In this episode of the Arc Junkies Podcast, Jason Becker sits down with Josh O'Neal for a wide-ranging conversation on education, certification, and career development in the welding industry.
Josh shares his journey through welding, inspection, and education, including his experiences pursuing credentials like CWI and CWE, navigating student loans and scholarships, and building quality systems that support AWS Accredited Testing Facilities. The discussion also dives into workforce development, credit-for-experience programs, and how industry certifications can translate into academic credit.
Key topics include:
Welding education pathways and career mobility
AWS certifications, scholarships, and member involvement
Quality Assurance Manuals and ATF setup
Credit-by-exam and equivalency programs in education
Balancing work, family, and professional growth
Why education is something no one can take away from you
This episode is a realistic look at the trade-offs, sacrifices, and long-term rewards of investing in your education and your career in welding.
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