Degrees & Career Programs Guide - Northwest Florida State College

Welding – Applied Technologies(Career and Technical or Vocational Certificate)New Program!1170 Total Clock Hours RequiredGeneral Info -- Starting Fall 2013, Northwest Florida State Collegewill offer a new Vocational Certificate program in Applied WeldingTechnologies. The NWFSC Welding program provides you the skills,knowledge, and customized training required to be a journey-levelprofessional welder. The program prepares graduates for immediateentry into the job market and includes six courses which can generally becompleted in three semesters (Fall, Spring & Summer terms). In somecases, students may be able to complete the program in two semesters.The NWFSC Welding program also offers a pathway to an Associateof Science (A.S.) degree in Engineering Technology and you may earnnationally recognized certifications from completion of the NCCER(National Center for Construction Education and Research) courses inthe program. These certifications include: Shielded Metal Arc Welder, GasMetal Arc (MIG) Welder, Flux Core Arc Welder, Gas Tungsten Arc (TIG)Welder, and Pipe Welder. Each certificate level is acknowledged by theindustry as proof of acquired skills in various forms of welding, cutting,base metal preparation, welding inspection, safety, and metallurgy.The NWFSC Welding program provides instruction in all common manualwelding and cutting processes. Training includes Oxy/Fuel cutting, Plasmacutting and welding with “TIG” (GTAW), “Stick” (SMAW), “MIG” (GMAW),and flux cored wires on regular steel, stainless steel and aluminum plateand various pipe in all positions. This will prepare you for certification testsin specific welding code, such as AWS D1.1 – Structural Welding Code,API 1104 – Welding of Pipelines Code, and ASME Sec IX – Boiler andPressure Vessel Code.How Do I Start the Welding Program? New students may completeadmissions and advising at any time throughout the year. A new class ofstudents will be admitted to begin studies each August. The first NWFSCWelding class will begin August 19, 2013. The program is offered with dayclasses that meet Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on theNiceville campus*.What is the Job Outlook? Employment of welders, cutters, solderers,and brazers is expected to grow 15 percent from 2010 to 2020.Properly skilled welders with up-to-date training should have the bestjob prospects. Welding touches virtually all aspects of daily life throughconstruction, manufacturing, and repair work to computer chip productionand the aerospace industry.Pay may vary widely based on skill level, technical knowledge, workhabits, and location. Some manufacturing welders get paid between$11-$15 per hour, while highly skilled journeymen construction pipewelders can typically earn $25 to $30 dollars per hour base pay.The work environment in the welding profession may vary widely. Weldingis most commonly done outside on construction sites, or inside in heavyindustrial settings. Heavy industrial work environments require welderswho aren’t afraid to get dirty. Many require dedicated professionalswho can produce good quality welds, in uncomfortable and difficult toreach locations, sometimes high above the ground while close to loudand distracting equipment. Welding may also be done under extremelycomfortable and clean conditions for aerospace work, or even in a“clean room” environment during manufacture of equipment forcomputer chip production.While many welders enjoy the challenging nature and visible end productof their craft, a welding background provides many opportunities as well.Experienced welders may move on to become business owners, weldingengineers, welding inspectors, quality assurance personnel, supervisors,or educators. A formal education is an important component to skillbuilding and advancement.The Welding certificate program is Open Door admissions. Interestedstudents should complete the NWFSC application for admission atwww.nwfsc.edu/admissions or at any of the college’s 7 area locations.Admission to the Welding program also requires successful completionof the TABE test (Test of Adult Basic Education) at the 9th grade levelin mathematics, English language, and reading. The TABE test is freeof charge and available at the Niceville campus Testing Center, locatedon the second floor of the Student Services Center (SSC), and at thecollege’s Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs.* Some program activities may be held at other NWF locations, but attendance at theNiceville campus is required due to the specialized labs needed for welding instruction.Page 40Northwest Florida State COLLEGE • 2013 - 2014 Degrees & Career Programs Guide