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Professional / Career Development

Fact sheet IV (03/03)

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A Career in Welding

There is more to it than you might think!

Welding is a method of providing a high strength joint between components. Welding can be used on a wide variety of engineering materials, metals and non-metals.

A large amount of welding is done by manual techniques where an electric arc or a gas flame is used to melt the metal in the joint. The welder is in direct control of the process, making judgements that decide the quality of the finished weld.

There are four main manual welding processes:

Manual Metal Arc (MMA) Metal Inert Gas/
Metal Active Gas (MIG/MAG)
Manual Metal Arc (MMA) Metal Inert Gas/Metal Active Gas (MIG/MAG)
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Oxyfuel Gas
Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Oxyfuel Gas

Each process has its own field of application, but all require a high degree of skill to achieve sound welds.

But there are may other welding processes, for example:

Electron beam welding Friction stir welding
Electron beam welding Friction stir welding

Successful operation of those processes is less dependent on manual skill but more dependent on the, sometimes complex, machinery that is used. In engineering terms, some of these machines are of the highest sophistication.

Welding engineering as a career

Diving tank
  • It is one of the few remaining crafts used in manufacture and construction - the quality of the weld is dependent on the knowledge and skill of the welder/operator
  • There is a real shortage of skilled labour
  • There is the continuing challenge of developing new skills to meet different situations
  • Skills and qualifications obtained in this country are valid worldwide
  • It is not confined to one industry. Welders are required for applications as diverse as jet engine manufacture, bridge building, laying cross country pipelines, underwater welding and fabricating equipment in exotic materials such as titanium
  • Welding is a wide field - there is always an opportunity to learn more about the many processes and techniques

Career development prospects

Training

With further training:

  • Welders with an aptitude for organisation or management can be promoted to foreman/supervisor
  • There are opportunities in training as instructors
  • Welding inspectors
  • Plant/consumables sales personnel

All these tasks require further qualification such as that available through the well-known CSWIP scheme (Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel).

In the training room

Through further education:

  • Technicians and engineers - generally by following an EdExcel or SQA course at National or Higher Level. Your local college will give you details of course availability. Both technician and engineer levels are available in some colleges in the discipline of Welding and Fabrication Technology.

Through further education and training:

  • Further education and training may also equip you to gain one of the levels of European and International welding qualification such as European Welder, Welding Practitioner, Specialist, Technologist or Engineer.

    For further information regarding these opportunities, please contact TWI Training and Examination Services at: trainexam@twi.co.uk

Characteristics of a good manual welder

  • Good eyesight
  • Physical fitness
  • Good hand-eye co-ordination
  • Good with your hands and enjoy working with tools
  • Ability to persevere - it takes a lot of practice to be a good welder
  • Willingness to learn about the technology so that you gain an understanding of the task you need to perform

The routes to becoming a manual welder

Work in progress Just leaving school: the best option is to get a place on a training scheme or modern apprenticeship that includes attendance at a local Further Education College.
  • Large companies offer a comprehensive programme of training in more than one welding process
  • Smaller companies often limit the scope of the training to one welding process but this can provide a good foundation for skill development on a college course

In any case, ask your Careers Teacher he/she will be able to give you information about training schemes available in your area.

Wanting a change of career: You will need to acquire the basic skill of welding before applying for a job as a welder.

  • Evening classes are available at Further Education Colleges. They provide both training in practical skills and an understanding of the principles underlying the operation of welding systems. Information about these are available from local colleges or a number of training organisations such as TWI Ltd. The course duration and fees vary according to the process and the extent of the training. Grants are available for adult retraining - these depend on current government legislation and information can be obtained from Job Centres and the regional LSCs.

Qualifications recognised by industry

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs or SVQs in Scotland)

Awarded to those who achieve nationally recognised Standards of Competence. These qualifications are gained through on-going assessment, often in the workplace, to check that the candidate can meet the specified Performance Criteria and has expected knowledge. In welding, N/SVQs are awarded through schemes operated by the Engineering and Marine Training Authority, Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance (SEMTA), Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and City and Guilds.

Vocational courses

Available from many Colleges of Further Education leading to recognised educational certificates. These are run to syllabus and practical training set by examining bodies such as City and Guilds and ABC (formerly EMFEC/CENTRA). TWI is a partner in the ABC 165 Certificate Course in Welding and Fabrication Practice. Courses are available at levels from beginners to advanced and information on the current opportunities are available from these organisations or through your local FE College.

Modern apprenticeships

Linked to the attainment of N/SVQs. Attendance at a vocational course is required. Check your Careers Teacher or local LSCs for information about local opportunities.

Welder Approval Certificate

This is the industrially recognised qualification. To achieve this the welder completes a sample weld that is tested in accordance with British Standard BS4872 or, for more critical work, European Standard EN287, or to a similar level. Approval tests are usually conducted by employers for specific work, but College course should lead to a level of skill which matches that required by an Approval Test.

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Professional Membership and Engineering Council Registration

TWI offers Professional Membership for engineers and technicians seeking a professional qualification in welding. Professional Membership provides qualifications recognised by the Engineering Council at Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer and Chartered Engineer Level. In addition, the class of Senior Associate offers a mark of achievement to those unable to qualify under the Engineering Council rules but who have demonstrated attainments in a welding related career.

All Professional members are automatically members of the Welding & Joining Society and have access to a number of fringe benefits including a technical enquiry service and access to TWI's information services, branch and technical activities, free copies of our journal Connect, discounted publications and attendance at training courses, conferences, seminars and workshops.

For further information on Professional Membership or the Welding & Joining Society (which is open to all) please contact: twi_professional@twi.co.uk

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