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Welding Schools Near Me | How to Become a Welder – Eatonton GA

How to Enroll In a Welding Training Program near Eatonton Georgia

Eatonton GA welding school studentFinding the right welding technical school near Eatonton GA is an important first step to beginning your new occupation as a professional welder. But since there are numerous schools to pick from, how do you determine which ones to consider? And more notably, once you have fine tuned your alternatives, how do you pick the right one? A number of prospective students start by looking at the schools that are closest to their residences. When they have identified those that are within commuting distance, they are drawn toward the cheapest one. Yes, location and the cost of tuition are necessary concerns when evaluating welder trade schools, but they are not the only ones. Other concerns include such things as accreditation, reputation and job placement rates. So before initiating your search for a vocational school to become a welder, it’s wise to develop a list of qualifications that your selected school must have. But before we delve into our due diligence checklist, let’s talk a little bit about how to become a welder.

Welder Certificate and Degree Training Classes

Eatonton GA welder working on pipingThere are several options available to obtain training as a welder in a trade or technical school. You can receive a diploma, a certificate or an Associate Degree. Bachelor Degrees are offered in Welding Technology or Welding Engineering, but are more advanced courses than most journeyman welders will need. Some programs are also offered combined with an apprenticeship program. Below are short descriptions of the most prevalent welding programs offered in the Eatonton GA.

  • Diploma and Certificate Programs are usually offered by technical and trade schools and take about one year to complete. They are more hands-on training in nature, created largely to develop welding skills. They can furnish a good foundation for a new journeyman or apprentice welder, or supplemental skills for experienced welders.
  • Associate Degree Programs will take two years to complete and are usually offered by community colleges. An Associate Degree in Welding Technology furnishes a more well-rounded education than the diploma or certificate while still providing the foundation that readies students to enter the workforce.

Many municipalities and states do have licensing requirements for welders, therefore don’t forget to check for your location of future employment. If needed, the welding school you select should ready you for any licensing exams that you will need to take in addition to supplying the proper training to become a qualified welder.

Welder Certification Options

Eatonton GA welder working on poleThere are various institutions that provide welding certifications, which evaluate the knowledge and skill level of those applying. A large number of Eatonton GA employers not only demand a certificate or degree from an accredited welding school, but also certification from a respected agency such as the American Welding Society (AWS). A variety of certifications are available based upon the type of work that the welder performs. Some of the things that certification can attest to are the welder’s ability to

  • Work in compliance with specific codes
  • Work with specific metal thicknesses
  • Work with various kinds of welds
  • Operate in compliance with contract specifications

As already stated, many states, cities or local municipalities have licensing mandates for welders. Of those mandating licensing, many additionally require certification for various kinds of work. Certification is also a way to prove to employers that you are a highly skilled and qualified welder. So just as with licensing, look into the requirements for your local area and verify that the welding tech school you decide on preps you for certification if needed.

How to Pick a Welder Tech Program

Eatonton GA welder working on carWhen you have decided on the credential you would like to obtain, a degree, certificate or diploma, you can begin to evaluate schools. As you probably know, there are many welder vocational and trade schools in the Eatonton GA area. That’s why it’s important to determine in advance what qualifications your selected school must have. We have already covered a couple of significant ones that most people consider first, which are location and the cost of tuition. As stated, although they are very important qualifiers, they are not the only ones that should be considered. After all, the program you decide on is going to furnish the education that will be the foundation of your new vocation as a welder. So following are more factors you might need to evaluate before picking a welder tech school.

Accreditation. It’s very important that the welding tech school you select is accredited by either a national or a regional organization. There are two standard types of accreditation. The school may receive Institutional Accreditation based on all of their programs. Programmatic Accreditation is based on a specific program the school has, such as Welding Technology. So make sure that the program you choose is accredited, not just the school itself. Additionally, the accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization, like the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). Besides helping ensure that you get an excellent education, the accreditation might also assist in acquiring financial aid or student loans, which are in many cases not available in Eatonton GA for non-accredited schools. Finally, for those states or local governments that require licensing, they may require that the welding training program be accredited also.

Job Placement and Apprenticeship Programs. A large number of welding diploma or degree programs are provided in conjunction with an apprenticeship program. Some other schools will help place you in a job or an apprenticeship after graduation. Find out if the schools you are reviewing help in placing students in apprenticeships or have a job placement program. These schools must have partnerships with local unions and other metal working businesses to which they can place their students. Older schools may have a larger network of graduates that they can rely upon for placements. These programs can help students find employment and establish relationships within the Eatonton GA welding community.

