Logan Voss
There’s nothing wrong with industrial work. In fact, with many people going into STEM fields, trade work is in high demand. For example, metal fabrication is a great job for those who want to incorporate math with hands-on performance. Here are some basic steps for how to become a certified metal fabricator to keep in mind if this career appeals to you.
Finish Your Education
The first step to becoming a certified metal fabricator is to finish your education. Metal fabricators typically have a high school diploma or GED, which will give you entry-level experience in the field. You may always want to gain additional education in vocational school or local community college. Check to see if your local community college offers an associate’s degree in metal fabrication. They should provide on-site schooling to help you gain experience in metal fabrication, welding, safety, and machine operation.
Get Certified
Certification depends on which type of metal fabrication you want to pursue. Within the metal fabrication profession, you can become a welder, cutter, solderer, industrial machine mechanic, millwright, or maintenance worker. Each field requires its own job experience through apprenticeships. Find a local metal fabricator and learn the basics. Insightful work experience helps further your knowledge and skills in the field, and an apprenticeship can also increase your wages.
Start Your Business
Once you’ve completed substantial work experience and gained proper certification from a vocational school, you’re ready to start your metal fabrication business. This step in how to become a certified metal fabricator is for those who want to work their own hours and perform fabrications based on their own merit. Specialized workers, like millwrights or industrial machine mechanics, are in constant demand. There’s always work to do, and you can set your own hours and compensation. From there, build a reliable customer base. Check out the local competition too. Where you set up your business will depend on these circumstances. You want a successful fabrication business that relies on positive customer feedback and job excellence in the field.
