How to Become a Certified Underwater Welder

One of the most skilled jobs that are in demand right now is underwater welder. However, if you think that having an experienced of a commercial welder will fits you to the job then you are wrong. Keep in mind that to become a certified underwater welder you have to possess both welding and diving skills. If you don’t have the experience of both  a welder and a diver then you have to undergo the training, education, and experience necessary to become a certified welder and diver. Having an experienced of a sports diver (scuba) is not also enough because sports dive training does not include training and education on environmental safety of underwater work. In addition, the safe use of underwater welding equipments you need is vital knowledge in underwater welding which sports diving do not have. You will need a big budget in acquiring the proper training and education for both welding and diving before you will become a certified underwater welder.

Underwater welding is growing to be the most in demand skill for a commercial diver to have. While training to be an underwater welder can be an intensive, and difficult course, once you passed, underwater welding can be a valuable skill for a commercial diver to hold. Before, welding is a practical option for maintenance, and construction purpose only. However, because the underwater welding did not meet the appropriate standard of welding, most of the time, the work of the underwater welder is always outside. Nevertheless, in recent years, underwater welding had found its home – underwater welders are educated to AWS (American Welding Standards). In an ideal world,  a commercial diver should already have a  welding skills before undertaking  on an underwater welding course but because of the  increasing demand – commercial divers without good  welding experience are undergoing a training to get  their underwater welding certification, that  is why the course is said to be intensive and difficult. To become a certified underwater welder, you must have a scuba diver certification from certified and reputable schools. You must also be a certified welder. To become a certified welder you must have a formal training on any accredited welding schools and complete the Certified Welder program set by the American Welding Society and should passed all necessary tests.

However, obtaining both welding and scuba diving certificate are not enough to become a certified underwater welder. You still need to attend an underwater welding school. This will test you on how to apply your two acquired skills, commercial welding, and diving . The training will take about 6 months or as long as 2 years. After having these trainings, you are now ready to try the job in the real world. Apply in the company who hires apprenticeship underwater welder. This is the best venue for you to learn and apply all your training and knowledge for both skills. Working for about 6 months to one year as an apprentice is enough for you to become a certified underwater welder and enjoy the huge pay it gets.