Welding Technology I & II Instructor: Brent Trankler, M.S. Sikeston Career and Technology Center Contact Information: SCTC Office: (573)471-5445 Welding Technology Class Link: |
Daily Course Schedule 7:50 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Welding Technology I & II 11:22 a.m. - 11:47 a.m. Skills Hour 10:25 a.m. - 11:22 p.m. Planning Period 12:15 p.m. - 2:50 p.m. Welding Technology I & II |
About our Program: Sikeston Career and Technology Center is a Certified AWS - Sense Program - AWS QC10 Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level 1 - Entry Welder - AWS QC11 Specification for Qualification and Certification of Level 2 - Advanced Welder Recent Medalist at Skills-USA District Contest 2012 Individual Welder - 2nd Place (Advance to State) Course Summary: All students must pass a safety certification test before they are permitted to work in the shop area. The test is administered by the instructor and is part of the curriculum for welding technology. A $30 personal protective equipment fee will be charged to all students that enroll. This fee covers their first pair of safety glasses, cutting glasses, welding gloves, work gloves, membership into Skills-USA, and AWS. All of which are yours to take with you at the completion of the course. Welding Technology I: This is a basic course in welding technology. The students will learn the fundamentals of the industry. The students will learn OFW, Oxy Acetylene Cutting, Plasma Cutting, FCAW, SMAW, GMAW, blueprint sketching, blueprint reading and metal fabrication. Students will occasionally be assigned to work as a helper on Welding Technology II projects throughout the year. Welding Technology II: (Prerequisite: Welding Technology I) This is an advanced course in welding technology and heavy supervised project related. The students will learn more advanced skills in welding technology and fabrication. The students will learn more advanced concepts on SMAW, GMAW, FCAW, GTAW, Plasma CAM, material selection, blueprints, fit ups, and fabrication. Students will be allowed to complete tasks on their personal projects as well as customer projects. |
Industry Overview and Career Paths Welding is physically demanding profession, requiring heavy lifting, bending and maintaining awkward positions to reach areas needing repair. Some welding takes place in a factory or welding shop, but many welders work on site -- outdoors in building yards, high on construction platforms or even underwater. Duties and job responsibilities will vary greatly, depending on the industry and the type of welding process being used. Some real world examples of welder job duties can be seen in these Monster.com job postings: ◦'Responsible for various types of aluminum weld preparation, welding and weld finishing operations to manufacture aluminum product to drawings, specifications. Follow specific instructions in the weld out of aluminum marine vessels following project schedules and meeting established budgets.' -Volt Engineering and Technical Services ◦'Job duties include welding on code or other work involving critical safety and load requirements. Job requires ability to plan, layout and perform diversified work. Must be able to regulate volts/amps and may select electrodes, tips and rods for the operation being performed. May have to operate a ring roller.' -Production Welder Kato Engineering Inc |
Job Requirements Some employers provide on-the-job training but many prefer to hire welders with formal training. Formal training for welders is available in some high schools as well as in vocational schools and community colleges. Many schools offer a choice of a one-year certificate program in Welding Technology or a two-year Associate of Science Degree in Welding Technology. Welding training is also available in the military. Industrial certification programs are available, and certification is required for some jobs. Those seeking higher education may continue on to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in Welding Engineering. Here are typical job requirements from two job postings on Monster.com: ◦'The ideal candidates for this position should have experience with but not limited to: 3-5 years TIG Welding, MIG Welding experience is a plus, TIG Welding on all types of metals, must be able to pass a welding test.' -Aerotek Commercial Staffing ◦'Applicants must have a high-school diploma and have-school or vocational school certificate in welding that included courses in mechanical drawing, shop mathematics and shop practices. Completion of a formal on-the-job training program is also required.' - Production Welder Kato Engineering Inc. |
Employment Outlook Some of the large industries that hire welders include shipbuilding, automobile, aerospace, oil and gas production, manufacturing and construction. Some newer industrial applications for welding include small electronic device manufacturing, medical components and nanotechnology fields. Welders also work in privately owned repair shops. In many industries welders are required to join unions. |