Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Welder to laser beam welder

A welder already meets 48% of what the laser beam welder role asks for. The move turns on 14 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From welder
48 % overlap
Partial match
To laser beam welder
25 You already bring
14 Still to learn
53 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

60/ 100

1 How much of what a laser beam welder is expected to do is already part of a welder’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the laser beam welder role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A laser beam welder role treats 13 of its required skills as things a welder already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • apply precision metalworking techniques
  • ensure correct metal temperature
  • ensure equipment availability
  • monitor gauge
  • operate welding equipment
  • perform test run

What stands in the way is 14 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 25 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A laser beam welder role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a welder background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held welding techniques engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held prepare pieces for joining handling and moving
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held ensure correct gas pressure working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held smooth burred surfaces handling and moving
  • already held manufacture of small metal parts engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 25 carried skills, including the 13 the laser beam welder role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 28 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 5 required, 2 supplementary
  • still to learn verify laser beam measurement required
  • still to learn tend laser beam welding machine required
  • still to learn ensure necessary ventilation in machining required
  • still to learn perform machine maintenance required
  • still to learn supply machine required
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held monitor automated machines optional
02 working with computers 4 required
  • still to learn use automatic programming required
  • still to learn program a CNC controller required
  • still to learn set up the controller of a machine required
  • still to learn use CAM software required
03 engineering, manufacturing and construction 3 required, 7 supplementary
  • still to learn laser types required
  • still to learn manufacturing processes required
  • still to learn quality and cycle time optimisation required
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held laser engraving methods optional
  • optional, not held laser marking processes optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
04 handling and moving 1 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn remove inadequate workpieces required
  • optional, not held supply machine with appropriate tools optional
05 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 required
  • still to learn statistical process control required
06 information skills 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held inspect quality of products optional
  • optional, not held record production data for quality control optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a laser beam welder role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 25 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held apply precision metalworking techniques skill
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature skill
  • already held ensure equipment availability skill
  • already held monitor gauge skill
  • already held operate welding equipment skill
  • already held perform test run skill
  • already held prepare pieces for joining skill
  • already held quality standards knowledge
  • already held read standard blueprints skill
  • already held remove processed workpiece skill
  • already held troubleshoot skill
  • already held types of metal knowledge
  • already held wear appropriate protective gear skill
  • already held apply preliminary treatment to workpieces skill
  • already held consult technical resources skill
  • already held ensure correct gas pressure skill
  • already held ferrous metal processing knowledge
  • already held keep records of work progress skill
  • already held manufacture of small metal parts knowledge
  • already held manufacturing of steam generators knowledge
  • already held operate precision measuring equipment skill
  • already held smooth burred surfaces skill
  • already held spot metal imperfections skill
  • already held types of metal manufacturing processes knowledge
  • already held welding techniques knowledge
The 2 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held advise on machinery malfunctions optional
08 constructing 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held maintain mechanical equipment optional
14 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held maintain mechanical equipment optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held advise on machinery malfunctions optional
  • optional, not held inspect quality of products optional
  • optional, not held laser engraving methods optional
  • optional, not held laser marking processes optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held monitor automated machines optional
  • optional, not held record production data for quality control optional
  • optional, not held supply machine with appropriate tools optional
61 held skills the laser beam welder role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role 3D printing process knowledge
  • not needed by the target role align components skill
  • not needed by the target role apply arc welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply brazing techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply flux skill
  • not needed by the target role apply soldering techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply spot welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply thermite welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role assemble metal parts skill
  • not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role characteristics of products knowledge
  • not needed by the target role cutting technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role determine suitability of materials skill
  • not needed by the target role flammable fluids knowledge
  • not needed by the target role follow health and safety procedures in construction skill
  • not needed by the target role follow safety precautions in work practices skill
  • not needed by the target role fuel gas knowledge
  • not needed by the target role handle fuels skill
  • not needed by the target role handle gas cylinders skill
  • not needed by the target role inspect construction supplies skill
  • not needed by the target role interpret 2D plans skill
  • not needed by the target role interpret 3D plans skill
  • not needed by the target role join metals skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain mechatronic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain robotic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintenance of printing machines knowledge
  • not needed by the target role maintenance operations knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mark processed workpiece skill
  • not needed by the target role mechanics of motor vehicles knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mechanics of vessels knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mechatronics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal bending techniques knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal smoothing technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal thermal conductivity knowledge
  • not needed by the target role non-ferrous metal processing knowledge
  • not needed by the target role operate 3D computer graphics software skill
  • not needed by the target role operate automated process control skill
  • not needed by the target role operate brazing equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role operate oxy-fuel cutting torch skill
  • not needed by the target role operate oxy-fuel welding torch skill

21 further entries not listed here

11 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn laser types required
  • still to learn manufacturing processes required
  • still to learn quality and cycle time optimisation required
  • still to learn statistical process control required
  • optional, not held manufacturing of cutlery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of doors from metal optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of metal containers optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of weapons and ammunition optional
  • optional, not held laser engraving methods optional
  • optional, not held laser marking processes optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
Index

Other moves recorded from welder

Full index of moves from welder

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a welder become a laser beam welder?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A welder already covers 48% of what a laser beam welder is expected to do: 25 skills carry over, 13 of which the laser beam welder role treats as required.

What skills does a welder need to become a laser beam welder?

14 required skills are missing, plus 14 optional ones. They fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with machinery and specialised equipment. The single most important is verify laser beam measurement.

How hard is the move from welder to laser beam welder?

Its learning distance is 60 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.