Great pay for the highly skilled!
As a certified welder, you will be among the highest paid of all the skilled trades. As a welder, you will join metals by applying intense heat from a gas or electric source to melt metal to form a permanent bond with or without the use of filler metals. You will use welding for joining, surfacing, or repairing structures or parts made of metal or other weldable materials. You will plan the sequence of operations and select your equipment according to metals involved and the type of weld needed.
What are my career choices?
Most welders work in manufacturing industries. Others are employed by construction firms and repair services. A skilled welder may qualify as a technician, supervisor, inspector, or owner of a welding business.
What classes do I have to take?
You will take classes that familiarize you with saws, drill presses, grinders, power shears, metal brakes and rolls, and numerous other hand tools. You will learn to fabricate trailers, frames, racks, and swings using steel plates, angle iron, pipes, channel iron, and other structural steel. You will learn to weld various kinds of metals, such as mild steel, aluminum, cast iron, and stainless steel. You will also learn blueprint reading and flame cutting of metals. Some other topics you will learn are:
- Electric arc welding
- Oxyacetylene gas welding and cutting
- Metal inert gas welding (MIG)
- Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG)
What are my degree, diploma, or certificate options?
Degrees and Transfers
ECTC has numerous partnerships with 4-year universities. If you are interested in a transfer pathway in this field, check out our partnering university pathways. Find more information on transferring from ECTC.
Diploma Options
Certificate Options
- ARC Cutter - Certificate
- ARC Welder - Certificate
- AWS National Skills Standards Level I - Certificate
- Gas Metal Arc Welder - Certificate
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welder - Certificate
- Gas Welder - Certificate
- Pipeline Gas Metal Arc Welder - Certificate
- Pipeline Gas Tungsten Arc Welder - Certificate
- Pipeline Shielded Metal Arc Welder - Certificate
- Production Line Welder - Certificate
- Shielded Metal Arc Welder - Certificate
- Tack Welder - Certificate
- Welder Helper - Certificate
Field Licensure Requirements
Some employers in the welding industry require welder certification. There are numerous welder certification tests available to students. Welder certification is not required to complete the program at the college, but students are encouraged to become certified welders to improve their job prospects.
Where do I start?
Apply for admission to ECTC to receive information from the Admissions Office about submitting your placement test scores (ACT or other exams) and to schedule a meeting with an advisor to register for your classes.
Length of Program
You can earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in two years if you maintain full-time status.
This information should not be considered a substitute for the KCTCS Catalog. You should always choose classes in cooperation with your faculty advisor to ensure that you meet all degree requirements.
