Welding
Welders are responsible for fixing structural repairs and making sure welding machinery and equipment is in great shape. They pick the materials to be joined or cut, arrange them in an appropriate configuration, then follow a specific design or blueprint to create the desired product.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022:
Number of available jobs as of 2022 - 431,800
Job Outlook from 2022 to 2032 - 1% growth
Median Pay 2022 - $47,540 per year or $22.86 per hour
This is an Evening program. Class meets Tuesday - Thursday 5 pm to 10pm
This program follows the county school schedule.
NEW STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING
Beginning Welding
Students with no welding certificate can choose between the following:
SMAW Basic Certification (700 – Hours) (9311)
The SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the field of welding. It will cover basic SMAW skills such as: SMAW equipment, different polarities, electrode selection and welding in all positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the mining industry, manufacturing and repair or construction industries.
West Virginia State Certification 9311 SMAW-Plate
Fundamentals of Welding (9310) The 100-hour Fundamentals of Welding course teaches students welding safety, oxyacetylene safety, and OSHA 10. This course also teaches welding symbols which are used every day in the welding industry. It is required to take this course before entering any other welding course offered.
Certification OSHA 10 Card
GMAW-FCAW Basic Certification (700 – Hours) (9312 and 9313)
The GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) – FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the manufacturing industry. It will cover basic GMAW-FCAW skills such as: equipment, different polarities, layout, and proper shielding gas selection. Students will train with different joint designs in all welding positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the manufacturing and fabrication industry.
West Virginia State Certification 9312 GMAW-Plate
West Virginia State Certification 9313 FCAW-Plate
Fundamentals of Welding (9310) The 100-hour Fundamentals of Welding course teaches students welding safety, oxyacetylene safety, and OSHA 10. This course also teaches welding symbols which are used every day in the welding industry. It is required to take this course before entering any other welding course offered.
Certification OSHA 10 Card
Basic Welding
Students with a WV welding certificate can choose between the following:
SMAW Basic Certification (600 – Hours) (9311)
The SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the field of welding. It will cover basic SMAW skills such as: SMAW equipment, different polarities, electrode selection and welding in all positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the mining industry, manufacturing and repair or construction industries.
West Virginia State Certification 9311 SMAW-Plate
GMAW-FCAW Basic Certification (600 – Hours) (9312 and 9313)
The GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) – FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the manufacturing industry. It will cover basic GMAW-FCAW skills such as: equipment, different polarities, layout, and proper shielding gas selection. Students will train with different joint designs in all welding positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the manufacturing and fabrication industry.
West Virginia State Certification 9312 GMAW-Plate
West Virginia State Certification 9313 FCAW-Plate
GTAW Basic Certification (600-Hours) (9314)
In the GTAW (TIG) Basic course students will learn on mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. It will cover GTAW safety, equipment, polarities, and shielding gas selection. Students will practice on edge, corner, lap, and T-joints before continuing to groove welds. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the manufacturing and fabrication industry.
West Virginia State Certifications 9314 GTAW-Plate
Advanced Welding
Students with a WV welding certificate can choose to complete the corresponding advanced welding (Pipe) course:
SMAW Advanced Certification (600-Hours) (9315) – Prerequisite 9311 SMAW Basic Certification
The SMAW Advanced course requires the SMAW Basic. Students will practice on 2” and 6” pipe in the 2G,5G and 6G positions. Students will take tests in the uphill and downhill progression. This course will give students the ability to enter the pipe welding trades.
West Virginia State Certification 9315 SMAW-Pipe
GMAW-FCAW Advanced Certification (600-Hours) (9316 and 9317) -Prerequisite 9312 GMAW-9313 FCAW Basic Certification
The GMAW-FCAW Advanced course. Students will practice GMAW with spray and pulsed spray metal transfers as well as GMAW on aluminum. Students will also learn 2G,5G and 6G pipe using FCAW-G, FCAW-S and GMAW.
