There are some very good trade schools in the Norfolk VA area for welding. I went to Advanced Technology Institute in Virginia Beach, and completed their welding program. I left there with a 6G SMAW certification, as well as all position GTAW and FCAW certs. The knowledge I learned there put me far ahead of other candidates for entry level jobs. It's what scored me my job as a turbine welder in a previous life. No way I would have ended up with the skill set I have now if I didn't first start out at a good trade school.
