Stainless Steel Welding Certification
In the construction industry, builders rely on a number of raw materials to create buildings, edifices and structures. This work often requires a welder to ensure steel beams are secure enough to support the structure. Welders use a heat source to meld two metals together, creating one seamless piece from two. One such metal is stainless steel. Welders who work with stainless must follow the proper training and certification channels.
The first step in obtaining stainless steel welding certification is to take a stainless steel welding class or program. These can be found at community colleges, welding schools and other institutions. Welding schools with stainless steel courses include the New England School of Metalwork located in Maine, or the Tulsa Welding School with campuses in Oklahoma and Florida. Other options include community and technical colleges that offer stainless steel training as part of their overall welding programs, such as El Camino College in California or Fresno City Community College, also located in California.
Stainless steel welders can earn certifications in comprehensive stainless steel courses that cover more than just welding. The International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF) offers a Stainless Steel Specialist Course that offers a wide-ranging stainless steel education that includes sections dedicated to stainless steel welding. The certification is backed by both the ISSF and the Stainless Steel Industry of North America (SSINA). ASM International, the international society for material professionals, also offers two stainless steel certification courses that cover a variety of topics, including welding.
Stainless steel welding certification also comes in the form of very specific specialties. Specialty programs exist at welding schools, vocational schools and community colleges. An example is the Certified TIG Welder course at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md., which leads to a Certification of Welders and Welding Operators for Aerospace Applications. Other specialty certifications come from private sources, such as the Specification For Bare Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes And Rods course offered by the American National Standards Institute.
As with most other industries, the stainless steel welding industry requires workers to stay abreast of the latest trends and methods. Continuing education certifications and training keep stainless steel welders up-to-date on new techniques and procedures. One source of continuing education courses comes from Ed Craig of Weld Reality. His series of books, DVDs and Power Point presentations, titled Weld Process Control Training Resources, offer training resources and trends that focus on stainless steel welding for the automotive and aerospace industries. Other sources include conferences and exhibitions, such as the annual Stainless Steel World Americas Conference and Expo, which offers seminars, case studies and workshops.
- American National Standards Institute: Specification For Bare Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes And Rods
- Stainless Steel Industry of North America: Stainless Steel Training and Certification
- Weld Reality: Weld Process Control Training Materials
- Stainless Steel World Americas Conference and Expo: About
Lindsey Thompson began her writing career in 2001. Her work has been published in the Cincinnati Art Museum's "Member Magazine" and "The Ohio Journalist." You'll also find her work on websites like Airbnb, Chron.com, and USAToday.com. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science in journalism from the Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.