If you are considering a welding career, there are many opportunities for welders in Vermont. Welding schools in Vermont offer courses and programs to prepare you for a successful career.
This guide will help you understand the process of becoming a welder, including schools, training, certification, and the types of work available in Vermont.
What Does a Welder Do?
Welders use heat to cut and join metals, producing and repairing a wide range of goods, from computer parts to cars to bridges. Qualities that make a good welder include:
- Attention to detail
- A steady hand
- Mathematical skills
- Physical strength and endurance
- The ability to follow written instructions
- Reliability and the ability to meet deadlines
In Vermont, many welders work in fabrication, so they must be skilled in reading and following diagrams and blueprints. Welders require knowledge of specialized tools and techniques to produce a perfect finished product.
Welding Schools Near Me in Vermont
Vermont welding schools offer training on all levels, from basic courses that teach essential skills and safety to advanced professional development courses. Some courses allow you to work toward certifications.
For non-degree programs, financial aid is available to qualifying students through the VSAC advancement grant.
Advanced Welding Institute
The only AWS accredited testing facility in Vermont, AWI offers full-time courses and 40-hour professional development courses.
- Location: South Burlington
- Phone number: (802) 660-0600
- Programs available: Structural Welding, Structural and Pipe Welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Program duration: 40 hours-24 weeks
- Average cost: $1,500-$26,500
Center for Technology, Essex
Adult education offerings through the school’s SkillTech division include basic and intermediate welding.
- Location: Essex Junction, VT
- Phone number: (802) 879-5558
- Programs available: Basic Welding, Intermediate Welding
- Program duration: 5 weeks
- Average cost: $320-350
Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center
This technical education school offers adult education courses in beginning and advanced welding. High school students 16 and older may enroll with parental consent.
- Location: Middlebury, VT
- Phone number: (802) 382-1012
- Programs available: Intro to Welding, Advanced Welding
- Program duration: 10-30 hours
- Average cost: $200-600
Stafford Technical Center
Stafford Technical Center offers certifications that include AWS SMAW Limited Thickness welding qualification, Unlimited Thickness welding qualification, and OSHA 10-Hour Construction Certification.
- Location: Rutland, VT
- Phone number: (802) 770-1033
- Programs available: Introduction to Welding Processes, SMAW Welding Levels I-II, Practicum in Advanced Welding Processes
- Program duration: 5-6 weeks
- Average cost: $1,050-1,350
Vermont Technical College
Vermont Technical College offers introductory and advanced welding courses that prepare students for AWS certification.
- Location: Randolph, VT and Springfield, VT
- Phone number: (800) 442-8821
- Programs available: Introduction to Welding Processes, Advanced Welding Processes
- Program duration: 16 weeks
- Average cost: $613 per credit for Vermont residents, plus a $ 450-course fee
Welding Career Opportunities in Vermont
Vermont is a great place for welders to seek careers in manufacturing or construction. Welders can also find job opportunities in the HVAC, plumbing, and waste management industries.
How Much Do Welders Make in Vermont?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean wage for welders in Vermont is $21.99 per hour or $45,730 per year. The Burlington metropolitan area offers the highest mean wages at $23.66 per hour or $49,210 per year.
Major Employers of Welders in Vermont
For people beginning their welding careers in Vermont, these are some of the top employers:
- ECI – Engineers Construction, based in Williston, VT, is a popular contractor for major projects throughout the state. Welding experience and certifications are highly desirable for bridge workers and heavy equipment mechanics.
- Hubbardton Forge, located in Castleton, VT, employs about 230 people and produces unique lighting products. The company hires full-time and seasonal employees and offers on-the-job training and apprenticeships.
- JBM Sherman Carmel, Inc, is a manufacturer located in Bennington, VT, that serves the transportation and defense industries. JBM requires applicants to have completed a welding apprenticeship.
- Momentum Manufacturing Group is one of the largest manufacturing companies in New England and offers career opportunities for welders at its Lyndonville, VT, and Saint Johnsbury, VT, locations.
How To Become a Certified Welder in Vermont
Vermont does not require certification for welders. However, some schools offer the opportunity to earn AWS certifications, and doing so can help your career.
Some employers require certification, while others strongly prefer it. While you can get a welding job without it, more opportunities will be available to you if you pursue certification.
Do You Need a License To Be a Welder in Vermont?
Welding is not a licensed trade in Vermont. Vermont also does not require or issue a license for general contractors.
Vermont Welding FAQs
1. How Long Does It Take To Become a Welder?
You can complete basic and advanced welding courses in less than one year. Apprenticeship, while not required, can help you gain additional skills and experience to improve your career opportunities. A welding apprenticeship takes 4000 hours to complete, or about two years.
2. Does a Welder Need Insurance in Vermont?
If you start your own welding business and hire at least one employee, Vermont law requires you to have workers’ compensation insurance.
Additional insurance policies are not required by law but are beneficial to have. General and professional liability policies protect your business assets if a client sues you for personal injury, property damage, or negligence. You should also consider commercial property insurance to protect your expensive equipment.
You can easily request a free commercial insurance quote from our partners using the tool below.
3. Who Can I Contact If I Have Questions?
For questions about welding careers and how to become a welder in Vermont, welding schools are a good resource. You can also contact a labor union, such as UA Local 693.
If you are considering a welding career, welding schools in Vermont can provide you with training and help you work toward certifications that will open new doors for you. Contact one of these schools to get started today.
For More License and Career Guides
To find out how to become a Welder in another state, start here.
For information on other trades in Vermont, click on a link below to learn more about the licensing requirements:
Call Us