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Arc Welding 101: Preparing for an overhead certification test

Q: A carpenter friend of mine has taken some night-school welding courses and needs help getting certified in overhead welding. He uses steel beams to support the homes he builds and would like to weld them himself. How should he prepare for and take an overhead welding certification test?

Maurice L.

A: Burn, burn some more, then keep burning rod until you’re in the “welding zone.” My students get tired of hearing me say, “The more you burn, the more you learn,” but it’s true. I’ve been welding for almost 30 years now, and if I were going to take a certification test, I’d want a lot of practice beforehand.

When I first started welding I couldn’t wait to get certified. Then my instructor told me that certification didn’t mean squat unless I was god and knowledgeable. Then he said it’d take a lot of practice, studying, and practical experience before that happened. Boy, did he burst my bubble, but he was right.

I’ve written before about how we welders have to prove ourselves more than any other trade with codes, specifications, procedures, and associations. Some companies—even states—have their own certifications. Take the hardest test there is, do great on it, go to another company, and you might have to test again. I’ve even had to get two or three different certifications at the same company

The best bet for your friend is for him to take a class where he can practice overhead specifically. Area colleges often offer this through their welding programs. If he can’t get certification papers at the school where he practices, he can go to a testing lab and pay to take the specific certification he wants.

About the Author
High School Career Center in Texas

Marty Rice

Contributing Writer

High School Career Center in Texas

Marty Rice is a welding instructor at a high school career center in Texas. He is an honorary member of the Ironworkers Local 263.

 

Questions for the author can be e-mailed to vickib@thefabricator.com