mcoe,mcoe wrote:This is just theoretical but if I were to open a welding shop doing repair work, call out work, and just general welding, what certification would be the best to have for that line of work? This is assuming that people will feel better if you were certified and want to know which credentials you have. Would a welding inspector certification be the best?
First, this has been a debated subject for years and you will and did get different answers. This is my opinion.
You can in fact start a welding business with out a "cert". However I would not recommend it for several reasons. First from the liability stand point. Most big business' will not want to have you welding on their parts or in their facilities without first showing that you are certified to do it. Second, again in my opinion, why would you want to start a professional welding business and not have your certs? Looks unprofessional and will discredit you to other businesses. This is not saying that you can't run the business without them. As AKweldshop said, your reputation will proceed you, good or bad. Third, most work you will bid on will require proof of a certain certification or you will have to get it before the work is performed. This may or may not apply to you in some cases.
Now as far as which certifications would be best remember that your walk-ins or farmers will just be impressed and at ease just knowing that you are "certified" and generally won't care or know which cert it is. Depending on what work you will go after, I would go after a D1.1 in both stick and mig. After that, it will depend on what you want to get into.
I am going for my CWI in June. One of the main reasons I am getting it is company bragging rights (being honest here) and the ability to offer a CWI service to others. I can't check my own work, as Otto said, but I can check my employees and I can assure customers of quality. For the cost, a CWI may not help you at all, unless you offer your services privately to others. Also, Wes917 is absolutely correct, holding a CWI cert does not necessarily show the customer you can weld, just that you can inspect for quality and can look up codes etc. I have heard of quite a few newbies going right for their CWI with little to no experience. They cant really weld but they have a cert.
Anyway this is just my opinion.
-Jonathan