Having Welding Skills Assessed?

[ARock]

I have been welding for 11 years but only completed a 2 year informal apprenticeship, so I have no qualifications. My job only requires the use of MIG Steel welding, i've only done abit of TIG.

I am looking to have my skills assessed by TAFE on the Gold Coast to see if I can gain my Certificate III. I was advised that this will enable me to class myself as a 1st Class Welder - if I fill in any skills gaps and pass the assessments.

Has anyone done this process before through TAFE? How long should I expect to have this completed for my Cert III?

The company I work for at the moment on the Gold Coast are closing by June because of the economy, i'm finding it impossible to find another welding job as all require Qualifications aswell as experience. Hopefully the assessment process won't take too long so I can apply for the jobs as a qualified welder.
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[Grahame Collins]

Hi Arock,
I have interviewed a few guys but,still it was years back ,as an ex Tafe instructor.
If it is still called an RPL -Recognition of Prior Learning - and has not changed too much I would envisage that the assessment would run along the lines of sitting down with a skills expert from the,ie trade-the metalfab instructor who will be RPL trained and the RPL expert sometimes

The process entitled you to bring along a support person.
You be asked a series of questions specific to the trade area that you want to be assessed for

Remember its an interview not an interrogation. The questions are the sort that sort out the wheat from the chaff, type of thing.

I'd be asking the relevant questions about the different diameters of wire deposition rates ,application of these wires, different gases why you would use them in one job but not another.


Trouble shooting your process is another area.
Ok! if the wire is running in short arc and begins to sputter and stub ,would you you look at first.

Its a good thing to come prepared in workshop clothes where you can offer to step into the workshop and demonstrate something you can't quite put into words.

I suppose you must be able to use the oxy cutter and show that you can do it safely using the correct settings and correct PPE.

We would tend to let the applicant tell us about their background and work experience ,what they had welded .
You can understand that there are some, who are not what they say they are, and this process sorts them out pretty quick.

The interviewers are not there to trick or trap you but to tease out your experiences and skills.

If you been employed for eleven years your must have picked up a bit so I would not worry unduly.


I can't speak for other states but the TLC local area committee may have a say in gaining your certificate, This came after the RPL interview and I had no involvement with them.It would pay I think to show a suitable attitude when dealing with them.

Best of luck with it

Grahame