Welder: training, AWS certification, on the job
Welders typically need a high school diploma plus technical and on-the-job training. Licensing is not universal: some states and localities license welders, and employers often ask for a certification such as the AWS Certified Welder test.
For: Students who want industrial, structural or pipeline welding work.
Route 1: Technical training, certification test, on the job Most common
Many employers prefer to hire workers who have completed training or credentialing programs.
-
Start here
High school diploma or equivalent
Employers often prefer or require it, plus technical training.
GED or HiSETBLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
School
Welding training
High school technical education classes, vocational-technical institutes, community colleges or private welding schools.
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Exam gate
AWS Certified Welder test
Tests welders on procedures used in structural steel, petroleum pipelines and sheet metal, at an AWS Accredited Testing Facility. No prerequisite courses or certifications.
AWS
Certified Welder (CW) program — FAQsAmerican Welding Society- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
On the job
Several months of on-the-job training
Even entry-level workers with formal technical training still get several months of it.
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Goal
Working welder
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
Route 2: Employer-based apprenticeship Earn while you learn
Some apprenticeships are open to entry-level workers with no prior experience or training.
-
Start here
High school diploma or equivalent
GED or HiSETBLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Apprenticeship
Employer-based apprenticeship
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Required
OSHA electrical safety training
OSHA requires welders to complete training on electrical safety.
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
-
Goal
Working welder
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — Summary (Quick Facts)U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Military
- The U.S. Armed Forces also offer welding-related training.
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
- Who pays for tests
- Some employers require certification for particular jobs and may pay for the training and testing.
BLS
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
National certifications and federal rules
Federal rules apply in every state; voluntary certifications are ones employers may ask for. State rules are in the matrix below.
- AWS Certified Welder (CW)
American Welding Society · optional, often asked by employers - Tests welders on procedures used in structural steel, petroleum pipelines, sheet metal and chemical refinery work. To stay certified, send maintenance documentation every six months showing you still use the process; otherwise you must requalify by testing.
AWS
Certified Welder (CW) program — FAQsAmerican Welding Society- Checked
- 20 Oct 2026
State rules
Welders must be licensed in some states and localities, and the requirements vary. There is no single state rule to show here: ask the state or city where you will work. BLS
View source
Where to go next
Every trade on one matrix: entry, license, BLS pay and outlook.
What the job is, BLS pay and job outlook, and the tools of the trade.