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

How to Choose a Welding Certification Class near Decatur Georgia

Decatur GA welding school studentSelecting the ideal welder vocational school near Decatur GA is an important first step to beginning your new career as a professional welder. But since there are a lot of schools to select from, how do you determine which ones to consider? And more significantly, once you have narrowed down your alternatives, how do you pick the best one? Many people start by reviewing the schools that are closest to their homes. Once they have located those that are within commuting distance, they are drawn toward the least expensive one. Yes, location and tuition cost are crucial considerations when evaluating welding vocational schools, but they are not the only ones. Other considerations include such things as accreditation, reputation and job placement rates. So before beginning your search for a vocational school to become a welder, it’s sensible to create a list of qualifications that your chosen school must have. But before we examine our due diligence checklist, let’s cover a little bit about how to become a welder.

Welder Certificate and Degree Training Courses

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

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are usually offered by trade and technical schools and take about 1 year to finish. They are more hands-on training in nature, designed mainly to teach welding skills. They can provide a good foundation for a new journeyman or apprentice welder, or specialized 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 provides a more extensive education than the diploma or certificate while still providing the foundation that prepares students to enter the workforce.

Some states and municipalities do have licensing requirements for welders, so be sure to check for your location of future employment. As needed, the welding school you select should prep you for any licensing exams that you will need to pass in addition to furnishing the proper training to become a qualified welder.

Welding Certification Options

Decatur GA welder working on poleThere are various organizations that offer welder certifications, which evaluate the skill level and knowledge of those applying. Many Decatur GA employers not only demand a certificate or degree from an accredited welding program, but also certification from a renowned organization such as the American Welding Society (AWS). A wide range of certifications are available based on the type of work that the welder does. A few of the skills that certification can attest to are the welder’s ability to

  • Operate in compliance with specific codes
  • Work with specified metal thicknesses
  • Work with specific types of welds
  • Operate based on contract specifications

As formerly stated, many cities, states or local municipalities have licensing requirements for welders. Of those mandating licensing, some also require certification for various kinds of work. Certification is also a means to prove to employers that you are a highly skilled and qualified welder. So similarly as with licensing, look into the requirements for your location and make sure that the welder tech school you select preps you for certification as needed.

How to Select a Welder Trade Program

Decatur GA welder working on carWhen you have decided on the credential you would like to obtain, a diploma, certificate or degree, you can start to assess schools. As you are no doubt aware, there are numerous welder trade and vocational schools in the Decatur GA area. That’s why it’s essential to establish up front what qualifications your selected school must have. We have previously discussed 2 important ones that most people look at first, which are location and tuition cost. As stated, although they are essential qualifications, they are not the only ones that should be looked at. After all, the school you decide on is going to provide the instruction that will be the foundation of your new vocation as a welder. So following are some additional factors you might want to evaluate before choosing a welding technical school.

Accreditation. It’s very important that the welding vocational school you choose is accredited by either a regional or a national organization. There are two basic types of accreditation. The school may attain Institutional Accreditation based on all of their programs. Programmatic Accreditation is based on an individual program the school offers, for instance Welding Technology. So make certain that the program you select is accredited, not just the school itself. Additionally, the accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency, for example the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). In addition to helping make sure that you receive a quality education, the accreditation can also assist in securing financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable in Decatur GA for schools that are not accredited. Finally, for those states or municipalities that mandate licensing, they may require that the welder training program be accredited as well.

Apprenticeship and Job Placement Programs. Numerous welder diploma or degree programs are provided in conjunction with an apprenticeship program. Some other schools will help place you in an apprenticeship or a job upon graduation. Ask if the schools you are looking at help in placing students in apprenticeships or have a job assistance program. These schools should have relationships with local unions and various metal working businesses to which they can refer their students. More established schools may have a more substantial network of graduates that they can utilize for placements. These programs can assist students in finding employment and establish relationships within the Decatur GA welding community.

Job Placement and Completion Rates. The completion rate is the percentage of students that enroll in an educational program and complete it. It’s crucial that the welding school you choose has a higher completion rate. A low rate might signify that the students who were in the program were dissatisfied with the training, the instructors, or the facilities, and dropped out. The job placement rate is also an indication of the caliber of training. A higher job placement rate will not only verify that the school has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of Decatur GA employer relationships to assist students secure apprenticeships or employment after graduation.

Up-to-date Facilities and Equipment. Once you have narrowed down your choice of welding schools to 2 or 3 options, you should think out going to the campuses to inspect their facilities. Verify that both the equipment and the facilities that you will be trained on are modern. In particular, the training equipment should be comparable to what you will be working with in the field. If you are uncertain what to look for, and are already in an apprenticeship program, consult with the master welder you are working under for guidance. If not, ask a local Decatur GA welding professional if they can give you some tips.