Job Placement and Completion Rates. The completion rate is the percentage of students that start an academic program and finish it. It’s essential that the welder program you choose has a higher completion rate. A lower rate could signify that the students who were in the program were dissatisfied with the instruction, the instructors, or the facilities, and dropped out. The job placement rate is also a good indicator of the caliber of training. A higher job placement rate will not only verify that the school has a good reputation within the trade, but additionally that it has the network of Eatonton GA contacts to help students secure employment or apprenticeships after graduation.

Modern Equipment and Facilities. After you have decreased your choice of welding schools to 2 or 3 possibilities, you should think out visiting the campuses to inspect their facilities. Verify that both the equipment and the facilities that you will be taught on are modern. In particular, the training equipment should be similar to what you will be working with on the job. If you are not sure what to look for, and are currently in an apprenticeship program, ask the master welder you are working under for guidance. If not, ask a local Eatonton GA welding professional if they can give you a few suggestions.

School Location. Even though we previously briefly talked about the significance of location, there are a couple of additional points that we should cover. You should remember that unless you are able to move, the welding school you select must be within driving distance of your Eatonton GA home. If you do opt to enroll in an out-of-state school, apart from moving expenses there might be higher tuition fees for out-of-state residents. This is particularly the case for welder diploma programs offered by community colleges. Furthermore, if the school offers a job placement or apprenticeship program, often their placements are within the school’s regional community. So the location of the school needs to be in a region or state where you ultimately will wish to work.

Small Classes. Personalized instruction is important for a hands-on trade such as welding. It’s easy to be lost in larger classes and not obtain much individualized training. Ask what the typical class size is for the welding programs you are reviewing. Ask if you can attend a couple of classes so that you can witness how much individual attention the students are getting. While there, talk with several of the students and get their feedback. Similarly, talk to a couple of the instructors and find out what their welding experience has been and what credentials and certifications they have earned.

Flexible Class Scheduling. Lots of folks learn a new trade while still working at their current job. Make sure that the class schedules for the programs you are considering are convenient enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Eatonton GA, confirm that the schools you are considering offer those options. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, confirm that the school you decide on offers part-time enrollment. Also, find out what the policy is to make up classes if you you miss any because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Will You Be Attending Welding School Near Eatonton GA?

Perhaps you live in the Eatonton Georgia area, or have decided to enroll in a Welding Program that has a campus near there.  In either case, you may find this bit of history both interesting and informative.

Eatonton, Georgia

Eatonton is a city in and county seat of Putnam County, Georgia, United States.[4] As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,480.[5] It was named after William Eaton, an officer and diplomat involved in the First Barbary War.[6] The name consists of his surname with the English suffix "ton," meaning "town".

The Rock Eagle Effigy Mound, a Native American archaeological site, is located north of the city. It is one of two such sites east of the Mississippi River; both are in Putnam County. The mound and related earthwork constructions were made by Woodland culture peoples, perhaps as long ago as 1,000 to 3,000 years. The site within a 1500-acre park administered by the University of Georgia, which also maintains a 4-H camp nearby. The Mound has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Following the American Revolutionary War, Eatonton was founded in 1807 as the seat of newly formed Putnam County. After the war, settlers were moving west and settling in the upland Piedmont region to develop cotton plantations. Eatonton was incorporated as a town in 1809 and as a city in 1879.[7]

Online Welding Certificate and Degree Programs

pipe welder at work in Eatonton GAWelding is truly a manual type of vocation, and therefore not extremely suitable for training online. However, there are some online welding courses offered by various community colleges and vocational schools in the greater Eatonton GA area that can count toward a degree or certificate program. These classes mainly cover such topics as safety, reading blueprints, and metallurgy. They can help provide a beginner a basis to initiate their education and training. Nevertheless, the most significant point is that you can’t learn how to weld or work with welding materials until you actually do it. Naturally that can’t be performed online. These skills have to be learned in an on-campus environment or in an apprenticeship. Online or distance learning is better suited for seasoned welders that want to advance their expertise or possibly earn a more advanced degree. So if you should come across an online welding degree or certificate program, be extremely careful and make certain that the larger part of the training is done on campus or in a workshop type of setting.

Choose the Right Welding Trade Program Eatonton GA

Choosing the right welder school will probably be the most important decision you will make to launch your new trade. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that you will need to assess and compare among the schools you are reviewing. It’s a must that any welder training program that you are assessing includes a considerable amount of hands-on instruction. Classes should be smaller in size and every student should have their own welding machine to train with. Classroom education should provide a real-world context, and the training program should be current and conform with industry standards. Courses differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will have to decide what length of program and credential will best fulfill your needs. Each program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Perhaps The ideal way to research your short list of schools is to check out each campus and speak with the faculty and students. Invest some time to attend a few classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the program you select is the best one for you. With the proper training, hard work and dedication, the final outcome will be a new trade as a professional welder in Eatonton GA.

 

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