He debuted in the First Division with the UNAM team on 15 May 2004 in the UNAM-3 Monterrey-2 match, (wearing number 75 on his shirt) scoring a goal with his head in the last minutes, giving him the victory.

Efraín 'Chispa' Velarde, was transferred from Pumas to Rayados de Monterrey in definitive purchase, in the annual Draft of the Bancomer MX League, where he would play the Apertura 2014 and Clausura 2015 tournaments.

On 26 December 2017, his arrival at the club is confirmed, to be a reinforcement for the Clausura Tournament 2018 (Mexico), El "Chispa" returns to the institution since his last time in 2015.

this time (wearing number 18 on his shirt) In August 2011, Velarde married his girlfriend of 6 years, Jessica Gómez Espinosa, in a mansion in Mexico City.

On 4 September 2011, Velarde was called up to the senior national team by coach José Manuel de la Torre for a friendly in Barcelona Spain against Chile making it his first international appearance.