There are lots of community colleges and technical schools that provide certificate and degree training programs in welding technology.
Before a welder is qualified for employment, they must acquire a variety of technical skills from adult welding education programs.
If you want to become a welder, various schools offer certificate and associate’s degree programs that incorporate practical welding practice.
This article provides a well-researched list of common welding adult education programs.
Coursework For Common Welding Adult Education Program
The fundamentals of cutting, brazing, and welding as well as the usage of tools and equipment are covered in most of the common welding adult education programs.
You’ll study topics including shielded and gas metal arc welding, welding fabrication, rigging, industrial safety, inspection, and blueprint interpretation, as well as welding and production procedures.
The courses offered in a program leading to an Associate in Applied Science in Welding Technology are expanded upon and often include more general education and elective courses.
Some programs provide elective choices including work-based learning courses or a welding internship.
An associate’s degree program in welding covers both fundamental and advanced welding disciplines, such as pipe welding, brazing, inspection, robotics, fabrication, heat treatment, welding with gas metal and gas tungsten arcs, tool and die welding, technical computing, machining, and reading blueprints.
Along with receiving formal classroom instruction, you have the chance to work as an apprentice and obtain practical experience in the field.
Some programs also offer courses that will help you get certified for titles like the American Welding Society’s Certified Welding Fabricator or Certified Welder.
Common Welding Adult Education Program
1. Welding Technology
The Welding Technology program is typically designed for people with little to no prior welding experience.
This program concentrates on competency-based training at progressively higher levels to prepare students for careers in welding.
The common welding techniques utilized in various sectors of the business, including SMAW (Stick Welding), GMAW (MIG Welding), FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding), GTAW (TIG Welding), and Oxy-fuel cutting, will be covered in this program.
A Certificate of Completion in Welding Technology can be earned in one year and requires the completion of 52–53 credits.
Students who complete the curriculum can take a test to become certified welders.
Students who complete the welding technology program are prepared for careers as structural welders, weld supervisors, manufacturing welders, certified welding inspectors, ironworkers, pipefitters, and sheet metal workers.
2. Shielded Metal Arc Welding
The foundations of shielded metal arc welding, including safety and machine setup/operation, are covered in this program.
On mild steel, students will perform fillet and groove welds utilizing standard stick welding electrodes in flat, horizontal, and vertical orientations.
Students will also learn how to use oxy-acetylene torches, angle grinders, and other metalworking tools to prepare steel for welding.
3. Gas Metal/Flux Cored Arc Welding
The principles of Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) and Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG) are covered in this program, including safety, machine setup, use, and troubleshooting.
Using solid wire MIG and gas-shielded flux core wires, students will practice fillet and groove welds on steel in the flat and horizontal positions.
Students will also learn how to use plasma cutters, angle grinders, and other metalworking tools to prepare steel for welding.
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4. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
The foundations of the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (TIG) procedure, including safety and machine setup/operation, are covered in this program.
Students will experience welding fillet and groove joints in different places on aluminum, mild steel, and stainless steel.
Metal characteristics and material identification are included in the program curriculum.
5. Welding And Metal Fabrication
Students will master the fundamental skills required to enter the field as well as the advanced talents in demand by practicing welders through this 500-hour adult education program.
The curriculum combines practical technical instruction with accompanying weld theory classroom courses and online practice modules.
This program also prepares students for certification exams of OSHA and DOT.
6. Welding Fundamentals And Qualification
A crucial skill that applies to many facets of the manufacturing and construction industries is welding.
In this program, students will have a fundamental understanding of the theory, applications, and functions of welding tools.
They’ll become familiar with bead distribution on four different types of mild steel joints in the flat, vertical, and overhead orientations.
Students will learn the fundamentals of choosing an electrode and burning oxyacetylene, using both manual and automatic techniques.
They will also get the skills necessary to complete welding jobs following industry regulations and standards.
7. AWS Qualification Test Preparation
Welders can advance by earning endorsement certifications from the American Welding Society (AWS).
The D1.1 Structural Welding – Steel Examination, which covers Material and Design, Fabrication, Inspection, and Qualification, is the program’s capstone.
You can review the courses, take a practice test, and then take the official AWS exam to earn certification after passing.
8. OSHA-30
The OSHA-30 training program gives beginning construction workers a general understanding of spotting and avoiding risks on a job site.
As a worker covered by OSHA29 CFR 1929, OSHA advises that welders enroll in this safety certification program as an introduction to occupational safety and health.
Welders will be given a 30-hour Construction Safety Certification Completion Card upon completion.
9. Welding, Fabrication & Allied Processes
This 650-hour program offers instruction in a variety of welding techniques.
Students will learn lab safety, how to read weld prints, how to cut with oxy-fuel, and how to gouge and cut with carbon arcs.
Additionally, students will gain knowledge of structural construction techniques and receive an introduction to robotic and pipe welding.
This program prepares students to work as entry-level industrial welders.
Welding: Career Information
Graduates with a welding certificate or degree can look for work in manufacturing, producing metal, transportation, or construction.
They can also pursue managerial roles in a range of field industries, depending on their level of expertise and years of experience.
Some welders work up to 70 hours per week, and the work can be done indoors or outdoors.
For some jobs, such as certified robotic arc welder, certified welder, certified welding fabricator, or certified welding inspector, certification could be necessary.
Both the Institute for Printed Circuits and the American Welding Society provide certification programs.
Welding: Job And Salary Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2020 and 2030, job growth for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers will be at a pace of 8%.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects that welders with modern training and abilities shouldn’t have much trouble obtaining employment.
Your position and the area in which you work as a welder will determine your salary.
Welders earned a median salary of $49,300 as of December 2021, with most earning between $31,000 and $82,000.
FAQ
Which welding certification is best?
An AWS D1. 1 3G and 4G SMAW combo done on carbon steel and a 3G MIG Welding Certification are the three best welding certifications for someone new to the field to obtain because they will pay off the quickest.
How long does it take to learn to be a welder?
Depending on the school you select, welding training typically takes between 7 months and 2 years of hands-on instruction.
How long does it take to become a welder in NY?
A welding curriculum could be finished in as little as a few weeks or as long as six months.
What is the hardest welding test?
The 6G Pipe Weld test is the most difficult and sophisticated welding exam.
What is the difference between a qualified welder and a certified welder?
A qualified welder possesses the abilities required to create strong welds using a specific procedure, location, material, etc. A certified welder is one whose credentials have been verified and certified by the business they work for.
What is the easiest type of welding to learn?
The simplest sort of welding to learn for a beginner is often MIG welding.
Can welding be self-taught?
Three possibilities exist self-taught, formal education, and an apprenticeship. The best welders have highly developed abilities that need time and patience.
Is welding school Hard?
Since welding is a hands-on activity that calls for more than just reading, it can be moderately to very challenging for most people to learn how to accomplish.
What does 6G mean in welding?
The overhead weld position or welder certification test position is another name for the 6G welding position.
One pipe must be positioned in this position with the other pipe at a 45° angle. Because of this, it turns into the most complicated position for welders.
What’s the hardest metal to weld?
Aluminum because the oxide coat is very difficult to get through.
Conclusion
A welder is expected to repair and fabricate a variety of metal materials.
Various community colleges and technical schools offer common welding adult education programs that give students the skills they need to work in the field.
Welders can also obtain an Associate in Applied Science, which has requirements and could open more opportunities.
