The minimum education of a high school diploma is needed to become a speed operator. During high school, you can take shop classes to learn how to work with materials and tools, as well as mathematics and computer classes. In addition, you often need training to become a speed operator, whether it occurs on-the-job once you are hired or as part of an apprenticeship program. Knowledge of machine operations and the properties of the materials you are working with is needed to advance within the field. Once you have finished high school, you can begin to look for positions as a speed operator with manufacturing companies.
A high school diploma is required to become a speed operator, so this should be the first step to begin your career. If you did not finish high school, you can take the General Educational Development (GED) examination to receive a diploma. This will enable you to begin looking for jobs in the field. Individuals in high school can take classes such as shop or machining, if offered, to begin to learn some of the skills needed by a speed operator, as well as completing mathematics and computer courses. Computer skills are helpful because some of the machines that you use are operated by computers, and you also need to communicate with co-workers and managers through the computer.
After you have a high school diploma, you can begin to look for an entry-level job or apprenticeship program to become a speed operator. An entry-level job can be found in a manufacturing facility or fabricating plant, as can apprenticeships. If you find an entry-level job you can expect to be trained before you will be allowed to work with the complicated machines needed to become a speed operator. An apprenticeship is a more structured experience where you will work with an experienced speed operator until you are fully trained. Both entry-level jobs and apprenticeship programs will pay you for the time you spend training.
You need to be capable of working with your hands to become a speed operator. It is also necessary that you are able to spend long hours working on your feet operating heavy and loud equipment. In some cases, at certain organizations, you can be trained to work on multiple machines. If possible, you should ask to be rotated between machines so that your skills are more widely varied, which can help you advance in the field.
