Hi Bubba Brandy!

It would be an honor for not only myself, but also just about everyone else who frequents this forum to happily assist you in anyway we can!

I would first like to express to you and your husband my heartfelt and sincere appreciation for all the hard, selfless work you all do everyday in defending our freedom here at home, whether you're here or deployed abroad!!!

Now that I've expressed my personal appreciation to you and your husband, please let me try to answer some of your questions...

As far as your first question is concerned, you may get differing views on whether or not you need to meet a set of prerequisites or not in order to take the test(s) for certification... Some companies require some sort of formal training and or experience, while others do not if your husband can prove his practical proficiency in qualifying a single or a set of welding test procedures, or he can just show that he can weld enough to satisfy their requirements, and his desire is to seek employment immediately after he gets out of the service.

He can also contact a local NDT testing lab and get certified to a specific set of welding procedures that will at least get his foot in the door. Depending on how much your husband wants to invest, these tests are not free so, expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $300 for a test depending on what test he wants to take, Keep in mind that just because he's certified, does'nt guarantee him an immediate high paying job! Also, even if he's hired, he may have to qualify/certify to the company's own set of welding procedures that are for covering other codes or standards. Most companies (that pay a decent starting wage) hiring today are looking for people with documented experience first, certifications second.

My question to you is: has your husband had any practice welding on a variety of metals lately? The reason I ask is because, a welder needs a certain amount of practice in order to achieve and maintain a level of proficiency that's necessary in order to successfully pass most of the practical qualification/certification tests that are being given in a wide variety of industries where welding is involved.

Because your husband is a veteran, he should'nt have a problem at obtaining an apprenticeship in one of the construction unions that offer such programs... The Ironworkers, Boilermakers, UA Pipefitters/Steamfitters, Sheetmetal workers are just some of the unions that are offering these apprenticeships which usually require four to five years in order to complete so that your husband will then become a journeyman mechanic. Keep in mind that during his apprenticeship he will become certified/qualified via training through the union's own training programs or through the company's training programs that have been approved by the union. these training facilities will be located either at one of the union local training facilities or at one of the approved local community colleges depending on where you live.

If you want to find out more about these apprenticeship programs,
do a Google search online by entering in the keywords: Pipefitters or Steamfitters, etc. or any of the other unions I listed above.

Remember, not everyone can become a Marine so, do'nt feel bad because you could'nt find this info on your own... There is no letter "I" in the word TEAM so, here is another team besides the one you're already on to help out, and there are some retired marines, and sailors, submariners here always willing to help out our brothers and sisters in arms.

I'm sure that others will chime in besides myself with some excellent suggestions and, I'll try to get back ASAP with some links to post so, I wish you the best, and join in the many that will be praying for your husband's safe return HOME!

Respectfully,
SSBN727
Run Silent... Run Deep!!!