Underwater Welding Training Information
Underwater welders are one of the top earners in the profession. The more experienced ones can earn as much as at least $100,000 per year and they have many opportunities to travel the world. They are employed in fast-growing industries in oil exploration, hydro power, and nuclear plants. They can be in the Middle East, Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, or anywhere in the world.
If you want to be an underwater welder, this article gives you everything you need to know to get started.
A. Underwater Welding Schools in the United States
There are hundreds of schools in the country that offer Welding Technology courses. But there are only a handful that give you comprehensive and specialized training on underwater welding.
- CDA Technical Institute (FL)
- Divers Academy International (NJ)
- Divers Institute of Technology (NW)
- Hydroweld USA (FL)
- International Diving Institute (SC)
- National University Polytechnic Institute (CA)
- The Ocean Corporation (TX)
- Louisiana Technical College (LA)
- Santa Barbara City College (CA)
B. Course Outline and Requirements
Training usually lasts about two weeks or 10 working days, or sometimes less depending on the course outline. In this span of time, you will be introduced to the subject of underwater welding in as much detail as the school can give you. While some learning institutions prepare you for MMA (manual metal arc) welding, others stick to SMAW (shielded metal arc) welding.
You will be under the direct supervision of qualified instructors. In general, your training consists of hands-on training for the most part and the rest will be spent inside the classroom. At the end of the course, there will be an examination to determine if you are worthy of a certificate given by the school.
Requirements for admission vary from one school to the other. But you must comply with the following:
- be at least 18 years old, and a high school graduate (or at least passed the GED exam)
- must have or at least be able to get a TWIC card
- must pass an entrace interview or an exam
- sometimes, a school may require that you carry a passport
C. Tuition and Fees, and List of Equipment Needed for Training
Tuition for an underwater welding course is quite expensive. Hydroweld’s 10-day course costs $4,700 for tuition alone, while other schools such as CDA Technical Institute collect $31,500 for the entire training. At CDA, this amount is for their on-campus training option, which covers basically everything you need, from registration fee to equipment used.
Below is a typical breakdown of expenses:
- tuition
- registration fee
- books and equipment
- Open Water Diver Certification (if not yet certified)
- Physical Exam
- Lodging and accommodation
There are at least 36 pieces of equipment and gear that you will need for training, and the number of books that will be issued to you depends on your course outline.
Here is a partial list of the equipment and training gear.
- commercial safety harness
- weight belt
- dive boots
- hybrid socks
- tank strap
- jock strap
- winter gloves
- tru-fit gloves
- hard hat
- safety glasses
- PSI gauge
- fins
- drysuit
- booties
- storm case
- knife
- wire strippers
- wetsuit hanger
- mask and snorkel
