Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding

Five Reasons To Pursue an Associate’s Degree in Welding
Once you’ve made the decision to be a welder, you will then be faced with the decision of how to obtain welding training. Some welders are trained on the job, while others pursue formal training and obtain an associate’s degree. When making the decision, keep in mind that your training is the foundation of your career. Before beginning your career, consider these five good reasons to get your associates in welding:

You will be taught a variety of welding methods
If you are unfamiliar with welding, you may assume that there is only one technique used by all welders. However, this is completely untrue. When obtaining your associates, you will be taught Arc Welding, Gas Metal-Arc Welding, Electroslag Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding, as well as other techniques. If you want to become a pipe welder, this is one of the last things you will learn. Welding is much more complicated than some may think.

You Can Increase Your Chances of Finding a Job
With the job market as competitive as it is, it isn’t exactly easy to find a welding job if you are new to the career. Unless you have someone willing to take you under their wing and train you, it is going to be very difficult to find a job without prior training.

You Can increase Your Earning Potential
Welders with formal training will generally earn more than those without formal training. Taking the time to earn your associates will also increase your chances of being chosen for higher paying positions. The more welding methods you have mastered, the more successful your career can be.

You’ll Have a Better Chance of Becoming a Supervisor in the Future
When competing for management positions, those with a formal education will usually have the upper hand. Unless other applicants have significantly more experience than you, you will generally beat out other welders if you have a welding degree on your resume.

You can Always Build upon an Associate's Degree
If you decide that welding isn’t for you, you can take more classes and begin working towards another degree. An education is never a bad thing to have. Investing in an education is like investing in a backup plan.

The welding training you receive will affect your entire career. An associate's degree will not just get your foot in the door, it will continue to benefit you throughout your entire career.