Welding Technology

Welding Impacts Our Economy

Welders are needed in nearly every community in the nation and the world. The welding profession is crucial for the success of the metal fabrication industry.

All Essential Types of Welding Are Taught

The Welding curriculum includes brazing, arc welding, heliarc welding, metal inert gas (Tig and Mig) welding, and oxyacetylene welding. Welding students receive practical experience on all types of welding equipment through job and production shop welding. Primary units of instruction include position welding: flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead. The operation of automated welding equipment (robotics) and ultrasonic testing equipment has recently been added to the curriculum. Related welding instruction includes job safety, blueprint reading, sketching, shop mathematics, metallurgy and communication skills.

Graduates of the Welding Technology program are eligible to take the American Welding Society Certification Guided Bend Test on 3/8 inch steel in the vertical and overhead position using either shielded-metal arc welding, gas-metal arc welding or flux-cored arc welding.

Welding Students Need to Be Talented in Eye-Hand Coordination

Eye-hand coordination is required so the welder can place precisely sized welds in any given joint. Other physical demands in this profession would include the ability to climb and maneuver structural steel.

The welding profession is quite diversified. Students must be able to comprehend basic electricity and read blueprints.

Job Opportunities

There are unlimited job opportunities for advancement in industry for welders who become thoroughly acquainted with the techniques, materials, designs and new applications of the welding process. Welders have a wide array of career choices including welder operator, repair and maintenance welder, pipeline welder, welding supervisor, welding inspector, welding technician, and welding engineer.

Recommended Background Courses

Although not required, the following courses would be beneficial to this course of study prior to attending Lake Area Technical Institute: Math, Vocational Welding and Machining, Drafting, and Communications.