School Location. Although we already briefly talked about the significance of location, there are a couple of additional issues that we should cover. You should keep in mind that unless you have the ability to move, the welding school you pick needs to be within driving distance of your Decatur GA home. If you do choose to attend an out-of-state school, apart from relocation costs there could be higher tuition fees for out-of-state residents. This is especially the case for welding degree programs offered by community colleges. Also, if the school provides a job placement or apprenticeship program, most likely their placements are within the school’s local community. So the location of the school needs to be in an area or state where you subsequently will desire to work.

Smaller Classes. One-on-one instruction is essential for a hands-on trade such as welding. It’s possible to be lost in bigger classes and not receive much individualized instruction. Ask what the average class size is for the welding programs you are reviewing. Ask if you can sit in on a few classes so that you can see just how much personal attention the students are receiving. While there, speak with some of the students and get their evaluations. Also, talk with a few of the teachers and ask what their welding experience has been and what certifications and credentials they have earned.

Convenient Class Schedules. Some people learn a new trade while still working at their current job. Confirm that the class schedules for the schools you are reviewing are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Decatur GA, verify that the schools you are reviewing offer those alternatives. If you can only attend on a part-time basis, make certain that the school you choose offers part-time enrollment. Also, ask what the policy is to make up classes should you miss any because of work, illness or family responsibilities.

Will You Be Attending Welding School Near Decatur GA?

Perhaps you live in the Decatur 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.

Decatur, Georgia

Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia that is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 20,148 in the 2013 census,[3] the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in unincorporated DeKalb County bear the Decatur name. The city is served by three MARTA rail stations. The city is located approximately 5 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta and shares its western border with Atlanta.

Decatur was established at the intersection of two Native American trails:  the Sandtown, which led east from the Chattahoochee River at Utoy Creek, and the Shallowford, which follows today's Clairmont Road, and eventually crossed near Roswell. It was named for United States Navy Commodore Stephen Decatur.

During the American Civil War, Decatur became a strategic site in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. In July 1864, Major-General James McPherson occupied the town to cut off the Confederates' supply line from Augusta. On July 22, during the Battle of Atlanta, Confederate cavalry under Major-General Joseph Wheeler attacked McPherson's supply wagons and the Union troops left to defend the wagons. A historical marker at the old courthouse marks the site of this skirmish.

Online Welder Schools

pipe welder at work in Decatur GAWelding is truly a hands-on kind of profession, and therefore not very compatible with training online. Even so, there are a few online welding classes offered by various community colleges and vocational schools in the greater Decatur GA area that may count toward a degree or certificate program. These courses primarily deal with such subjects as reading blueprints, safety,, and metallurgy. They can help give a novice a basis to begin their training and education. However, the most critical point is that you can’t learn how to weld or use welding materials until you actually do it. Clearly that can’t be accomplished online. These skills need to be learned in an on-campus setting or in an apprenticeship. Online or distance learning is better suited for seasoned welders that desire to advance their knowledge or possibly obtain a more advanced degree. So if you should discover an online welding degree or certificate program, be extremely careful and make sure that the majority of the training is done on campus or in a workshop type of setting.

Choose the Right Welding Technical School Decatur GA

Picking the best welding school will undoubtedly be the most critical decision you will make to start your new trade. As we have discussed in this article, there are many things that you will need to examine and compare between the schools you are looking at. It’s a must that any welder school that you are examining includes a lot of hands-on instruction. Classes should be small in size and every student should have their personal welding machine to train on. Classroom teaching needs to provide a real-world perspective, and the training program should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs vary in length and the type of credential provided, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best serve your needs. Every program offers unique possibilities for certification as well. Probably the best approach to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the teachers and students. Invest some time to attend some classes. Inspect the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the training program you decide on is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the final result will be a new career as a professional welder in Decatur GA.

 

The location could not be found.

 

Business Results 1 - 10 of 21

Martin Welding Company
3 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
536 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

Abstract Welding
2 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
1337 Owenby Dr, Marietta, GA 30066

UBI Welders
2 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
1660 Huntingdon Tr, Atlanta, GA 30350

Metal Head Welding and Fabrication
3 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
3686 Meadowview Dr, Atlanta, GA 30122

Eighty-Ninety Gear & Off-Road
1 Reviews
Auto Repair, Metal Fabricators
Phone:
3790 Highway 92, Ste 210, Acworth, GA 30102

Silvasons Machine Shop
4 Reviews
Metal Fabricators, Machine Shops
Phone:
840 Great Sw Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30336

Quality Welding Repair Services
1 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
1588 Bogota Way, Jonesboro, GA 30236

Summit Fence
16 Reviews
Fences & Gates
Phone:
5522 Glade Rd SE, Acworth, GA 30102

Form & Fusion Welding Services
1 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
4280 Brogdon Exchange, Suwanee, GA 30024

Reasonable Rates Welding
5 Reviews
Metal Fabricators
Phone:
3059 Scott Rd, Marietta, GA 30066