Ever heard of this?

[eagleman193]

Ok, I'm 15 years old and since i'm not able to go to a welding school yet i was wondering where in kansas i could get certified. I have heard of guys being able to weld decently and getting certified without school. sides everyone knows school sucks haha just kidding but please help me. i looked online and didnt find anythin but any help would be appreciated

[Jon K]

No idea, but I admire your aspirations.

[BlackGT97]

What Kind of certifications? You realize that there are many many many different certs. right? Certs. are not going to be easy to pass if you don't have any experience. Just because you can lay down a bead, dosn't make you a welder. Go to welding school and then shoot for the certs.

[eagleman193]

thanks jon

[Steelwill]

Being 15 means you should be in high school right, and the don't offer a welding class in vocational ed ?

[jbmprods]

check other high schools in your area. one of our local HS's that i help out at from time to time offers a 10 week night course and offers testing for simple certs at the end of the course. nothing special but it's a start. good luck.

[eagleman193]

thanks jbm do you have any idea whatg that course is called or does it have a name

[pokerguy]

maybe you should talk to your counselor or contact the local vocational, Jr college or community college. I just finished my welding school at my local college and there was as kid in there that was 17 yrs old a Junior in High school. Never bothered to ask him how he did it but apparently it is possible to take college welding classes while in high school.

[ExpatWelder]

There are hundreds upon hundreds of "certifications" you can get, and it does not matter if you are 15 0r 150, you just need to find a testing facility, do the test, and pass the test, and usually some money changes hands during the process. My 15 year old son has his D14.3 3G and 4G, but.................it doesn't really matter in the real world, the cert may get you an interview, or another test, but that's about all it will do for you. Most jobs require you to take a job test, every job I ever had did.

[74hotrod]

Originally Posted by ExpatWelder

There are hundreds upon hundreds of "certifications" you can get, and it does not matter if you are 15 0r 150, you just need to find a testing facility, do the test, and pass the test, and usually some money changes hands during the process. My 15 year old son has his D14.3 3G and 4G, but.................it doesn't really matter in the real world, the cert may get you an interview, or another test, but that's about all it will do for you. Most jobs require you to take a job test, every job I ever had did.

X2 of what ExpatWelder said. Honestly I think I would make some welds at home and let someone do just a visual on them which shouldn't cost you much if nothing.Cause when you go out on a job you will have to recert again.

[tanglediver]

Just keep practicing with whatever welding equipment you have available. Regardless of schooling & training, you need to practice. Strive to make improvements in your work, that much will never go out of fashion.

[diesel666]

What part of kansas are you from i was born in Scott city but know live in Canada...i know theres a couple in south western kansas ill try and find out exactly where they are

[DSW]

Originally Posted by eagleman193

thanks jbm do you have any idea whatg that course is called or does it have a name

The one tech school near me refers to the night class as "welding technology". The other one offers "welding I" ( Stick and O/A welding) and "welding II" ( students choice of either stick, mig, tig or O/A )

[eagleman193]

Originally Posted by diesel666

What part of kansas are you from i was born in Scott city but know live in Canada...i know theres a couple in south western kansas ill try and find out exactly where they are

im in southwest kansas thirty miles east of dodge city

[Mr. Moose]

Here in Colorado the high school has an arrangement with the community college welding program I've gone to, and about 30 of the HS students are already well into getting credit for college level welding classes while still in high school. I understand it's free for the students (the high school program pays for it, I guess). If you could find something similar within travel range, you'd get a good training program at very reasonable cost...

[Kelvin]

No vo-tech schools in your part of Kansas?

[Kevin Morin]

eagle, here in Alaska, for reasons that I don't fully support, younger folks under 18 can't handle some power tools- couple hundred amps in the hand may be that way too?
(I don't know how on earth this gov thinks that younger people will learn any trades???)

That may mean there are complications with your aspirations, I applaud your interest and encourage you to find out from your State Dept of Labor if you could do any work in this trade even IF you had certs?

I'm pretty sure that you could find an independent certification company? Welding inspection may not be close to your location but has to exist some where in the State? Then you'll likely have to have (some) parental participation to get in their door?

go get'em hoss

Cheers,
Kevin Morin

[SuperArc]

+1 what tanglediver said.

[CEP]

Until you find a testing facility, you can do some testing of your own.

[eagleman193]

thanks!

[B_C]

yeah the company you weld for usually gets you the Cert......I was at a company that had 4 EB Welders and did stuff for Los Alemedos Nuke Lab in NM on a regular basis
and had some stainless tube that was .017 thick that needed to be tig welded. I had to come up with the parameters for that job before I could get the CERT.......they bore scoped the finished part after each weld......Was a bitch and will never have to use that CERT again BUT......it is documented and has to be done........Government red tape BS

[RoyBratten]

You realize that there are many many many different certs

[pipefitter72]

you might contact the pipefitters union in your area, They have their own weld school and in know in atlanta we do allow guests at in at times. Who knows..you might sign up as a summer helper and have yourself a paying welder job before you know it....nothing like getting paid to learn instead of having to pay someone to teach you. In the Atlanta local our apprentices skip work one day every other week to go to school and receive their regular pay for that day.

http://www.ua441.org/apprenticeship.html