ARIZONA AUTOMOTIVE INSTITUTE

Good

So I'm just gonna admit now, I didn't finish this school. Not because of the the institute, mind you. No, it was due to me realizing that the career I was training for just wasn't for me. So if you REALLY want to train for the jobs that they can help you find, here's my overall feel for what they have to offer (I was training to be a welder).

So first off, the labs are nice and spacious. A lot of room to move around in the open. Plenty of tables, the equipment is well maintained, and safety is ALWAYS a top priority in the eyes of the staff. As for the booths, decent room to move around, tables have a slot for placing your filler rods, and there is never a shortage of equipment. Also, safety glasses. Again, safety is of MAJOR concern here, and the faculty will be sure to remind you to have them on in lab at all times.

Now for the teachers and lessons. Overall, they were all enjoyable in their own way. The first course was mostly in regards to safety, as well as videos about the steel industry and all its fields. Next we had lessons on the welds themselves. First on plate, then T-Joints, followed by beveled plate with and without backing, and pipe afterwards. This was all done with smaw (stick), mind you.

Now for the actual teachers. They were all great, attentive, and an absolute joy to be around. They all have an awesome sense of humor, as well as their own stories from their time on the job. It's a good way to help convey just what you have to expect in the industry, and in the field. Also, YouTube videos. These are indeed used for lessons, but only for aiding in the current lessons for visual learning before starting in lab, and to also point out what the welders in said videos did either right or wrong. That way, you have a reference for when you go to practice.

In short, I can't recommend this place enough for those seeking to become a welder. Not only is it a great learning environment and has caring faculty, there is no shortage of resources for both doing research paper and job searching. If you have a idea of what company of field you wabt to work for, all the better for you. If not, but want to get a good head start for putting your new skills to good use, they will help you in finding a company to get you started in practicing in real-time. Both for while in school, and after graduation. So if you can, take advantage of what they have to offer. You won't regret it.