Welding Schools Near Me | How to Become a Welder – Kihei HI

How to Enroll In a Welder Technical School near Kihei Hawaii

Kihei HI welding school studentLocating the right welder technical school near Kihei HI is an essential first step to launching your new career as a professional welder. But since there are numerous schools to choose from, how do you determine which ones to consider? And more notably, once you have fine tuned your choices, how do you pick the right one? Many people begin by looking at the schools that are closest to their residences. When they have located those that are within commuting distance, they gravitate toward the cheapest one. Yes, location and tuition cost are crucial issues when reviewing welding technical schools, but they are not the only ones. Other considerations include such things as accreditation, reputation and job placement rates. So before starting your search for a vocational school to become a welder, it’s sensible to establish a list of qualifications that your chosen school must have. But before we explore our due diligence checklist, let’s talk a little bit about how to become a welder.

Welding Certificate and Degree Training Classes

Kihei HI welder working on pipingThere are several options available to get training as a welder in a trade or vocational school. You can obtain a a certificate, a diploma or an Associate Degree. Bachelor Degrees are available in Welding Engineering or Welding Technology, but are more advanced degrees than most journeyman welders will need. Some programs are also made available in conjunction with an apprenticeship program. Following are brief summaries of the most typical welding programs available in the Kihei HI.

  • Certificate and Diploma Programs are normally offered by trade and technical schools and require about one year to complete. They are more hands-on training in nature, created mainly to develop welding skills. They can provide a good foundation for a new journeyman or apprentice welder, or supplemental skills for experienced welders.
  • Associate Degree Programs will take 2 years to complete and are usually offered by community colleges. An Associate Degree in Welding Technology provides a more well-rounded education than the certificate or diploma while still providing the foundation that readies students to enter the workforce.

Some states and municipalities do have licensing prerequisites for welders, so don’t forget to check for your location of potential employment. As required, the welder school you select should prepare you for any licensing exams that you will need to take in addition to furnishing the suitable training to become a qualified welder.

Welding Certification Options

Kihei HI welder working on poleThere are a number of organizations that offer welder certifications, which assess the skill level and knowledge of those applying. Many Kihei HI employers not only require a certificate or degree from an accredited welding school, but also certification from a renowned agency like the American Welding Society (AWS). A variety of certifications are offered based on the type of work that the welder performs. A few of the things that certification can attest to are the welder’s ability to

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

As formerly mentioned, many cities, states or local municipalities have licensing mandates for welders. Of those requiring licensing, some additionally require certification for different types of work. Certification is also a way to demonstrate to employers that you are an extremely skilled and knowledgeable welder. So similarly as with licensing, look into the requirements for your location and make certain that the welding technical school you choose readies you for certification as needed.

How to Select a Welding Vocational School

Kihei HI welder working on carWhen you have decided on the credential you would like to attain, a degree, certificate or diploma, you can start to compare schools. As you probably know, there are many welder vocational and trade schools in the Kihei HI area. That’s why it’s necessary to determine in advance what qualifications your school of choice must have. We have previously covered 2 important ones that most people look at first, which are location and the cost of tuition. As mentioned, although they are essential qualifications, they are not the only ones that need to be considered. After all, the program you choose is going to furnish the education that will be the foundation of your new profession as a welder. So following are some additional factors you may need to consider before picking a welding trade school.

Accreditation. It’s extremely important that the welding trade school you decide on is accredited by either a regional or a national agency. There are two basic kinds of accreditation. The school may earn Institutional Accreditation based on all of their programs. Programmatic Accreditation is based on a specific program the school offers, such as Welding Technology. So make sure that the program you choose is accredited, not just the school itself. Also, the accreditation should be by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency, such as the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT). In addition to helping make sure that you obtain an excellent education, the accreditation might also help in obtaining financial assistance or student loans, which are often unavailable in Kihei HI for schools that are not accredited. Also, for those states or municipalities that mandate licensing, they may require that the welding training program be accredited also.

Apprenticeship and Job Placement Programs. Many welder diploma or degree programs are offered in conjunction with an apprenticeship program. Other schools will assist in placing you in a job or an apprenticeship after graduation. Find out if the schools you are reviewing assist in placing students in apprenticeships or have a job placement program. These schools must have associations with local unions and various metal working businesses to which they can place their students. Older schools may have a larger network of graduates that they can utilize for referrals. These programs can help students find employment and establish associations within the Kihei HI welding community.

