Electroplating Workers

High School

If you are interested in becoming an electroplater, a good background in mathematics, chemistry, physics, electrical shop, metal shop, and blueprint reading is essential. Such classes will introduce you to some of the basic concepts underlying the industrial applications of electroplating as well as give you a hands-on sense of related technical fields.

Postsecondary Training

The trend in this industry has been for plating processes to involve increasing complexity and engineering precision. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement to enter this career, but often employers prefer to hire students who have had specialized training and technical education. Some community colleges and vocational schools offer one- or two-year courses in electroplating. In addition, some customized courses are available through the AESF Education Foundation, part of the National Association for Surface Finishing.

Many electroplaters, however, start out as helpers with little or no prior training and learn the trade by working with skilled platers. This method requires at least four years to become a skilled plater. Sometimes platers are trained with just one or two metals because it takes too much time to learn the necessary techniques for more than that. Workers who know only one or two metals may have trouble transferring to other shops where different metals are used.

Other Education or Training

The National Association for Surface Finishing's AESF Education Foundation offers custom training courses, individual training, home study courses, and webinars to help electroplating workers stay up to date with changes in technology and industry developments. Recent educational offerings included Electroplating Basics, Brush Plating, Pollution Prevention for Electroplating Processes, Popular Plating Processes, Common Plating Defects, and Stripping Electroplating Deposits. Contact the association for more information.