Welding
Certificate of Proficiency
Purpose
The Welding Certificate of Proficiency program prepares students for advanced welding skills in FCAW (Flux cored Arc), GTAW (TIG), GMAW (MIG), and SMAW (stick) welding. Students will have the opportunity to gain WABO Welding Certification.Students who successfully complete this program should be able to:
1. Describe the American Welding Society (AWS) and Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) structural welding code requirements.
2. Demonstrate welding skill levels in accordance with AWD and WABO code standards
3. Apply problem solving skills to fine tune welding equipment and welding techniques
4. Demonstrate safe working habits, human relationship skills and professional behavior needed for successful job performance
5. Interpret and apply welding symbols and blueprints used in industry
6. Demonstrate the steps to layout, cut, fit and weld rectangular and cylindrical fabrication projects
7. Sketch orthographic and pictorial drawings, write a bill of materials and estimate the labor and material costs of a fabrication project.
Career Opportunities: Welding technician jobs exist in nearly all manufacturing, construction, repair and processing industries. Welders are employed in vehicle and heavy equipment manufacturing, ship and aircraft building, bridge, building and pipeline construction and the list goes on and on. In general, if metal joining (welding) is a part of the manufacturing, construction or repair process, welding technicians are doing it.
Pay ranges from $8-$16 per hour in the region for an entry level welder to $45 or more per hour for highly skilled certified welders. There are many local and regional employers in manufacturing, construction, and maintenace.
Recommended course schedule
Fall Quarter, First Year
| MATH 116 | Industrial Math | 5 |
| WELD 159 | Oxyfuel & GTAW Theory | 4 |
| WELD 160 | Oxyfuel & GTAW Theory Lab | 9 |
| Total Credits | 18 |
Winter Quarter, First Year
| COMM 101 | Written Communications | 3 |
| WELD 161 | Arc Welding Theory | 4 |
| WELD 162 | Arc Welding Lab | 9 |
| WELD 167 | Metallurgy for Welders | 4 |
| Total Credits | 20 |
Spring Quarter, First Year
| DET 166 | Shop Skills | 3 |
| WELD 126 | Industrial Drafting | 2 |
| WELD 164 | MIG Welding Theory | 4 |
| WELD 165 | MIG Welding Lab | 6 |
| Total Credits | 15 |
Fall Quarter, Second Year
| WELD 265 | Advanced Arc Welding Theory | 4 |
| WELD 266 | Advanced Arc Welding Lab | 9 |
| WELD 271 | Blueprint Reading for Welders | 4 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Completion of H R 110 - Human Relations in the Workplace (3 credits) is required and may be completed during any quarter.