What can I do with this?
The Welding Processes Certificate
- Trains students in multiple welding processes.
- Prepares students for an entry level welding position in diverse fields.
- Promotes safe and clean work habits.
You can use this to:
- Enhance career opportunities in:
- Pipe Welder
- Fitter/Fabricator
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Manufacturing
- Structural Welder
- Potentially find work in the following industries
- Aircraft
- Construction
- Marine
- Mining
- Renewable Energy
- Aerospace
- Manufacturing
- Metal Art
- Railroad
- Ship Building
The basic skills of welding are the same across industries, so welders can easily shift from one industry to another, depending on where they are needed most.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
What will I learn?
- To demonstrate competency in major welding processes used in industry.
- To apply welding processes and the use of hand tools and shop equipment to fabricate projects.
- To accurately fabricate items from technical drawings using appropriate math skills.
- To apply and practice workplace safety policies and procedures while learning welding and related skills.
Program Learning Outcome Assessments
I learned a lot from one of the best instructors and experienced welders I know.
—Ryan Holden, Student
What courses do I take?
Note: Some courses within the major may have a required prerequisite. If you feel you have equivalent knowledge and skills to those included in the prerequisite course through professional experience, licensure, or certification, you have the opportunity to submit a Prerequisite Challenge to be reviewed by the faculty chair. For the Prerequisite Challenge to be considered, you must submit documentation/verification to substantiate the basis for the challenge. Please consult a counselor for more information regarding Prerequisite Challenge.
Complete all of the following courses:
36 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical experience in welding, brazing, soldering, and cutting of steel using oxyacetylene. Topics include safety, metals and their physical properties, setup and use of oxyacetylene equipment, and welding and cutting techniques.
Prerequisite: WELD C101
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical, hands-on experience in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) as well as learn safety, the different types of SMAW machines, identification of metals, electrode selection and electrical theory.
Prerequisite: WELD C101
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. In this course students gain practical experience in Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Metal Inert Gas (MIG) as well as learn safety, welding and identification of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, shielding gasses, bare and flux cored electrodes, and proper selection of welding materials for different applications.
Prerequisite: WELD C102, WELD C200
18 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $40 materials fee. This course provides practical experience in Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) as well as lectures on safety, welding and identification of exotic metals, types of filler metals and shielding gasses.
Prerequisite: WELD C102, WELD C200
36 hours lecture/54 hours laboratory. $50 materials fee. This course is designed to enable the student to construct welded projects using the processes learned in previous courses. The student learns to read technical drawings, interpret welding symbols, produce shop drawings, and use trade related math in the layout and assembly process.
Program Pathways
Official Catalog Copy
All classes needed for this certificate are available at the following campuses: Ridgecrest / IWV
See Counseling for specific help with enrolling and completing this major.
How can I afford it?
This certificate requires 12.0 units and will likely take 1 semester.
Approximate Total Costs
CA Residents
12.0 units
at $46 per unit
Equals $552 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $500* for books and supplies
Total cost $1,052 for 1 semester
Non-residents
12.0 units
at $329 per unit
Equals $3,948 in tuition and fees
Plus approximately $500* for books and supplies
Total cost $4,448 for 1 semester
*This is an estimate. Actual costs will vary.
Need help? Financial Aid can help with fee waivers and scholarships and other aid. Make sure to fill out your FAFSA every January.
