How to Become a Pipeline Welder?

Never in history has knowing how to become a pipeline welder been as simple as it is today. Owing to new technology, you can learn to mend leaking pipes without taking a course at the university.

Post-secondary learning institutions equip you with skills that relate to welding. Finally, you can become a welder by taking a course at the university. Let's have a look at these simple means and any other nitty-gritty that entails welding.

As mentioned earlier, becoming a welder is becoming easier every day. In this article, you get to learn some of the steps you can take to build a successful welding career.

How To Become A Pipeline Welder Doesn’t Have To Be Hard. Read These 3 Tips

Education

The first step to starting a welding career is having the right education for the job. To do this, you have to begin by having a basic high school education. High school education is mandatory for various types of employment, and welding is not exceptional.

After getting an education at the high school level, you should now apply for further studies. That is the step at which you will get the technical skills required for this job. It is after learning these skills in a specialized institution or university that you will get certified for practice.

What if you cannot access formal education?

There is a growing concern of the need for other ways to learn such skills. Sometimes, paying for formal learning can be costly or, you may not have much time to spend in a classroom. Therefore, you can look for alternative means.

The best way to learn welding outside a classroom is by acquiring skills from an experienced welder. You can volunteer to help them with simple tasks at their places of work. By doing that, you learn new skills and eventually become a welder.

Learn Supplementary Skills

Possessing other welding-related skills can propel you to become an expert pipeline welder. One such skill is knowledge of handling electricity and electrical items. Welders need electricity to join metal surfaces. However, that is a risky job if you ask someone without electricity handling skills.

Thus, it is necessary to add such skills to your welding knowledge to mitigate these risks and avoid unnecessary accidents. It is essential to diversify your skills to avoid getting stuck when handling some tasks.

Employers prefer hiring people who can do more than just welding and learning more is the best thing you can do.

Technology in welding

What's more? You can also learn computer skills. The world is shifting to online means of problem-solving, and therefore you also have to adjust to technological changes. The best thing here is to learn the use of computers and how you can apply such skills in the welding industry.

These days, there is robotic process automation in welding. A more precise robotic arc welding is replacing traditional manual welding. Consequently, being able to program the collaborative robot is one of the ways of venturing into the welding field.

Also, possessing basic soldering or brazing skills is relevant in your mission to weld pipes. The patience and accuracy required to operate under the tasks can catapult you to hold and operate a welding machine.

Become a certified welder

There is a lot of controversy on whether you need to get trained and certified to consider yourself a welder. Most people think all that matters are whether you have the right skills. However, getting certified is as vital as anything else.

Most potential employers have to confirm that you are legible for the job at hand. The most convenient way they can do that is by checking on your certification. Having the correct documents implies that you not only have the right skills but also that you can be reliable.

Get the American welding society certification

It is particularly best for people who did not attend any formal learning to gain welding skills. That is because getting certified by this society does not require academic qualifications documents. All they do is instruct you on the processes and see how you handle your work.

It will take a trainee specialist to assess your work and evaluate you. If you do a satisfactory job, you get certified for practice. However, it may not always be the same result at the end of it. You will always have a second chance to do the test and get re-evaluated.

Final Verdict

Knowing how to weld is quite easy. As long as you know where to get training, you are good to go. Mostly, assisting a welder, attending welding workshops in high school, or post-secondary school propels you to start welding.

Lastly, you can get certification and relevant welding skills at a university. Or a welding college. Welding, just like other professions, comes with challenges and benefits. However, these disadvantages should not stop you from pursuing welding as your source of livelihood. Decide now!

FAQ’s

What is a pipeline welder salary?

The average salary of a pipeline welder is $53,000. Depending on your performance, this salary mostly ranges between $38,000 and $70,000.

Is pipeline welding a good job?

Yes. If you like working as you travel, then, pipeline welding is a perfect job for you. As a blue-collar job, you are at liberty to continually alter your work destinations to various parts of the world.

Does welding shorten your life?

Yes. The exposure to ultraviolet rays and sunburns reduces your ability to live longer.

Do welders go blind?

Sometimes. If welders fail to protect their eyes adequately, welder's flash may result in blindness. However, this is evitable as long as you wear recommended eye protectors.

Do welders get cancer?

Welders are likely to get cancer if their bodies interact with the welding fumes for an extended duration of time.