Get the AppHow to Become a Welder
Welding is one of the fastest trades to break into — you can be certified and working in under a year — and skilled welders in specialized fields earn well into six figures. Here’s how to start, what certifications matter, and what to expect for pay.
Take the free welding aptitude practice testGoing union in the pipe trades?
This test is good practice, but I built a separate app for the UA battery — same founder, built for your trade.
220 UA locals tracked · 100 accepting applications right now
What does a welder do?
Welders join and cut metal using heat, working in construction, manufacturing, pipelines, shipyards, and fabrication shops. The trade rewards precision, steady hands, and an understanding of how metals behave under heat — plus the math to read prints and measure cuts, which is why programs screen for math and mechanical aptitude.
Steps to become a welder
A typical path: (1) finish high school or a GED, (2) complete a welding certificate or program at a trade school or community college (often 6–18 months), (3) earn certifications such as AWS Certified Welder for the processes and positions you’ll work in, (4) start in an entry role and build experience, and (5) specialize — pipe, structural, TIG, or underwater welding — to raise your pay ceiling.
Requirements and how long it takes
Most programs require you to be 18+ with a high school diploma or GED. Welding is one of the quickest trades to enter — many people are certified and working within a year. Certification is based on passing a hands-on weld test for a specific process and position, so your skill matters more than years on paper.
Certifications that matter
AWS (American Welding Society) certifications are the industry standard and prove you can weld to a specific code and position. Employers often have you take an in-house weld test as well. Stacking certifications across processes (MIG, TIG, stick) and positions makes you far more employable and is the fastest way to raise your rate.
How much do welders make?
The median welder, cutter, solderer, and brazer earned $51,000 per year as of May 2024 (BLS). But pay varies widely by specialty: pipe welders, rig welders, and traveling industrial welders frequently earn well above the median, and underwater/specialty welders can reach six figures.
See where you stand — free
Take the free welding aptitude practice test — same format programs use, instant results, no signup to start.
Start the practice test →Your trade has its own app
PipePrep AI — built for the UA pipe trades battery
Pipefitters and steamfitters weld for a living, so the UA pipe trades are the closest union route — though boilermakers and ironworkers weld too, and they run their own programs. Worth knowing either way: the UA battery has no welding section. It tests math, reading, mechanical reasoning and spatial visualization.
Straight up: I’m an IBEW journeyman electrician and a pre-apprenticeship instructor — not a UA member. What I know cold is how union selection works, and that part is the same across the building trades. The test content is not, which is why it’s a separate app.
220 UA locals tracked · 100 accepting applications right now
Or take the free UA pipefitter aptitude practice test first — free, no signup.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a welder?
Often under a year. Many welders complete a 6–18 month certificate program, then pass a hands-on certification weld test for the processes they’ll use.
Do you need a license to weld?
There’s no single “welding license.” Instead you earn certifications (like AWS) for specific processes and positions, and employers may require an in-house weld test.
Is there an aptitude test to get into welding programs?
Many programs and apprenticeships use an entrance aptitude test (math, reading, mechanical reasoning). Take a free practice version below.
More free practice tests on the practice tests hub.
