Does welding require a college degree? I am still confused about choosing a career. I am high school graduate. I am average in studies. I don’t think I can choose higher studies. So I have decided to seek a job in the trade industry. There are several streams under trade. I was confused about which one to choose. I researched about different trades like electrical services, plumbing etc. I had a tough time choosing the right one. After evaluating about each and every one, I chose welding. I think welders are judged by their skill level. I have read that welders need to be certified and they are required to pass a test. I want to learn welding. I think I should go for some training to become a certified welder. I think most of the welding schools in Canada provide certification after completion of the courses. I don’t know it’s true or not. What do you think? How does a welder get certified? How long do we need to get trained to become a welder?
You don’t need a college degree though you probably need a high school diploma or GED. You will need to go through a welding program at a trade school. There probably is a certification that you earn by successfully completing the program. I am not sure about state certification but you will probably be taught that in the training program.
Many community colleges offer certification in trades such as welding. You mention Canada - are you in Canada? If you’re in the US, I would start by looking here: https://www.aws.org/certification/
If you’re in Canada, look here: https://www.cwbgroup.org/
Welding does not require a college degree. You just need to get a certificate.
You may also want to consider CNC programming. They make pretty good money, are in-demand in most states, and get to choose their shifts (day, 2nd, evening, or weekend).
I worked in trades/manufacturing for ten years before going back to school. You can make a decent, middle-class income if you are in one of the more in-demand fields. I went from being a machine operator to mechanical engineer (despite not having a degree) to drafter/designer. There are opportunities to make money, though it’s certainly easier for people who go to college and major in a solid skill.