your not being rude one bit. Now that I know I was right about you being able to work from the time you were in your teens. I will say this, I worked in a shop called Matrix in Tulsa Ok. Hard shop to work for. Nobody could get into the door with out experience. if you had 5 years experience or more your in. their welding test was crucial. Your right most if not all shops require a welding test regardless of certifications. When it came to managing a crew, you either have to have been there a long time, or you had to have an education, same for raises. I have never known a company that doesn't do that. I would not say you're ignorant either. Not when it comes to things you know. So don't think I am attacking you and saying that you are. I will never put off any education as a time waste or funds lost. Some tech schools are B.S. I can at least say I have been very fortunate with my school choices and my family have benefited from higher education. I will be the first in my family going on to get my bachelors and it will be in Marketing.

 

Thats good im the only welder in my family, I just dont want the kid to make the mistake i did. I have to pay 6k for some stupid truck driving school. Sad thing is i had the highest gpa when i graduated out of everyone. I could back up better then everyone in my class. I went on the road for 2 months and did great. Sure it took me a few times to back up in some scenarios but for the most part i did great. But i hated every minute of it, i was very angry at myself for wasting the money i did. Once my 2 months were up i came home and looked for a welding job. By the grace of god there was one and i aced the test and now i wake up and dont mind going to work. I would hate to see someone else stuck with a school loan of 6k and it was a huge waste of time.

 

I'm a very fortunate one that has sought out the right information. I did what you did in a tech school in Tulsa called Spartan School of aeronautics. I was fresh out of the military, went into debt in less then 3 months at the same price you paid for a truck driving school, and most of my GI bill, gone. I to, was discouraged by it all. Back in 2008, I decided to try it again, and went to Shasta College. I did not need to get a loan, all had to do was buy books and pay for lab fees, and the units. It comes to about 300 dollars per 17 unit semester.

 

I'm going to school for underwater welding.

$50+ an hour starting then $150+ with your 6+ years experience.

Sent from my Droid

 

a school i went to our tech teacher had us doing all the gaps and stuff like that im going back to that school next year for my senior year. im basically taking a college course for a 2 high school credits and dont have to pay for it

 

I am not a die hard union man but was a sheet metal worker until I was hurt in Iraq, some of the best welders I have ever seen were Sheet metal workers, Iron Workers and Pipe fitters. You get to be paid to learn a trade and get real world experience when your not in school because your on a job applying your skill. Just check around and find out you really want to do because once you get into a apprentice ship they got you by the *****. So make damn sure it's what you want to do.

 

I'm pretty sure its what i want to do but im also thinking about diesel tech

 

I think JCTC has classes about welding they are in louisville.
There is a college in maysville to I beleive.