Tulsa Vocational Programs for Industrial Careers

Tulsa has long been an important industrial manufacturing and oil production area for the United States. Since the early 1920s until World War II, the city was known as the “Oil Capital of the World” (now the title belongs to Houston, Texas). Tulsa remains the 7th largest employer for oil and gas products and services in the US. However, the region’s largest industry is aviation, with over 300 aviation-related companies in the area. The aviation industry accounts for 32,000 jobs in Tulsa and 140,000 jobs across the state of Oklahoma. Nationwide, Tulsa employment figures rank 6th for aircraft engines, 2nd for fabricated platework, 4th for metal pumps, and 3rd for fabricated metal pipe. If you want to break into an industrial career in Oklahoma, Tulsa has vocational programs that can get you started in less than a year.

Welding & Welding Inspector Training

Many of Tulsa’s major industries require the talents of skilled welders and welding inspectors. Aside from the various jobs in the aviation and oil and gas industries that use welders, metal fabrication and metal product manufacturing also use welding for the production, assembly, inspection, and repair of products. Welding programs can teach students in-demand welding skills in as little as 7 months through hands-on training courses. If students chose to study for longer periods of time, they will receive more advanced welding inspector training that teaches them non-destructive weld test methods, safety codes, metallurgy, and quality control assurance.

Pipefitting

With the oil and gas industry’s large presence in the area, well-trained pipefitters are an essential part of successful extraction and transportation of natural gas and oil. Tulsa is a major transportation hub because the Tulsa Port of Catoosa, resting on the Verdigris River, is a major port within the McKellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, which is a series of connected waterways (including the Mississippi and Ohio rivers) stretching from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Industrial facilities also rely on pipefitters for plumbing, boilermaking, and steamfitting operations. Pipefitting training programs teach students plumbing codes, pipe systems, and pipe installation/joining methods.

Enrolling in a Tulsa Vocational Program

High school students who are considering a career in the skilled trades should look into vocational programs in manufacturing areas like Tulsa. Companies prefer to draw from local pools of talent, and employers will be familiar with the level of training that local programs deliver. Some employers even work with vocational schools to develop curriculums directly relevant to their workforce needs, ensuring that students learn skills immediately relevant to the job market. For more information about training for a hands-on career in welding or pipefitting, contact a Tulsa Welding School Admissions Representative.

Resources:
http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Tulsa-Economy.html