Welders are professionals who can utilize heat and gas to combine parts of components and fabricate excellent structures from these components. A career as a welder allows individuals to tap into their creative side and build things that serve both a functional and aesthetic purpose.
Anyone aspiring to become a welder in Florida will be glad to know that the resource below has all the crucial information you need to begin your journey. Not only do we provide the basic educational requirements you will need, but we also look at the possible training pathways along with the top programs in the state.
How to Become a Welder in Florida
Areas of Specialization
A career as a welder in Florida usually starts with understanding the different welding forms. Only after understanding the other areas of specialization can you focus on one or more of these areas.
The most popular forms of welding include MIG welding, TIG welding, hyperbaric welding, and oxy-acetylene welding, among others.
Basic Requirements
After choosing an area of specialization, the next step an aspiring welder in Florida needs to worry about is the basic requirements to enroll in a training program.
Usually, this includes having a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Experience in mathematics, geometry, and measurements also helps during the program.
Training Programs
The most crucial step in starting any occupation is the trading aspect. Only those who have been appropriately trained can succeed in any field, including welding.
To ensure the best quality education, it is highly advisable for aspiring welders to first enroll in a training program run by a trade school or college in the state and then spend a few months in an apprenticeship program acquiring real-world experience.
Trade School vs Apprenticeships
While formal and apprenticeship programs try to incorporate as much classroom training and hands-on experience, they usually lean more toward one way than another.
By combining both, you ensure that you get the best of both worlds.
Additionally, those who have completed a training program need not spend years in an apprenticeship program. Thanks to their prior training, they can simply spend only a few months.
Consider Trades with Similar Paths:
Top Welder Schools in Florida
Below are some of the most noteworthy welding schools in Florida:
1. Erwin Technical Center
Erwin Technical College is one of the premier destinations for learning welding in Florida. Students are brought up under the tutelage of excellent instructors and usually have an easy time securing employment thanks to the school’s connection with the welding industry in the state.
The school is a part of the Hillsborough Technical Education Collective.
2. Hillsborough Community College
Hillsborough Community College was established in 1968 and has a welding program that produces successful graduates yearly. Training lasts 1050 hours, and students are brought up in all the topics they need to thrive on the job.
They also get to choose between an associate degree program, a certificate program, and a diploma program.
3. Pinellas Technical College
Aspiring welders in Florida looking for rigorous training would always do well to consider Pinellas Technical College. Students here are trained on everything they need to know to secure employment and pass various certification examinations, including the ones offered by the American Welding Society.
Classes are also available online for added convenience.
Explore welding schools by city:
Licensure and Certification Requirements
To start working as a welder in Florida, an aspiring welder must only complete a training or apprenticeship program. The state has no law mandating welders to register with any particular board or organization before they can start working.
Despite no formal licensing requirement, welders in Florida still choose to get certified anyway simply because it helps them demonstrate their proficiency to employers and may qualify them for higher salaries and better career opportunities.
One of Florida’s most popular welder certification alternatives is the American Welding Society Certified Welder credential.
Salary and Job Outlook
The annual salary for welders in Florida is $44,695, the same as the national average. Of course, the average figure is not the starting point for entry-level workers.
An aspiring welder in the state should look forward to starting with an annual average salary of around $33,458, but with time, it is possible to scale and start earning even higher than the average, up to approximately $59,706.
Apart from experience and time spent on the job, location is another crucial factor determining how much you make as a welder in Florida. The highest-paying cities in the state include Miami (with an annual average salary of $48,394), Jacksonville ($48,324), Hialeah ($47,405), Tampa ($46,524), and Pensacola ($46,492).
Related Articles
Related Careers
Top Schools Near Me
