You wont be able to pass a certification test after just one class. Certification tests are not easy.
If you want to be an "apprentice" welder, you have to sign up for an apprenticeship-type program. These are most commonly offered by local technical colleges and also labor unions, for example the ironworker's union.
Also, large companies that employ welders (such as shipbuilders or steel construction companies) may have private apprenticeship or other training programs. This is worth looking into. You should internet search for "welding job training" and such.
If you really want to weld, I'd suggest looking at local community colleges in your area and see if they have welding programs.
Some colleges may have bona-fide apprenticeships, Others may want you to earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree with welding as your major. An AAS typically takes 2 to 2-1/2 years.
Getting an associates degree gives you a very well-rounded education, but usually no on-the-job experience, which is something companies are more inclined to look for than a degree itself. Most apprenticeships, on the other hand, involve a combination part time work, and classroom training. If you're dead-set on welding as a career, an apprenticeship will give you a bigger "foot in the door" than a degree will.
I your case I'd suggest looking towards earning an associates degree. Having an associates degree will help you apply for all kinds of jobs, not just welding. On the other hand, being an apprentice welder will only help you get welding-related jobs, for the most part.
Being a "certified" welder basically means you've passed some kind of certification test in the past. Note that there are many different kinds of certifications. A certification means you can weld using a specific process for a specific kind of material under specific conditions. For example, you can "stick" weld carbon steel plates up to 1" thick in the flat position, or you can TIG weld stainless steel pipes in the diagonal position. the er are hundred of different possibilities where you'd need to get a certification. Most employers will require you to take a certification test before you start to work for them.
Hope this helps you. Internet searching is your friend.
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