Welding is a high-tech industry that can take you places all over the world. From ladders to aircraft carriers, from NASCAR to national defense, and from the laboratory to sales and repair, the varied welding industry impacts virtually every industry. Technology is creating more uses for welding in the workplace. The Welding Technician program is designed to prepare students to support industrial, transportation, oil and gas, constructing, and many other industries with welding skills. The work of welders includes joining pipe sections for oil and natural gas pipelines, working in numerous industrial environments, building ships, and supporting construction. Students can serve in positions such as Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers.

This program provides learners the entry level skills required to start a career in welding. This course is designed to prepare students to earn multiple credentials through the American Welding Society (AWS) Schools through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) Level 1 Certificate of Completion. Students are eligible for an optional externship with a local employer after successful course completion.

Program Objectives

After completing this program, learners will be able to:

• Describe the building trades and technology industry and associated career paths
• Identify the professional skills required for success and career advancement in the industry
• Complete basic measuring tasks and math calculations required in the building trades workplace
• Explain the safety procedures and equipment commonly used in the building trades workplace
• Explain the proper use, care, maintenance, and safety considerations for using common hand tools
• Explain the proper use, care, maintenance, and safety considerations for using common power tools
• Identify common rigging equipment and procedures used on a construction site
• Read common construction drawings and plans
• Select and properly use safety equipment, protective clothing, and procedures applicable to the cutting and welding of metals
• Describing basic welding processes, the welding trade, and training/apprenticeship programs
• Applying welding safety practices and using personal protective equipment related to the welding trade
• Applying knowledge and skills related to safety practices, equipment, consumables, setup, and use of equipment for oxyfuel cutting, plasma arc cutting, air-carbon arc cutting and gouging
• Applying knowledge and skills related to safe preparation of base metals and basic cleaning, basic weld joint design, types of welds and joint preparation
• Applying knowledge of various codes and assessing weld quality
• Applying knowledge and skills related to SMAW (shielded metal arc welding) including safety, equipment, setup, electrodes and their care and handling, bead and fillet welds, groove welds with backing, and open-root groove welds
• Applying knowledge of welding symbols and welding drawings

Certification Opportunities

After completing this program, learners will have the option to take the leading national/industry-recognized certification exam(s) essential to entry-level employment in this fast-growing field.

American Welding Society (AWS) SENSE Certificate of Completion

Job and Externship Placement Services

Regardless if you elect to pursue national certification or not, if you enroll and successfully complete this program, assuming you pass a background check and drug screen, you will have guaranteed access to our Ready to Work (RTW) Job and Externship Placement services. All students who successfully complete this program (and pass a background check and drug screen) will have access to the RTW Externship or Job placement services at no additional cost.

Please note that if you choose Ready to Work (RTW) Externship Placement, you must be available to attend your RTW Externship on a full-time or part-time basis, Monday through Friday, between 7am - 5pm (minimum of 4 hours per day) for 2, 3, 4 or 5 days per week. Evening and weekend externships are not available, with the exception of Pharmacy Technician, which may have evening and weekend opportunities. Externships must be completed in person at the employer facility during the scheduled hours. With the exception of Medical Billing & Coding (MBC) students, remote externships are not available. Additionally, remote RTW Job Placements are very limited. Students have 6 months from course completion to request RTW placement services. After 6 months, a refresher course is required to be eligible for RTW placement services.