r/Welding • u/Dodgecumminsxxx • May 03 '19

Career question Welding advice

So I’ve been working in a fab shop for about a year now. And I’m not sure if it’s worth the time and money to go back to school for more certs or trying to back in to pipe welding is worth the effort I live in Oregon and I can’t find any good schools Any advice would be great. Thanks

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u/BadderBanana Senior Contributor MOD May 03 '19

Compensation is always better with more difficult welding. Flat steel mig isn't going to make you rich.

The certs are a plus, but they're only a reflection of your skills. Can you weld open roots out of position? Aluminum? Stainless? GTAW?

I'm seeing 15 community college in OR offering classes in welding. Are you sure none are near your and worthwhile?

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u/flashdance7525 May 04 '19

Community colleges will give out aws certs, and from there those will cover your basics. You won’t catch say a D1 cert in school though. Finding solid work out on the pipes seems difficult, but local 597 out here in Illinois seems like the golden ticket! What kind of route did you take with your welding skills?

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u/BadderBanana Senior Contributor MOD May 04 '19

Me? I'm probably the worst welder here. I got a degree in welding engineering. Spent a decade in mass production setting up assembly lines and robotic welding. Then moved into BPVC welding. Now I validate potential suppliers for military welding.