Welding Technology: Overview

The welding program provides students with the basic welding skills needed for entry-level jobs. The Welding Technology program will offer students the opportunity to spend a majority of their hours in school working in a modern, well-equipped laboratory. The program will teach welding skills using oxyacetylene, manual stick electrode, semiautomatic Mig, Tig (Heliarc), Pulse Mig, and various other welding processes. Working from blueprints, students follow exact specifications and apply practical shop math to accomplish required tasks. Students complete live work projects using skills acquired in classes. In addition, sudents will have an option to take the American Welding Society (AWS) certification practical exam. The AWS welding test is recognized worldwide as the standard to measure welding competence.

Welders are needed throughout the world, making the job opportunities endless. Students enter the work force with a wide variety of skills and can specialize in specific aspects of the welding trade, including layout and inspection welding, new construction welding, and fabrication. According to North Dakota Employment Projections 2006-2016 publication, Welding is ranked as one of the top seventy-one "Hot Jobs" for North Dakota. Jobs in welding are projected to increase by 16.8% by 2016. TMCC will be offering this new program fall semester to meet the workforce training needs of the Turtle Mountain Manufacturing Plant. Career upgrade certificate classes are also offered. American Welding Society welder certification is availabel to students enrolled in weldking course.

Enrollment: Enrollment in summer school is optional for obtaining the general education requirements. View the application process and limited enrollment program information under Admission to Turtle Mountain Community College in the TMCC Catalog.

Background in these areas beneficial

• Basic math and geometry
• Basic knowledge of drafting & blueprint reading