Particular company I work for has their own fitting/welding school. Before you strike the first arc on some jobs you have to be a certified tacker.

Also passing a 6GR test and welding 6gr is two differnent things. Profiling over head on a 48" brace is hanging by you *** isn't to easy. I'm pretty sure I can pass a 6gr flux core test but I know I can't profile weld.

Go for pipe it is a lot better money. My welders working offshore on a 14/7 make a little over 100K a year and it is steady work.