4 Welding Competitions to Spotlight Welders

If you are confident in your abilities as a welder and are looking to show them off, consider signing up for one or more of the many annual welding competitions held throughout the country. These events add a competitive element to the world of welding, allowing you to win scholarships, prize money, and of course, plenty of prestige. Welding competitions also serve as excellent networking opportunities as many prominent employers often attend. Whether your goal is to win a scholarship, find a job, or simply have a blast doing what you love most, you’ll find plenty to get excited about at these welding competitions:

1. Welding Fabrication

Kentucky Events Center, Louisville, Kentucky
June 21–24, 2016

Part of the National Leadership and Skills Conference, SkillsUSA’s Welding Fabrication event tests not only students’ welding abilities but also their teamwork. Teams of three must use the skills they’ve learned through high school and postsecondary welding training to create a theme-based project from the materials they’re given. Eligibility for the competition hinges on students’ mastery of oxy-fuel cutting, shielded metal-arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and flux-cored arc welding. Students must also come equipped with safety glasses, leather work boots, face shields, welding jackets, welding gloves, and appropriate goggles or glasses for oxy-fuel cutting.

2. Poster Competition

Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
November 16–18, 2016

Like the Robotic Arc Welding Competition, the Poster Competition takes place during the annual FABTECH expo. An integral aspect of the American Welding Society’s professional program, the Poster Competition highlights the practical welding knowledge of students at the high school, trade school, and undergraduate levels, as well as research conducted by graduate students and professional welders. Judges focus on each poster’s technical content and visual quality.

Why Enter a Welding Competition

By attending one or more of these welding competitions, you could greatly improve your professional and academic prospects while demonstrating the skills you’ve learned in your welding program. Simply preparing for these competitions will greatly benefit your technical skills and understanding of key welding and fabrication concepts. Most importantly, however, you will likely gain new friends and valuable memories. Plus, if you win, the benefits are obvious: cash prize, credibility, and achievement!

3. Student Robotic Welding Competition

RTP – Robotics Technology Park, Huntsville, AL
Dec 5, 2016 – Dec 8, 2016

December 2016 will the first annual Student Robotic Welding Competition. Student contestants have the chance to show their robotic arc welding skills and knowledge in a two and a half day competition. The competition involves a series of project base activities requiring hands-on skills along with fundamental and safety written examinations. Each of the series of activities and written exams are based on a 2 hour time frame. Contestants will be required to have a thorough knowledge of robotic programming, safety, and weld inspection. All portions of the contest will be judged on comprehension, ability, and accuracy, of robot execution and quality of the completed welded project..

4. Welding Competitions in 2017

High School Senior Welding Competition
Tulsa Welding School
2017

The goal of Tulsa Welding School’s high school senior competition is to highlight the most talented high school seniors in the nation. In 2015, competitors won over $120,000 in scholarship prizes, including full tuition for the first place winner and partial tuition for multiple runner-ups. Each year, three different competitions are held at Tulsa Welding School’s Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma campuses.