Are you looking for a trade to start a new career? You can enroll in our hands-on welding technology program in Canton, Michigan, where you’ll gain skills various industries value.*
If you’re wondering, “How long does welding school take?” keep reading!
How Long Does Trade School Take for Welding?
Attending a welding trade school full-time allows you to complete a welding certification program in as little as 9 months. Classes are led by trained professionals that have worked in the industry and that better understand the skills needed to compete for these jobs. Career services in these trade schools also help you identify opportunities and prepare for job interviews for entry-level careers.
What Does a Welding Specialist Do?
Welding specialists use welding, cutting, soldering and brazing equipment to join, cut and solder metal parts. They also fill holes and seams in metal products, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Welding specialists typically do the following:
- Cut, dismantle, straighten and reshape metal.
- Study 2D blueprints, sketches and specifications.
- Use mathematics to better cut metal and calculate metal melting points.
- Maintain clean metal workshops and remove debris that can contaminate welds.
- Use equipment to light torches.
- Repair, monitor and maintain welding equipment and machinery.
What Do You Learn During a Welding Trade School Program?
Welding technology classes teach you how to properly use welding tools. They also build professional skills while teaching metal arc welding techniques such as proper pipe welding, soldering, fitting and fabrication and how to read and interpret drawing, symbols and metal characteristics. Mastering these welding techniques and procedures will start you off on the right foot after graduating from a welding trade school. Employers look for welders with the hands-on experience that you will gain during a welding program at a trade school.
Tools and Professional Skills
Before you can become a master welder, you must first learn how to use all of the tools that a welder uses every day. There are many different tools to learn about. There are safety tools like safety glasses, fiberglass welding hoods, cutting goggles, leather gloves, leather work boots and leather jackets with bib. As a welder, you will also use vise grips, wire brushes, flint strikers, metal files, grinding wheels, needle nose pliers, ball peen hammers, compasses and protractors. These and others are some of the main metal arc welding equipment that will be supplied for you during the trade school program.
Metal Arc Welding
Every welder must learn the proper technique for welding. Different welding equipment will allow the welder to do shield metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding.
SMAW (Shield Metal Arc Welding) – an arc welding process that uses an electrode and electric current to join metals. Commonly used to weld iron and steel.
MIG-GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) – an arc welding process where a continuous solid wire electrode is fed through a welding gun into the weld pool, joining the two base materials together.
TIG-GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) – an arc welding process that uses long welding rods and slowly feeds them into the weld pool, commonly used for thin gauge materials.
Drawings, Symbols and Metal Characteristics
During the welding technology program, you will learn how to read and interpret blueprints and the many symbols that adorn these blueprints. You will also learn about proper welding of different metals and the many characteristics of these metals such as melting points and which metals should be joined and with which tool.
Pipe Welding
Pipe welding is another important welding technique to master. This involves connecting two pipes together to make a single, longer pipe that is void of leaks and other artifacts. Pipe welding is used in the construction of buildings, structures and vessels.
Soldering
Soldering involves connecting small pieces of metal to other surfaces such as connecting wires to a circuit board. Different metals melt at different temperatures, and it is important to know the melting point of the metals and metal fillers that you are using. This will be taught in a welding trade school program.
Fitting & Fabrication
Fitting and fabrication techniques will help you to learn how brand-new products or components of a larger product can be made from scratch. Almost any metallic product can be either repaired or created. During the welding trade school program, you will get hands-on fitting and fabrication experience in real world welding projects.
Final Thoughts
Now that you are interested in becoming a welder, it is time to learn more about the welding technology program at MIAT College of Technology. We prepare you to start welding on your first day with hands-on training in real world environments and with a variety of metals. You will learn how to weld, cut, solder and braze using industry standard welding equipment. With the knowledge you gain from MIAT’s welding technology program, you can pursue a new career as a welder today.
Do you have nine months to train for a new career? The Welding Specialist Program at MIAT College of Technology provides the hands-on training, practical experience and industry support it takes to pursue a technical career. Classes are interactive and led by dedicated instructors with years of experience working with welding equipment in a professional setting. You’ll get the attention and personal support to pick up new skills quickly and the firsthand technical knowledge to feel confident entering the workforce.
Getting welding training is a great first step toward a career in a variety of industries! Inquire today to learn more about MIAT’s Welding Specialist Program.