Welding Technology

Let the sparks fly!

Extensive hands on experience will enable you to obtain employment in a wide spectrum of areas with high earning potential. Our Industrial Welding and Metal Fabrication degree program has been designed to provide you with a state of the art education in a shop filled with industry standard equipment.

As one of 10 nationwide regional training facilities for Miller Electric, Helena College students are afforded advanced opportunities using the newest technologies. The primary goal in the first year of the Welding Technology program is to give students the skills and instruction they need to enter the welding industry. With an emphasis on safety, students will receive hands-on, theoretical, and technical training in rigging, job estimation, blueprint reading, and layout and pattern making. In addition, students will receive extensive lab training in a wide variety of welding processes including S.M.A.W. (stick electrode), G.M.A.W. (wire processes), Pulse M.I.G., T.I.G., and plasma cutting. The focus of the training is to give the students the skills necessary to successfully pass American Welding Society (A.W.S.) certifications. Students will also receive introductory instruction in design and fabrication, thus allowing them to perform repairs and fabricate projects. The second year of the Welding Technology program is designed to teach students how to use their skills performing advanced fabrication and repair work on actual projects. Students will learn advanced fabrication techniques using a variety of equipment including shears, bending breaks, forming rolls, punches, drill presses, and track torches. This may include anything from a simple welding repair to re-facing a D-9 Cat blade. Students will also receive training in various methods of pipe welding with an opportunity to take the A.W.S. certification test. Second year students will be given instruction in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) burn table programming and operation using Auto-CAD and Shop Data Systems software.

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of industry standards for safety and compliance
• Demonstrate the proper use of manufacturing equipment
• Apply proper techniques for analyzing and producing drawings
• Demonstrate an understanding of welding processes, codes, and procedures
• Differentiate manufacturing processes and their applicability
• Enter the workforce with entry level skills
• Exhibit good work ethic with an emphasis on safety and professionalism

Helena College’s Welding Program is proudly affiliated with the American Welding Society through an Institutional Educational Membership. We hold our students to the highest standards set by the American Welding Society.

Program cost

• Tuition and fees which are based on the number of registered credit hours, and are paid each semester.
• Course and program fees which cover shop materials and supplies and are paid each semester. These will vary based on the program and registered courses.
• Textbooks, tools (see required tool list below), and work shirts are also required

Welding Technology C.A.S.

Industrial Welding and Metal Fabrication A.A.S.

Welding: Industrial Welding and Metal Fabrication Tool Set

$800 (Approximately)

Safety equipment

1. Safety Glasses - Mutiple pairs
2. Steel Toe Books - Leather

Welding Equipment

1. Welding Hood - Auto Darkening
2. Welding Gloves - Leather
3. Welding Jacket - 100% Cotton/Leather  Sleeves/100% Leather
4. Welding Cap - 100% Cotton
5. Cutting Goggles - Minimum shade #5

Hand Tools

Preferred Tool Vendors

1. American Welding and Gas
2. General Distributing
3. Harbor Freight
4. MSC Industrial Supply (Online)
5. Amazon (Online)

Students are expected to have tools by the end of the first week of class