Metal Fabrication Education and Training

Increase your metal-working skills with legitimate metal fabrication education and training

The quality of a worker's metal fabrication education and training is often directly correlated with employment opportunities and earning potential. Metal fabricators are in demand in nearly every industry that uses metal parts, including the automotive, manufacturing and aerospace industries.

Employers consider a job applicant's formal education and metal fabrication experience. Ideally, a metal fabricator's education should consist of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, formally known as an apprenticeship. Established metal workers can benefit from continued education and training by attending workshops and completing refresher courses. When seeking metal fabrication education and training, consider the following:

1. Find reputable metal fabrication workshops that cover your area of interest.

2. Complete an undergraduate or certification program offered by an accredited college, university or technical school.

3. Apprentice with an established metal fabrication shop.

 

Attend custom metal fabrication workshops

Metal fabrication workshops are ideal for established professionals who want to hone or learn new skills. These workshops typically offer several areas of study over the course of a few days. Workshop instructors generally combine classroom instruction with hand-on-experience using metal fabrication equipment.
Try: Attend a three-day metal shaping course offered by Fournier Enterprises. Students learn custom metal fabrication by studying traditional English techniques, including an in-depth study of the proper use of the English wheel. Learn how to correctly use TIG welding in custom sheet metal fabrication by attending an EAA SportAir Workshops. The workshop offers both classroom and hands-on training.

Complete college-level courses on precision metal fabrication

Many colleges, universities and technical schools offer metal fabrication education and training. Depending on the school, students can earn an undergraduate degree or diploma after completing a metal fabrication program. Students study the mathematical and scientific theories behind metal fabrication in the classroom and learn hands-on skills in the school's metal fabrication lab.
Try: Earn a technical diploma in metal fabrication/welding from Fox Valley Technical College, located in Wisconsin. The 36-week program teaches students how to repair metal machinery parts and create custom fabricated metal products. The Meridian Technology Center in Oklahoma offers a full-time career program in precision metal fabrication. Kwantlen Polytechnic University offers several metal fabrication classes, including safe working procedures and mathematics/science of metal fabrication.

Gain on-the-job experience by apprenticing with a metal fabrication shop

Apprenticeship programs place students in metal fabrication shops, which provide on-the-job training that can't be learned in a classroom or lab. These programs typically require several years of commitment from the student and the successful completion of an undergraduate program. Students can expect to continue their classroom education throughout the apprenticeship.
Try: The sheet metal fabrication apprenticeship offered by Palm Beach Community College is a four-year program that combines on-the-job training with classroom instruction. Wisconsin's Technical Colleges also offer a four-year metal fabrication apprenticeship program. In this program, students receive nearly 7,500 hours of on-the-job training and an additional 576 of related instruction.

Earn a welding and metal fabrication certificate from a college or university

Earning a certificate in metal fabrication can be a less time-consuming process than completing an undergraduate program from a college or university, although the required classes are similar. Many times, full-time students opt to simultaneously complete a certification program while earning their degrees.
Try: Earn a Certificate of Applied Science in welding and metal fabrication from Montana State University Billings. The one-year program's curriculum includes welding, manual and machine cutting and metal fabrication design. Minneapolis Community and Technical College offers a welding and metal fabrication certification program that prepares students for entry-level positions in various manufacturing industries.

 

• Because completing formal metal fabrication education and training can be a time-consuming and expensive process, take the time to research the training organization. Speak to students who have completed the workshop or program and meet with knowledgeable career counselors.

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