Completion and Job Placement Rates. The completion rate is the portion or percentage of students that begin an academic program and complete it. It’s essential that the welder school you pick has a higher completion rate. A reduced rate may signify that the students who were in the program were dissatisfied with the instruction, the instructors, or the facilities, and quit. The job placement rate is also a good indicator of the caliber of training. A higher job placement rate will not only affirm that the program has an excellent reputation within the field, but also that it has the network of Kihei HI contacts to assist students secure apprenticeships or employment after graduation.

Modern Facilities and Equipment. After you have limited your selection of welding programs to 2 or 3 options, you should think out visiting the campuses to inspect their facilities. Confirm that both the facilities and the equipment that you will be taught 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 currently in an apprenticeship program, ask the master welder you are working under for guidance. If not, ask a local Kihei HI welding contractor if they can give you a few suggestions.

School Location. Although we previously briefly discussed the importance of location, there are a few additional issues that we should address. You should keep in mind that unless you are able to move, the welder program you choose must be within commuting distance of your Kihei HI home. If you do decide to enroll in an out-of-state school, apart from relocation expenses there may be higher tuition fees for out-of-state residents. This is particularly true for welder diploma programs offered by community colleges. Additionally, if the school offers an apprenticeship or job placement program, most likely their placements are within the school’s local community. So the location of the school should be in a region or state where you subsequently will wish to work.

Smaller Classes. Personalized instruction is essential for a manual trade such as welding. It’s easy to get overlooked in bigger classes and not receive much one-on-one instruction. Ask what the average class size is for the welding schools you are looking at. Inquire if you can attend a couple of classes so that you can see how much personal attention the students are getting. While there, speak with several of the students and get their feedback. Also, talk with some of the instructors and ask what their welding experience has been and what certifications and credentials they hold.

Flexible Class Schedules. Some people learn a new trade while still working at their present job. Verify that the class schedules for the programs you are considering are flexible enough to fulfill your needs. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Kihei HI, verify that the schools you are assessing provide those choices. If you can only attend part-time, verify 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 due to work, sickness or family responsibilities.

Will You Be Attending Welding School Near Kihei HI?

Perhaps you live in the Kihei Hawaii 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.

Kihei, Hawaii

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.7 square miles (30.2 km2), of which 9.3 square miles (24.0 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), or 20.44%, is water.[3] It is considered to be the South Side of Maui, located on the leeward side of Haleakala. The climate is arid, receiving no more than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain per year.

Although its official city designation is Wailuku, the Kīhei Junction Park and Ride lot is a frequently-used commuter parking lot at the corner of highway 310 (North Kihei Road) and highway 30 (Honoapi'ilani Highway) at coordinates 20.8099479,-156.51417[4] There is no public bus service that stops here; however, it is located near Ma 'alaea Harbor Village, where there is a public transportation stop.[5] It's primarily used for hikers, bicyclists and ride sharers looking for a meeting place that is centrally located between Kīhei, Lahaina and Wailuku. There's no charge to park; the lot is unattended.

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 16,749 people, 6,170 households, and 3,813 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,648.6 people per square mile (636.5/km2). There were 9,170 housing units at an average density of 902.6 per square mile (348.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.76% White, 6.74% African American, 0.48% Native American, 24.72% Asian, 7.85% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 16.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

Online Welder Certificate and Degree Programs

pipe welder at work in Kihei HIWelding is very much a hands-on kind of profession, and therefore not extremely compatible with online training. Having said that, there are a few online welding courses offered by various community colleges and vocational schools in the greater Kihei HI area that may count toward a degree or certificate program. These classes mainly deal with such topics as safety, reading blueprints, and metallurgy. They can help provide a novice a basis to start their education and training. Nevertheless, the most critical point is that you can’t learn how to weld or work with welding materials unless you actually do it. Naturally that can’t be accomplished 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 desire to advance their knowledge or perhaps obtain a more advanced degree. So if you should find an online welding certificate or degree program, be extremely careful and make certain that the greater part of the training is done on campus or in a workshop type of setting.

Find the Right Welding Technical School Kihei HI

Choosing the best welder school will probably be the most critical decision you will make to start your new profession. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that you will need to evaluate and compare among the programs you are looking at. It’s a prerequisite that any welding training program that you are reviewing includes a lot of hands-on training. Classes need to be small in size and each student should have their personal welding machine to train with. Classroom teaching should provide a real-world context, and the course of study should be up-to-date and conform with industry standards. Training programs differ in length and the kind of credential offered, so you will need to decide what length of program and credential will best satisfy your needs. Each program provides unique options for certification also. Perhaps the best way to research your short list of schools is to go to each campus and speak with the students and faculty. Invest some time to monitor a few classes. Tour the campus and facilities. Make sure that you are confident that the school you choose is the ideal one for you. With the proper training, effort and commitment, the end outcome will be a new occupation as a professional welder in Kihei HI.

 

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