West Virginia State Certification 9316 GMAW-Pipe
West Virginia State Certification 9317 FCAW-Pipe
GTAW Advanced Certification (600-Hours) (9318) – Prerequisite 9314 GTAW Basic Certification
The GTAW Advanced course requires GTAW Basic and Fundamentals of Welding as a prerequisite to enter the course. This course will train students 2” schedule 80 pipe and 6” schedule 80 pipe with GTAW root and SMAW fill and cap in the 2G, 5G and 6G positions.
West Virginia State Certification 9318 GTAW-Pipe
RETURNING STUDENTS ARE COMPLETING THE FOLLOWING
Certified Welder
Certified Welder (900 – Hours)
Fundamentals of Welding (9310) The Fundamentals of Welding course teaches students welding safety, oxyacetylene safety, and OSHA 10. This course also teaches welding symbols which are used every day in the welding industry. It is required to take this course before entering any other welding course offered.
Certification OSHA 10 Card
The SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the field of welding. It will cover basic SMAW skills such as: SMAW equipment, different polarities, electrode selection and welding in all positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the mining industry, manufacturing and repair or construction industries.
West Virginia State Certification 9311 SMAW-Plate
The GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding) – FCAW (Flux Cored Arc Welding) basic course will prepare students for entry level positions in the manufacturing industry. It will cover basic GMAW-FCAW skills such as: equipment, different polarities, layout, and proper shielding gas selection. Students will train with different joint designs in all welding positions. With the skills obtained from this course you can work in the manufacturing and fabrication industry.
West Virginia State Certification 9312 GMAW-Plate
West Virginia State Certification 9313 FCAW-Plate
Class starts in January and August each year.
The January class can TABE test starting in August.
The August class can TABE test starting in April.
Financial Aid
The Certified Welder program qualifies for Pell, Heaps, VA, WIOA and WV Vocational Rehabilitation. These are Grants not Loans. ACT does not offer in any student loan options.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To meet SAP, a student must:
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Maintain a continuous "C" average.
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Attend at least 90% of the program hours for each grading period.
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Maintain a continuous 90% attendance rate for the program.
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Complete the course within the originally scheduled course hours.
Refund Policy
During the first enrollment period 1 to 450 hours
There is no refund for fees after the start of class! There is a 100% refund on tuition during the first five days of the program! There is a 50% refund on tuition during day 6 thru day 10 of the program! After day 10 of the program there is No Refund!!
During the second enrollment period 450 to 900 hours
There is No Refund once the second enrollment period starts!
Enrollment Procedures
Printable Enrollment Check Sheet
1
Prerequisites
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Must be 18 years old (within 6 weeks of the start of the class)
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High school diploma or WV approved equivalent
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Start Here
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Schedule your free TABE required entrance exam after July 1, 2024
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Receive an email for day/time to test. (Check spam/junk folder)
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Complete your Financial Aid Applications.
For Pell Grant visit:
www.fafsa.ed.gov ACT's ID 015748 Complete 24-25 application
For HEAPS Grant visit: (fill out AFTER July 1, 2023)
https://wvhepc.org/secure/apps/applications/heaps/welcome.aspx
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Notify ACT's financial aid department that your applications are filed.
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Successfully complete the TABE exam and the 12 hours of online work assigned by Denise Ballard.
3
Once Financial Aid Applications Are Received
Be Advised FAFSA applications take up to 10 business days to be processed by the Department of Education.
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If needed, you must supply any required documentation to verify your financial aid position.
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Schedule an appointment with Melani Hylton to register for class.
4
Final Steps
Bring the following with you to your registration appointment:
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High School Diploma or WV Approved Equivalent
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Social Security Card
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Photo ID
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Non-Refundable Registration of $215 (must be exact change/check)
During your registration appointment you will:
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Complete an Adult Registration form.
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Register for a background check.
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Apply for the ACE Advantage grant.
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Sign a cost sheet and agree to all school policies.
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If applicable, sign a financial aid award letter.
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Start Class