How to Become a Pipefitter Through Accredited Training
In the first article in our series on pipefitting, titled “What do pipefitters do?”, we discussed the various job duties and responsibilities that a skilled pipefitter needs to be considered competent. We also learned that this skill is in high demand. We also presented how the occupation of pipefitter is essential in all major sectors of the American economy. In this article, we take an additional step and explain how a person can break into this career field.
How to become a Pipefitter
There are three basic steps to follow if you want to break into the career known as pipefitting. Once an individual has successfully entered the pipefitter field, there is a host of directions and specialties that a skilled individual can then train in, but for the scope of this article we will focus on establishing the launching point of this great career.
Step 1 – Complete a Pipefitter Training Program
Training at an accredited trade school is a great way to start a career1. A school that offers welding with pipefitting as a complete training program is an excellent place to start. It is even more helpful if the school is in a region where an industry that requires pipefitting is a significant part of the economy.
The oil industry relies on pipefitters to build, maintain, and repair billions of dollars of equipment, such as oil rigs and refineries. Training in a region that is rich in both onshore and offshore oil wells should then make perfect sense – you will want to learn where the highest industry standards and plenty of experienced people to learn from and work with exist. This is what makes the Great State of Texas a prime training ground for welders and pipefitters.
When weighing your training options, visit the welding school and see how the students are being trained. If possible, ask to speak with a welding instructor to get a sense of the level of skill and professionalism they bring into the training program. Ultimately, the best pipefitting programs are the ones that use industry-standard equipment to train their students, and those students are guided by instructors who bring real-world experience to the classroom. When you graduate, you will be prepared to sit for pre-qualification tests for construction, structural or pipe-related projects. You will also qualify to take a test for Level One certification from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
Lincoln Tech’s Grand Prairie campus is situated in the heart of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and this region factors highly in the oil industry. This is where experienced instructors teach welding and pipefitting techniques in a hands-on manner with industry-standard equipment. This region can be an excellent location for those seeking pipefitting employment in the oil industry after graduation, or any industry that requires pipefitters. And, as mentioned in our previous pipefitting article, many sectors of the US economy require pipefitters.
Step 2 - Begin an Apprenticeship and Gain Valuable Experience
Upon graduation from the welding with pipefitting training program, you will be ready to find your first job. You will want to work with career search professionals who can help connect you with apprenticeship opportunities near you. In a hands-on field like pipefitting, apprenticeships are a valuable way to network within the industry and meet hiring managers and other industry professionals. The experience of an apprenticeship will hone your technical skills, while industry networking will refine your people skills. This will prepare you for earning important industry certifications.
Step 3 - Prepare For & Take Certification Exams
After you graduate, create and execute a study plan to continue expanding your knowledge base. This, along with your experience working in the field, will help prepare you for taking the Industrial Pipefitter Assessment exam from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)2. This exam is an official measure of your acquired knowledge in the field. The NCCER also has a corresponding hands-on Performance Verification to demonstrate actual skills.
Successful hands-on careers like pipefitting are all about safety, material knowledge, careful calculation, and skilled hands. And a successful pipefitting career can begin right at Lincoln Tech’s Welding and Fabrication Technology with Pipefitting program at the Lincoln Tech campus in Grand Prairie, Texas.
1 Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
2 As per the National Craft Assessment and Certification Program Assessment Specifications, found at https://www.nccer.org/media/2023/03/Industrial-Pipefitter-Assessment.pdf , last updated in September of 2013, accessed on June 4, 2024.