Welding journeyman's cards are issued by the United Association (UA.) The UA is a trade union covering welders, plumbers and pipe fitters and HVAC service technicians. You must successfully complete an apprenticeship program to be eligible for a union journeyman's card. Union members who hold a journeyman's card are entitled to an increase in hourly wages. Journeyman cards are also available by attending approved classes at trade and technical schools.
Contact the local chapter of the United Association (UA.org.) You can also locate contact information through your local telephone directory.
Submit an application for an upcoming apprenticeship program. Apprenticeship programs are typically scheduled based on the demand for qualified welders in your area. Applications are reviewed without regard to race, sex, national origin or religious affiliation.
Complete the apprenticeship program in order to receive your journeyman's card. Apprenticeship programs are five years long and include a combination of on-the-job training and classroom instruction. Apprentices are required to complete 1,700 to 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and a minimum of 246 hours of related classroom instruction per year. Apprentices earn a salary while completing the on-the-job training portion of the program.
