If you like to be challenged, physically active and need your work to be interesting and provide you with a sense of accomplishment, welding may be the career for you. Welding offers many job opportunities with good, competitive wages.
What can I do in welding?
Welding is the joining of materials with or without the application of heat, filler material and/or pressure. Along with welding, welders maintain equipment and machinery; inspect structures or materials to be welded; calculate dimensions; and review blueprints, sketches and specifications.
What characteristics and skills do I need to work in this field?
Skills needed to become a welder include manual dexterity, good eyesight and eye-hand coordination, and the ability to concentrate on detailed work for long periods of time. You should also be able to stoop, bend, climb and work in awkward positions.
Where can I work?
Manufacturing, construction and service industries employ the most welders. Welders are needed to work on transportation equipment, industrial machinery and fabricated metal products as well as bridges, highways and buildings. As current welders retire, the need for skilled welders increases. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says job prospects are good for welders trained in the latest technologies.
What does Trident Technical College offer?
TTC’s Welding program offers the latest welding technology as well as traditional welding skills training and a good foundation in basic welding theory, metallurgy and blueprint reading. Safety is stressed throughout the program. This program provides comprehensive welding education to new students as well as experienced welders wanting to expand their skills and knowledge.
TTC’s Welding program has the following accreditations:
- AWS S.E.N.S.E. Level I and Level II Program
- NCCER-certified Trainers
- PrimED Testing Facility
- Authorized Department of Transportation Welder Training Facility
The following links, which are not affiliated with Trident Technical College, may be helpful when considering welding as a career.