Construction & Development
Welding
Program Summary (View Course Schedules | Register for Classes)
Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. In this process, heat is applied to metal pieces, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used in shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing and repair, aerospace applications, and thousands of other manufacturing activities. Welding also is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures, and to join pipes in pipelines, power plants, and refineries.
There are over 80 different welding processes that a welder can employ and many types of welding equipment set up in a variety of positions. Welders may work on surfaces that are flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead. They may perform manual welding or semi-automatic welding using special equipment, such as a wire feeder.
Skilled welding workers generally plan work from drawings or specifications and use their knowledge of welding processes and base metals to determine how best to join the parts. Welders often are trained to work with a wide variety of materials, such as titanium, aluminum, or plastics, in addition to steel. Welders, then, select and set up welding equipment, execute the planned welds, and examine welds to ensure that they meet standards or specifications.
Employment Trends
- About 2 out of 3 jobs are in manufacturing industries. Jobs were concentrated in fabricated metal product manufacturing, transportation equipment manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, architectural and structural metals manufacturing, and construction.
- Job prospects should be excellent as employers report difficulty finding enough qualified people.
- Half of all welders work a 40-hour week, but overtime and shift-work is often available.
- After high school, skilled trade training is essential – especially courses in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, and metallurgy. An understanding of electricity also is very helpful, and knowledge of computers is gaining importance as welders are becoming more responsible for programming robots and other computer-controlled machines.
Program Objectives
- Successful completion of each course earns a Certificate of Completion
- Skills development and preparation potentially leading to professional credentialing through the American Welding Society (AWS)
PGCC trains both new and experienced welders seeking to become certified under the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Steel Welding Code. The courses with orientation include three sessions where new students are familiarized with the welding lab and instruction techniques. These classes are taught at the Joint Carpentry Training School in Upper Marlboro, MD.
|
Crs #
|
Course Name
|
Hrs |
| CST332 |
Welding Introduction with Orientation for New Students
|
45 |
| CST333 |
Welding: Experienced with Orientation for New Students
|
45 |
| |
Program Total
|
90 |
| OR |
|
|
| CST338 |
Welding Introduction (returning students only)
|
36 |
| CST339 |
Welding: Experienced (returning students only)
|
36 |
| CST316 |
Welding: Pipe
|
36 |
| |
Program total
|
126 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- I’ve taken the experienced course once, can I take it again?
Absolutely. Many students enroll in the introductory and experienced courses multiple times before they take the certification exam. The course is taught to meet the needs of each student. Students often have trouble welding overhead with 7018 1/8” low hydrogen electrodes. If this is your problem area also, our instructors will work with you until you get it right.
For additional information, contact:
Adrienne Crowell, PGCC Program Coordinator
301-322-0894, acrowell@pgcc.edu
Key Words
Arc welding