Welding

There is a growing need for well trained welders, cutters and welding machine operators in a variety of industries through out Wisconsin. Growth in this industry in Wisconsin is expected to be 4.7 percent by the year 2014.

Work-Based Requirements

Industry mentors are trained to teach youth apprentices the skills and knowledge needed to find entry level employment in the welding industry.

Youth apprentices rotate through up to four major areas at the worksite (see Skills Standards Checklist) and take related classroom instruction at the local high school, technical college or at the worksite.

The Welding program has two options available. The one-year option includes two semesters of classroom instruction which support a minimum of 450 work hours. The two-year option includes four semesters of classroom instruction, which support 900 work hours.

Related Instruction Requirements

The Welding Youth Apprenticeship consists of five complete courses. Students will be required to complete four of the courses:

• Cutting
  Visual inspection of welds and cut edges, manual and machine oxyfuel gas cutting, air carbon arc cutting, plasma arc cutting and mechanical cutting methods. Perform cutting operations and visually inspect weldments.
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding
  Safety, SMAW equipment, material, accessories, inspection, weld types, joints and positions. Use the shielded metal arc welding process to perform surfacing welds on plain carbon steel, and to perform fillet and groove welds on plain carbon steel.
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
  Perform gas tungsten arc welding in all positions, on plain carbon, aluminum and 3XX stainless steel.
• Gas Metal Arc Welding
  Welding safety, GMAW equipment/set up, joint details and distortion control, GMAW weld faults, welding, metallurgy, and weld symbol interpretation.
• Flux Core Arc Welding
  Safety, FCAW equipment components, accessories, inspection and minor repairs, weld type and weld joint nomenclature, surfacing welds, and all position fillet and groove welds.

Skill Certificate and Advanced Standing

After successful completion of the requirements for a high school diploma and the school-based and work-based requirements for Youth Apprenticeship, the students receive a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency from the Department of Workforce Development.  Students who complete the two-year Welding Youth Apprenticeship are eligible to receive six or more credits from a Wisconsin Technical College offering related associate degree programs.