Onboarding plan

Welder Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new welder from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Welder onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: AWS Certified Welder, Structural welding (AWS D1.1) (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: MIG, TIG and stick welding machines; auto-darkening welding helmet; angle grinders; plasma and oxy-fuel cutting torches
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Welder training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Wear a properly shaded welding helmet, flame-resistant clothing and gloves
  • Use ventilation or fume extraction, especially for stainless and galvanized steel
  • Follow hot work permits and keep a fire watch where required
  • Secure gas cylinders upright and away from heat
  • Shadow an experienced welder through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: set up a MIG welder
  • Supervised practice: run a horizontal fillet weld
  • Supervised practice: inspect a weld for common defects
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Read blueprints, specifications and weld symbols: independently
  • Prepare, clean and fit metal parts: independently
  • Set up welding equipment and select processes and settings: independently
  • Weld components in flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, AWS Certified Welder)
  • Discuss the career path: Welder Helper → Certified Welder → Specialist or Lead Welder
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Set Up a MIG Welder
Run a Horizontal Fillet Weld
Inspect a Weld for Common Defects
SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW processes
Blueprint and weld symbol reading
Metal preparation and fit-up
Oxy-fuel and plasma cutting

How to measure onboarding success

  • Weeks until the new hire works without close supervision
  • Recordable incidents and near-misses in the first 90 days
  • Rework caused by new-hire errors
  • Apprentice retention through year one

How Welder training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Welder Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Welder Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Welder Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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