Skilled Trades

Build Your Trade Career in the United States

Welders

  1. A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required.
  2. Many welders start via vocational training at community colleges, tech schools, or apprenticeship programs, often lasting from a few weeks to up to three years. Some also gain practical experience via on-the-job training.
  3. Most employers need AWS (American Welding Society) certification, a performance-based test to demonstrate proficiency in specific welding processes and standards.
  4. International applicants need to secure a sponsoring employer who is willing to sponsor them for a work visa. The sponsoring employer must obtain a labor certification from the Department of Labor, and then only the employer can petition the US Citizenship and Immigration Services for a visa to allow you to work in the US.

Plumbers

To work in the US as a plumber, the following requirements must be followed:

  1. A high school diploma, followed by vocational training, technical school, or an apprenticeship, is required. Apprenticeships span 2 to 5 years and mix classroom instruction with hands-on experience.
  2. After completing the required apprenticeship hours, candidates qualify to take a written licensing exam to become a licensed plumber or journeyman plumber.
  3. For international applicants, the most common pathway is for a US employer to sponsor their work visa. For this, the employer needs to apply to the US Department of Labor for labor certification, which ensures that the hiring of foreign workers has no adverse effect on American workers' jobs and wages. After the certification, the sponsoring employer petitions USCIS for a work visa. International candidates generally must obtain a US plumber's license.

Electricians

Most aspiring electricians begin with a high school diploma or equivalent and often attend vocational schools or community colleges offering programs in electrical technology. A typical pathway involves entering a registered apprenticeship program, blending classroom instruction with supervised on-the-job training over several years.

Electricians typically progress through three main stages:

  1. Apprentice
  2. Journeyman (4–5 years of on-the-job training)
  3. Master/Contractor (additional experience beyond journeyman level)

With each state setting its own criteria, including required experience hours, classroom time, exams, and other prerequisites.

International applicants can work as a plumber in the US by searching for an employer who is ready to sponsor their work visa. The employer first petitions the Department of Labor for certification. Once the labor certification is approved, the employer files a petition with USCIS for a work visa. The applicants must also meet USCIS criteria to be admissible to the US, such as completing the local apprenticeship, accumulating the required hours, and passing licensing exams in the US.

Though not always formal requirements, proficiency in English, understanding of NEC (National Electrical Code), and familiarity with local workplace practices and safety norms are essential.