Industrial Welding

Program Info

The future for welding careers looks bright. Certified, skilled welders continue to be in demand in the construction industry and in all petroleum-related, mining and heavy equipment industries.  Graduates of AVTEC's Industrial Welding Program hold good jobs in a wide variety of working settings.  In short, Alaskan employers are always looking for highly trained welders–especially for those who are willing to work under occasionally adverse conditions.

Certified pipe welders continue to be in demand in the petroleum industry.  Pipes are used to transport commodities in Alaska and they are also used to build structures.  The different applications of pipe afford pipe welders the opportunity to apply their skills in a variety of work settings.  With the Alaska Gas Pipeline on the horizon, trained welders will be in even greater demand.

The Industrial Welding Program emphasizes steel welding; however, all students are expected to become knowledgeable of procedures for welding on nonferrous materials such as aluminum.  Primary focus is on stick electrode welding:  students train on SMAW (stick electrode), GMAW and FCAW (wire feed processes), GTAW (TIG), plasma arc and air arc cutting, oxyacetylene welding, and cutting machines.  Destructive tests are performed on groove welds in both the stick and wire feed processes.  An introduction to Non-Destructive testing is an integral part of the program.

The AVTEC Welding shops are equipped with state of the art cutting and welding equipment, including computerized plasma cutting machines for plate and pipe.

Clock Hours
1080
8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Start Date
January
August
Industry Certification

The goal of the Industrial Welding Program is to enable the Student to earn nationally recognized industry certifications.  They are available through an independent agency–Alaska Industrial X-Ray.  This testing is an additional cost to the student and is performed in Anchorage.  It is the student’s responsibility to make transportation arrangements to the testing site. Contact the instructor for exact costs.

To earn the AVTEC Industrial Welding Program certificate, students must prepare for and earn the following industry certifications:

  • Structural Certification to AWS Unlimited Thickness
  • Pipe Certification to ASME section IX, 6G Pipe

 

Program Costs
Tuition
$4122
Room and Board
$10388
Technology Fee
$325
Student Service Fee
$125
Books (Provided by AVTEC)
$1124
Supplies (Provided by AVTEC)
$7368
Items NOT Provided by AVTEC
$1500
Total Cost
$24952.00
Physical requirements for program

Physical requirements of the occupation are the ability to lift 100 pounds, carry 50 pounds, stoop, kneel, crawl, walk, and stand continuously. The student must have the ability to manipulate various types of welding equipment and welding processes, which require the ability to manipulate welding fixtures, place material in fixtures above your head, and weld in various positions for extended periods.  Welding requires good hand-eye coordination and eyesight corrected to 20/20 with excellent depth perception.  We strongly recommend an eye examination prior to enrollment so that corrective lens inserts for their welding helmet or prescription safety glasses/googles may be obtained prior to the start of class.

Achievement
Industrial Welding
Clock hours
1080
Courses
Employability Skills
Clock Hours
16
Participate in school safety orientation, complete achievement tests, complete Welders Math, participate in resume writing and job search training, and in an interview and communications training.
OAW – Oxyacetylene Welding
Clock Hours
40
Show knowledge of safety and operation of oxyacetylene welding and cutting equipment; describe and identify physical and mechanical properties as they relate to the weldability of metals; identify, demonstrate proper care of, and correctly use common and specific tools used in the welding trades; identify and describe various AWS weld symbols.
SMAW – Stick Electrode
Clock Hours
360
Demonstrate proficiency in stick electrode welding to the American Welding Society Unlimited Thickness standard, describe and demonstrate air carbon arc cutting and gouging, identify hard surfacing electrodes and produce acceptable welds in three positions using proper technique. Apply skills in basic fabrication exercises in support of sound structural assemblies.
FCAW – Flux-Cored
Clock Hours
19
Demonstrate basic skills in Flux-cored arc welding technique.
GTAW - TIG
Clock Hours
30
Demonstrate basic skills in TIG welding technique.
GMAW – MIG
Clock Hours
30
Demonstrate basic skills in MIG welding technique.
Welders Math
Clock Hours
45
Complete welding math class focused on measurement and geometry. The topics covered include: Estimation, Fractions, Decimals, Unit Conversion, Length, Area, and Volume. Students are allowed to work ahead at their own pace via online learning with guidance from the math instructor.
OAW – OXYACETYLENE WELDING (FOR PIPE)
Clock Hours
25
Use oxyacetylene cutting equipment to prepare pipe for welding.
SMAW, GMAW, GTAW & FCAW – PIPE WELDING
Clock Hours
425
Perform open root plate welding in the 3G and 4G positions with sufficient quality to pass the AWS guided bend test. Describe and identify physical and mechanical properties as they relate to welding of carbon steel and stainless steel pipe; identify, demonstrate care of, and correctly use common and specific tools used in the pipe fabrication trades. Perform open root pipe welding in the 2G, 5G and 6G positions with sufficient quality to pass the ASME guided bend test. Perform downhill pipe welding in the 2G, 5G and 6G position with sufficient quality to pass the API 1104 guided bend test. Prepare, tack weld, and weld pipe in the 6G position using a backing ring. Team weld large diameter pipe in the 5G position using the SMAW and FCAW processes. Demonstrate basic pipe welding skills using the Gas Tungsten Arc welding process. Also, includes introduction to FCAW pipe, sanitary stainless steel orbital tube welding and computer aided pipe cutting.
SOCKET & BUTT WELD PIPE FABRICATION
Clock Hours
60
Identify socket and butt weld pipe fittings. Read and interpret socket and butt weld pipe drawings, various socket and butt weld fitting symbols, and determine pipe lengths between fittings. Prepare, align, tack weld, and weld 90-degree elbows, 45 degree elbows, flanges, branch connections, and valves for socket and butt joints using carbon steel pipe and the SMAW process. Perform air and hydrostatic test of fabricated pipe systems.
PIPE LAYOUT & PIPE FABRICATION
Clock Hours
24
Demonstrate basic skills in pipe layout and pipe-fitting fabrication using carbon steel pipe and the SMAW process. Fabricate fittings from pipe; Layout and fabricate two piece 90-degree turns, and perform mitering procedures. Layout and fabricate 45-degree laterals.
INTRODUCTION TO NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
Clock Hours
6
Introduction to and general overview of the industry, job opportunities and significance to the welding industry. Students will learn about the major NDT methods ET,MT,PT,RT,UT,VT) with an assessment verifying that they successfully reviewed all of the material.

Gainful Employment Disclosures – 2019

Program Name: Combination Welding

This program is designed to be completed in 36 weeks. 

This program will cost $9,479 if completed within normal time.  There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.  

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $ 2577 of debt.  

The following States do not have licensure requirements for this profession:  Alaska

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Updated: 6/26/2019