I suppose what's called welder is not "Schweißer" in German, but a "Schlosser", which would be subdivided by application, and had a lot in common with a mechani

I suppose what's called welder is not "Schweißer" in German, but a "Schlosser", which would be subdivided by application, and had a lot in common with a mechanic (a wrench is a "Schlüssel", literally a key, compare French "cle anglaise" - monkey wrench). Welding would just be learned as part of the job, whether as plumber or mechanic, once upon a time even as electrician (who now doesn't even learn to solder). I say "had", because the mechanic nowadays is taught mostly as a "Mechatroniker", since electronics have become ubiquitious in machines. The secondary education systems differ from the US, I hear. Nevertheless, most training happens on the job, with one school day per week over 3 odd years in case of these jobs--which ammounts to 6 month of schooling. Pay starts at ca. 15 Eur after graduation (and is miserable, below minimum wage, for the apprenticeship). Several possibilities to diversify afterwards exist, but many slug along without going for e.g. technician or master studies. The exams can be taken out of school under certain limited conditions. etc. p. p. "Schweißer" is not a registered apprenticeship, but qualification is offered and eventually necessary; job opportunities exist, almost solely through temp agencies, starting at ca 12 Eur; no publically indexed opportunity in Berlin. One adverisement mentions that up to 100 different welding techniques exist (need to be known, as they say) from once a mere five. I'd imagine kinds of certificates in welding can be optained in crash courses. In contrast, professional-welder does not strike me as an entry level position, nor as a common job. I haven't met any, to say the least. I do remember a special note about the welding jobs done on the Wendelstein-X project, mentioned in a podcast with the leader of the programm. That was followed by a note about a Swiss specialists detecting defects in custom coils, who was described like the master of an arcane art in the best tradition of swiss watchmakers. (check alternativlos.de if you understand .de)