Q. Do welders need to start as apprentices?
1 Answer
Most welders do end up starting as apprentices in order to gain experience and build connections within the industry. That said, doing so isn’t always a requirement.
Some states mandate that welders need to complete a certain number of hours as a registered apprentice before they are allowed to work within that state. And they enforce this mandate by only issuing licenses to welders who have met this and other requirements.
The catch is that, when it comes to welders, only a handful of states and regions require that welders have a license. And even the states that have this requirement don’t all mandate that welders need to start out as apprentices. If you are looking to become a welder, there is a very high chance you won’t be legally required to start out as an apprentice, even if it is a very good idea to do so.
In case you’re curious, this is how much it costs to become a welder: https://weldingnearyou.com/school-co....
answered by klaudiapunctus