Welding Training Program

Safety and material science form the foundation of any industrial welding career. This module begins with OSHA 10-Hour training, where students learn to lock in a strong safety culture through hazard recognition, shop behavior, and proper PPE selection. The curriculum introduces essential hand and power tools, including grinders, band saws, pipe bevelers, and ironworkers. Students also train on basic oxyfuel and plasma cutting processes so they can prepare their own test coupons. Additionally, this module dives into Metallurgy 101, teaching students the critical differences between ferrous and non-ferrous metals, how to manage the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ), and why thermal expansion, contraction, and heat input matter on the job.

Students begin their hands-on arc training with Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), the industry standard for heavy structural steel.  The curriculum starts with welding terminology and reading weld symbols before moving into extensive hands-on work with E6010 and E7018 electrodes on carbon steel plates. Students learn proper machine setup, arc technique, and rod control. Students progress from basic pad welding and executing fillet welds to performing structural groove welds across all standard positions (1G through 4G). Students conclude this section by executing a practice AWS D1.1 structural plate test in the 3G position.

High-production manufacturing and fabrication rely heavily on semi-automatic wire-fed processes. In this module, students master Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), learning the operational differences between solid hard wire and tubular flux-cored electrodes when welding carbon steel plates. This module emphasizes precise machine setup, voltage manipulation, and travel speed. Students will progress from executing pad welds and multi-pass fillet welds to performing structural groove welds in all positions, including 1G through 4G. The module wraps up with another practice AWS D1.1 plate test to ensure field-readiness.

Precision fabrication requires the clean, high-quality results of Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). Training begins with advanced machine setup, teaching the critical differences between direct current (DC) polarity for steel and alternating current (AC) with high frequency for aluminum. Students start by developing tight torch control and filler metal manipulation on carbon steel plates. The curriculum then advances to non-ferrous alloys, covering how to manage the heat sensitivity of stainless steel and cut through the heavy oxide layers of aluminum. Students then move off flat plates and onto tubing, learning to maintain consistent arc length and torch angles on curved surfaces. The section finishes with a practice API-standard weld and an introduction to Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) liquid penetrant inspection.

Industrial pipe welding introduces the rigorous demands of pressure vessels and refinery work. This module emphasizes the critical open root technique, requiring students to bridge a pipe joint gap without a backing strip to achieve complete joint penetration.  Students spend heavy booth time working in the 5G and 6G fixed pipe positions using an uphill progression, which is the exact industry standard for pressure piping. Beyond the arc, this module prepares students for the job site by integrating related math, blueprint reading, and isometric drawing interpretation. Students learn to translate 2D piping plans into physical 3D spools so they can properly visualize the layout before striking an arc.

The final step before entering the workforce is proving weld integrity through strict quality control and code compliance. In this module, the focus shifts entirely from production to inspection.  Students learn to critique their own work using AWS Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) visual inspection criteria, ensuring every bead passes the eye test before it ever reaches a bending jig. The course covers the exact mechanics of Destructive Testing (DT), teaching students what a guided bend test reveals about root penetration and overall weld integrity. For the final capstone, students select their strongest welding process to take their official AWS D1.1 Certification test on either a 1G or 3G plate. Students demonstrating high-level proficiency can also pursue advanced AWS 4G and 6G certification testing as an optional program add-on.