Welding

Assiniboine’s four-month Welding certificate provides students with the skills needed for high-quality welding work. Welders permanently join pieces of metal by applying heat, using filler metal or fusion processes.

They join parts being manufactured, build structures, and repair damaged or worn parts. They use various welding processes to join structural steel and metal in vessels, piping and other components.

They also use various cutting and gouging processes as well as fabricate parts, tools, machines and equipment used in the construction and manufacturing industries.  

Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace, pressure vessels, pipeline, structural welding, and machinery and equipment repair.  

With experience, welders may advance to positions such as lead hand, welding supervisor, welding inspector and project manager.

They may contract or be employed by companies such as fabrication shops, steel and platform manufacturers, petrochemical refineries, mechanical contractors, transportation contractors (heavy machinery, aircraft, shipbuilding, railcar repair), and specialized welding shops.  

Graduates who register as an apprentice within two years of finishing the program, and you may receive credit for Level 1 in school technical training of Welder apprenticeship.

Program Learning Outcomes 

• Complete all work in compliance with the rights and conditions of contractual obligations, provincial and/or national Codes, applicable laws, bylaws, standards and ethical practices in the welding field. 
• Comply with health and safety practices and procedures in accordance with current legislation and regulations. 
• Fabricate and prepare components for welding. 
• Use specialized equipment for cutting and gouging. 
• Perform specialized processes such as stud welding, orbital welding and resistance welding. 
• Develop and use strategies for ongoing professional development to remain current with industry changes, enhance work performance and explore career opportunities. 
• Communicate and collaborate with diverse clients, supervisors, coworkers and tradespersons to complete projects on time and to maintain effective working relationships. 

Examples Of What Welders Do Are: 

• Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications. 
• Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to fuse metal segments using processes. 
• Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment. 
• Operate brazing and soldering equipment. 
• Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers. 

Success Factors 

You might be a good fit for this program if you have or would enjoy: 

• A physically demanding occupation. 
• Attention to detail. 
• Excellent hand-eye coordination. 
• Manual dexterity to handle welding equipment and make precise welds. 
• Troubleshooting and coming up with effective solutions quickly and efficiently. 
• Working in a variety of industrial or production contexts. 

The industry and program environment require individuals to: 

• Be reliable, punctual, and regularly attend work. 
• Communicate effectively with others including suppliers, co-workers, other trades people, safety and building inspectors, manufacturer representatives, customers, and co-workers and apprentices. 
• Complete responsibilities requiring standing, stooping, bending, and climbing. 
• Demonstrate safety-conscious attitudes and work practices. 
• Have the strength, dexterity, balance and stamina required to work in or on equipment. 
• Interpret technical documents, drawings, specifications, building codes, regulations, bylaws and standards. 
• Listen to direction and act on that accordingly. 
• Move around and work within the learning environment, negotiating different areas including stairs and ladders, confined spaces, heights, uneven terrain and scaffolds. 
• Using specialized skills in a variety of job site conditions, including working outdoors in extreme warm and cold weather conditions (+30°C to -40°C) 
• Work in noisy, dusty and/or fumes areas with appropriate personal protective equipment. 
• Work in shifts, schedules, and conditions that are unique to the industry. 
• Work safely with occupational hazards of sparks, gases, hazardous fumes, burns, heavy lifting, repetitive stress and exposure to ultraviolet and infrared radiation.