TWS is a Great Training Option for Everyone
Learn more about how we can prepare you to advance your career.
Are you looking to start your career or change it? Willing to relocate? You may want to consider working as a welder in Texas. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the welding credentials needed in Texas. While the state has only very few mandatory requirements, additional licenses and certifications may further enhance your employment opportunities.
Basic Requirements for Welders in Texas
Texas Department of Transportation requires welders to have a Steel Structures Welding Certification before they can work on structural steel connections, i.e. bridges. Welders can obtain a welding certification training from vocational programs. Upon completion they will be able to work in general fabrication shops, at building sites, on pipelines or at shipyards.
Additional Helpful Certifications
To become more valuable to potential employers, it is helpful to have credentials that go beyond a general welding certification. According to the American Welding Society (AWS), you can obtain professional certifications for specific positions such as welding inspector, welding educator, radiographic interpreter, welding engineer, etc. TWS, for instance, offers Welding Specialist and Welding Specialist with Pipefitting programs at the Houston, TX campus. Such additional credentials will help qualify you for a greater variety of positions.
Endorsements Open Up Your Job Opportunities
If you’re looking for additional job opportunities, you can obtain endorsements or supplemental inspection credentials to boost your experience. AWS explains that these endorsements are available to AWS Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) and Senior Certified Welding Inspectors (SCWIs). These endorsement are available as stand-alone exams to non-CWIs/SCWIs who simply want to bolster their training. These additional credentials demonstrate that you have the skills and knowledge required to complete more challenging jobs.
Have You Considered a Career in the Skilled Trades?
Fill out the form to recieve a no obligation info packet.
Are Optional Credentials Worth It?
Completing training at any of Tulsa Welding School’s vocational welding programs, you’ll be able to qualify for an entry-level position. The median pay for welders nationwide is $17.45 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Furthermore, the BLS reports that welding school graduates have little difficult finding work because employers are seeking skilled workers, especially in Texas. Having additional credentials will likely further increase your chances on the job market. The job growth for welders is expected to rise by only 6% by 2022, and welders trained in the most up-to-date technologies will have good job opportunities. Any additional credentials potentially qualify you for more advanced, better-paying positions.
