Welding Techniques

Description

Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding career in welding and metal fabrication? The Welding Techniques program prepares you to enter the workplace with an exceptional skill set that is in high demand. You acquire comprehensive welding skills through hands-on practical labs using the latest equipment in our state-of-the-art facility. You create and read blueprints and gain an understanding of metals and their characteristics. In addition to the solid theoretical and hands-on practical welding knowledge, you gain experience in safe work practices and weld inspection methods from well-seasoned, experienced Canadian Welding Bureau qualified instructors. Upon successful completion of this program, you are eligible to test for the Canadian Welding Bureau Qualifications based on your level of competence.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find a range of occupations in the welding field, including manufacturing and fabricating, automotive and heavy equipment production, automation, various trades unions and construction. Self-employment is another viable option upon graduation.

Graduates are eligible for exemption from Level 1 and 2 in-school training requirements when entering 456A Welder apprenticeship.

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. comply with legislation and standard procedures to maintain a safe work environment;
2. follow blueprints and data sheets to apply the appropriate weld design specifications;
3. interpret welding symbols to achieve the prescribed weldment design;
4. use layout and fabrication techniques to ensure accuracy and sustainability of resources;
5. use calculations and tools to perform accurate measurements;
6. perform welding tasks on diverse metals with industry-standard methods to achieve project requirements and safety compliance;
7. interpret welding standard data to determine which positional weld to use in a project;
8. identify and correct weld defects to meet industry standards;
9. use industry-specific terminology to convey welding project details to supervisors and interested and affected parties, ensuring clarity and alignment.

Program Progression 

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2026
• Sem 2: Winter 2027

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status
• Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional Information

This program also covers all the learning outcomes for Level 1 of the Welder (456A) and Metal Fabricator (437A) – common core, as well as Level 2 welder apprenticeship programs in Ontario. Once you sign up as an apprentice in either trade, you may be exempt from this level of apprenticeship in-school training.

Graduation Requirements

11 Program Courses
1 Communications Course
1 General Education Course

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
WETC 1002	Trade Calculations for Welders	42
WETC 1005	Metallurgy for Welding	42
WETC 1013	Welding and Cutting Processes	42
WETC 1017	Blueprint Reading for Metal Trades	56
WETC 1018	Shielded Metal Arc Welding Basics	70
WETC 1019	Gas Metal Arc Welding	56
WETC 1023	Fabrication and Trade Practices	28
	Hours	336
Semester 2
Program Courses
WETC 1014	Layout and Fabrication	56
WETC 1020	Shielded Metal Arc Welding Intermediate 2	70
WETC 1021	Flux Core Arc Welding/Metal Core Arc Welding	56
WETC 1022	Gas Tungsten Arc Welding	56
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	322
	Total Hours	658

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of one year (as stated above) may take a maximum of two years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.