A Day in the Life of a Welding School Student

Thinking about going to welding school and wondering what to expect?

If you’ve taken a high school shop class, you might already know a thing or two about welding. Physics, chemistry and math can also be great subjects to study before training to become a welder.

Whatever your background, you’ll learn all the fundamentals you’ll need for entry-level positions in the welding industry and probably make some new friends in your welding training program.

Get a closer look at what welding school could hold in store for you.

Discovering a New World at Welding School

The wide world of welding can be new and exciting, and trade school can be the perfect entry point. In your welding classes, you’ll be introduced to new tools and equipment, safety gear and core welding processes and practices.

Suiting Up in Welding Safety Gear

Safety comes first in the field of welding.

While jeans and t-shirts are the standard uniform of most students, once you walk onto the shop floor, you’ll suit up from head-to-toe in welding safety gear like these items:

• Hard hats
• Safety glasses and goggles
• Earplugs or earmuffs
• A welding helmet
• A long-sleeved wool shirt
• Heavy jeans with unrolled cuffs
• Work boots with steel toes
• Flame-resistant aprons
• Fire-proof welding jacket
• Welding gloves

Learning About Welding Safety Practices

Safety in the shop isn’t just about what you wear. You’ll also learn important safety practices to prevent accidents at school:

• Clearing the floor of clutter and liquids
• Opening windows and turning on fans to ensure proper ventilation
• Grounding electrical connections
• Removing combustibles from work areas
• Lifting heavy items carefully to avoid injuries
• Observing best practices welding ergonomics

Getting the Hang of New Tools and Equipment

Cutting, bending, melting and generally manipulating metal requires many tools. As a beginner welder, you’ll get the hang of using these tools of the trade:

Measurement Tools

• Tape measure
• Scriber
• Soapstone
• Water-resistant ink marker
• Paint marker

Hand Tools

• Hammers
• Clamp wrenches
• Wire brushes
• Hand file^[1]
• Angle grinder

Welding Equipment

• Welding machine
• Welding electrodes
• Welding jig

Taking Welding Classes and Hands-On Training Sessions

University students often spend day after day sitting in class—but not welding students.

You’ll be up on your feet working with the very tools and equipment used across the industry on your second day of a welding training program.

Tulsa Welding School students spend 80 percent of their time in interactive workshops receiving hands-on training, and the other 20 percent in class learning welding theory. That breaks down to just one day a week in class.

If you typically learn better by doing things than by listening to lectures, then this teaching style is for you. There are many benefits of hands-on training, such as improved retention and a sense of empowerment.^[2]

Students learn the core arc welding processes used in major welding industries.

• SMAW
• MIG
• TIG
• Flux-Cored Welding

These processes can help welding school grads land positions in pipe and pipeline welding, structural welding, thin alloy welding and aircraft welding.

But that’s not all. These very same skills are used in a host of other industries. Learn more in Welding Career Paths: The Ultimate Guide to a Career in Welding.

Classroom instruction typically covers the following subjects:

• The Properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metals
• An introduction to welding symbols
• Oxy-fuel cutting techniques
• How to clean and evaluate welds
• The mechanical properties of metals
• Reading welding design documents and specifications
• Welding codes and quality control^[3]

Unlike university courses that are on set days and times, Tulsa Welding School students enjoy flexible training schedules:

“The availability that the school offers you is excellent. You could go to class from 7 am to lunchtime, but you can go back any time. You could go to the afternoon or night class and participate, or go in on the weekends, too,” said TWS graduate Blake Comeaux.

Meeting New Friends and Mentors

Aside from learning a skilled trade with excellent career potential, you’ll also likely meet new friends and mentors in your welding training program. Across the board, this is one of the things many grads appreciate most about their time at TWS.

“The instructors were definitely the best part of it. They can be your friends at times, and like your dad at other times. Their words and wisdom help you. They push you to do more and to keep on getting better. They helped me graduate!” – TWS graduate Jose Dominguez

Learn about life after welding school and where a welding job could take you.