techniques. If you’re having second thoughts, you can simply begin with short courses in fabrication and welding. Once you’ve decided to turn your passion for metalwork into a full-blown career, go with a longer program.
Welders can either begin working for a company, or continue studying degree programs. Most fabrication and welding schools that provide associate degrees in applied science in welding fabrication technology include courses in jig construction, welding symbols, advanced fabrication and welding, drafting processes and flame shaping. An internship is often required to complete an associate’s degree.
Another option is to complete a bachelor’s degree in welding and fabrication engineering technology, where students can learn welding design, project management, welding engineering, metallurgy and welding computer programming. Internship is also required to complete the course.
You should then check if the school is accredited with local and national organizations. If possible, go to the school and check the equipment available on campus. The number of functional welding equipment is a good indication if you can learn hands-on fabrication and welding in school or not. Go with schools that offer new technologies, so that you learn both traditional and up-to-date equipment. You should also ask about safety policies in school, existence of ventilation systems in labs, and other safety equipment available.
Lastly, check if the school provides contacts to companies, so that finding an internship program won’t be a problem.
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Fabrication and Welding Programs
Certification programs, offered usually in vocational schools and community colleges, vary in length. The longest programs offered require about 98 credit hours, while the shortest programs only need 32 credit hours.These certification programs include courses in welding processes, cutting systems, and metal fabrication, among others. After completing the required hours, students can take the certification exam.Welders can either begin working for a company, or continue studying degree programs. Most fabrication and welding schools that provide associate degrees in applied science in welding fabrication technology include courses in jig construction, welding symbols, advanced fabrication and welding, drafting processes and flame shaping. An internship is often required to complete an associate’s degree.
Another option is to complete a bachelor’s degree in welding and fabrication engineering technology, where students can learn welding design, project management, welding engineering, metallurgy and welding computer programming. Internship is also required to complete the course.
Skills Fabrication and Welding Schools Should Offer
Welding and fabrication involves technical skills that can only be learned through theoretical lectures and hands-on experience. If you’re comparing fabrication and welding schools, make sure they can teach you the following skills:- How to create frameworks and sheet metals using different kinds of metals and alloys
- Metal fabrication and manipulation techniques – forming, rolling, cutting, laser processing, stamping, shearing, welding, and machining, among others.
- Types of welding – resistance welding, shielded arc welding, tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, metal inert gas (MIG) welding, etc.
- Operation of manual and computer-based metalworking and welding equipment
- Drafting blueprints and patterns by hand and via computer-aided design software
- Using triangulation and proportions to create designs
- Basics of welding engineering, metal sculpting, and metallurgy
How to Choose Fabrication and Welding Schools
The first thing you need to consider when choosing a school is the type of training you want – vocational, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in metalwork, or other types of courses. Once you’ve decided on the level of education, make sure the school can teach you the basic skills needed in metal fabrication and welding listed above.You should then check if the school is accredited with local and national organizations. If possible, go to the school and check the equipment available on campus. The number of functional welding equipment is a good indication if you can learn hands-on fabrication and welding in school or not. Go with schools that offer new technologies, so that you learn both traditional and up-to-date equipment. You should also ask about safety policies in school, existence of ventilation systems in labs, and other safety equipment available.
Lastly, check if the school provides contacts to companies, so that finding an internship program won’t be a problem.
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