I was accepted into a Welding training program (CRAFT Training Center), my training starts soon…?

Question by ryanmaldonado90: I was accepted into a Welding training program (CRAFT Training Center), my training starts soon…?
Okay, sorry for the vague question line, but I didn’t have a lot of space. I’m a senior in High School, and some representatives from the CRAFT Training Center here in Corpus Christi, Texas came by earlier in the year, handed out applications to those that wished for them, and whatnot. My school is paying for around 10 students to begin their first course there (I believe it is 6 weeks long), and I passed the school interview, qualifying me to go to the Training Center. Now, it’s a place where you can learn things like Pipefitting, Plumbing, Welding, etc…I’ve decided to go with Welding.

My main concern, is their expectations of me from Day 1. Do places like this usually expect some sort of general knowledge of the field? Do they expect me to be a complete newbie? They didn’t say anything about needing past experience/knowledge, so I’m hoping they won’t expect anything more from me than to be a quick learner that pays attention in the class.

Also, focusing more on the career aspect of this…if I like welding enough and choose it as a full-time career, what kind of pay can I be expecting here in Texas? Exactly how dangerous would this sort of job be?

They said that they help hook us up with jobs according to our skill level in the field (based on how many 6 week terms we’ve had with them, I believe the “master rank” ((forgot the name)) welder takes 7 terms), so assuming I begin looking for a job after my first term (while still taking the training there, it’s early in the morning for only 2 hours), about how much money should I be looking at making, as a novice?

Best answer:

Answer by gatorbait
The school will expect that you know absolutely nothing about welding, and they prefer the students to be that way so that they can teach them correctly right from the beginning.

You will have a hard time finding a welding job until you are proficient as a welder.
All welders have to pass welding procedure tests with the manufacturers that they work for in order to work as a welder, and that means that you must know what you are doing before they turn you loose to weld on an expensive piece of equipment.

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