Competitions

Each year, students from local high school and post-secondary welding programs compete in SkillsUSA competitions. A series of local, district, and state-wide contests decide which two students will represent their state at the national level. Each participating state sends its high school and post-secondary champion to the national SkillsUSA Championships held in Louisville each June.

Today, more than 60 countries/regions compete in what is known as the Olympics of Skilled Trades. Every two years, a different country hosts the International WorldSkills Competition. The top finalist from the SkillsUSA competition will have the privilege to say that they represent both the United States of America and the skilled trade of welding at the WorldSkills Competition.

The AWS Poster Competition is an integral part of the AWS Professional Program. Graphic displays of technical achievements are presented for close, first-hand examination in the Poster Session. Posters present welding results and related material, which are best communicated visually, as well as research results that call for close study of photomicrographs, tables, systems architecture, or other illustrative materials.