Welding and Fabricating Technology
Welding and Fabricating Technology - AAS-T
Any industry that creates goods and structures from metal will rely on skilled welders to create strong products, whether in aerospace, automotive, or construction fields. Turning ideas and materials into valuable products takes highly skilled employees who are trained in such specialized areas as welding technology. BTC’s degrees and certificates in the Welding Technology Program are ideal for students with mechanical aptitude or a strong foundation in math, science, and technology.
Prepare for your welding career through BTC’s Welding Technology Program. You will get premier job training for skills in high demand by the metal and construction trades for work as a welder, cutter, or welding machine operator. Students choose to specialize in one of two areas: structural steel fabrication or pipe welding.
In our state-of-the-art welding and fabrication facility, you’ll learn valuable skills that high-wage employers are looking for. From safety practices and blueprint reading to technical skills like metallurgy, MIG, and TIG welding, BTC’s hands-on job training will prepare you for a career in boat manufacturing, steel manufacturing, refining, and transportation, or with federal, state, or local governments.
Employment Information
Data are provided on a program (not credential) level
94% BTC graduate placement rate1
$56,588 starting annual wage2
$73,555 average annual wage2
$92,044 potential annual wage2
Entry Information
When Can I Start?
This program typically starts in Fall Quarter.
What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?
Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.
What are My Next Steps?
Classes
Total Program Credits: 103
General Education Core Courses
ENGL& 101 English Composition I 5 CR MATH& 107 Math in Society 5 CR or higher PSYC& 100 General Psychology 5 CR Additional, AAS-T acceptable course in Humanities, Social Science, or Natural Science 5 CR
TOTAL General Education Course Credits20 CR Program Core
WLD 101 Welding Safety 2 CR WLD 105 Thermal Cutting Processes 4 CR WLD 106 Print Reading I 2 CR WLD 110 SMAW I 4 CR WLD 116 SMAW Practice 2 CR WLD 120 GMAW I 4 CR WLD 121 GMAW Aluminum I 4 CR WLD 130 FCAW I 4 CR WLD 131 FCAW Practice 2 CR WLD 140 GTAW I 4 CR WLD 141 GTAW Aluminum I 4 CR WLD 150 Introduction to Metal Fabricating 4 CR
TOTAL Core Course Credits40 CR Program Specialty
WLD 206 Print Reading II - Welding & Fabrication 3 CR WLD 213 Print Reading III 3 CR WLD 220 SMAW Test Practice II 4 CR WLD 232 FCAW Practices II 4 CR WLD 242 GTAW & GMAW Alloy 4 CR WLD 252 Alloy Fabrication 6 CR WLD 254 Steel Fabrication 5 CR WLD 271 Welder Testing 6 CR
TOTAL Specialty Course Credits37 CR Electives
WLD 291 Capstone Project I 3 CR WLD 292 Capstone Project II 3 CR WLD 293 Welding Internship I 3 CR WLD 294 Welding Internship II 6 CR
TOTAL Elective Course Credits6 CR
Program Outcomes
After successfully completing the AAS-T degree, students will be able to:
- Exhibit & maintain essential employability behaviors.
- Observe and practice industry safety guidelines.
- Analyze and interpret prints, drawings, and symbols for welding and fabrication of parts and structures.
- Achieve competency in a variety of major manual and semi-automatic welding processes in all positions.
- Demonstrate proper set-up and use of welding and fabricating equipment.
- Troubleshoot and solve basic welding, fabricating and equipment problems.
- Pass at least one WABO certification or industry-accepted certification welding test (ASME, AWS, ABS, etc.).
- Exhibit knowledge of occupational environments, metallurgy, materials, tools, fabrication, layout, and mechanical and thermal cutting processes and techniques.
- Demonstrate appropriate oral and written communication with customers, co-workers, and supervisors.
- Analyze and interpret prints and drawings for welding and fabricating.
- Employ efficient organizational skills.
- Stay current with new and emerging technologies.
Employment Outlook
Employment opportunities for welders are expected to increase. Employment opportunities for welders, cutters, and welding machine operators differ by occupational specialty. But up-to-date job training will lead to good employment opportunities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About 83% of BTC students in the Welding Technology program are employed within nine months of graduation. The average annual wage in this field is $48,422, with an earning potential of about $60,195 per year.
While at BTC, you can be active in the Student Chapter of the American Welding Society (AWS) to begin networking and interacting with professionals in the welding and fabricating fields.
Welders are employed in various areas of business and industry that require working with different types of metal for either manufacturing, repair, or cutting. Nationally, nine out of ten welders and cutters are employed in manufacturing, services, construction, or wholesale trade.
Typical places of employment include sheet metal fabrication companies, energy service companies, steel manufacturing companies, refineries, fence and iron companies, transportation, heating and plumbing companies, various unions, federal, state and municipal government, and self-employment. Potential positions include welder, cutter, welding machine tender, welding machine operator, foreman, and leadman.
Faculty & Support
Russell Jones
Welding Technology
Kyle Miller
Welding TechnologyColy Rush
Welding TechnologyRachael Apt
Welding Technology
Sam Schmidt
Welding TechnologyContacts
If you have questions about this program or want help with the admissions steps to Bellingham Technical College, please email outreach@btc.edu.
Current students wanting academic planning and support, can connect with the program Instructor(s) or email AdvancedManufacturingNav@btc.edu