Welding Technology

Your future looks bright with a challenging, hands-on welding career that can take you almost anywhere!

Cooking utensils, construction materials, underwater cable lines, solar panels, airplanes, cars and the roads they travel on all rely on welding. Welding is linked to our economic stability, because without welded materials, we can’t sustain and grow as a society. This makes welders essential to our daily life. Yet, fewer people are learning the trade today creating a high demand for qualified welders. It’s never been a better time to begin your journey in this important industry.

WNCC is an American Welding Society (AWS) Accredited test facility, and also has on-site mobile welding training and testing.

WNCC’s welding program is located at our Scottsbluff Campus in the following welding processes:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding: Provides training in all positions on mild steel with single and multi-pass welds. WNCC has classes in structural steel and pipe welding meeting code standards for AWS (structural), ASME (pressure piping), and API (cross country piping).
Gas Metal Arc Welding: Provides training in all positions on mild steel, with single and multi-pass welds using short circuit transfer and spray transfer modes.
Flux Cored Arc Welding: Provides training in all positions on mild steel, with and without shielding gas, using small diameter dual shield electrodes.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding: Training is provided on mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum plate, and carbon steel pipe and tubing in all positions.
Oxyacetylene Welding, Cutting, and Brazing: The oxyacetylene welding curriculum teaches how to flame cut plate, weld, and braze weld mild steel in the flat and horizontal positions.

Award Types

Associate of Applied Science in Welding Technology
Certificate of Applied Science in Welding Technology
- Basic Welding Certificate
- Advanced Welding Certificate
Diploma in Welding Technology

About the Program

Technical Standards/Program Objectives

Technical Standards

Perform successfully safety inspections of and make minor external repairs to equipment and accessories.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding:1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for Shielded Metal Arc Welding on plain carbon steel. 2. Demonstrate proficiency in fillet and groove welds, all positions, on plain carbon steel. 3. Successfully perform 2G – 3G limited thickness qualification tests on plain carbon steel plate.
Gas Metal Arc Welding: 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for Gas Metal Arc Welding on plain carbon steel. Short Circuit Transfer 2. Demonstrate proficiency in fillet and groove welds, all positions, on plain carbon steel. Spray Transfer 3. Successfully perform 1F – 2F and 1G welds on plain carbon steel plate.
Flux Cored Arc Welding: 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for Shielded Metal Arc Welding carbon steel. 2. Demonstrate proficiency in fillet and groove welds, all positions, on plain carbon steel. 3. Successfully perform 2G – 3G limited thickness qualification tests on plain carbon steel plate.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding: 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for Gas Metal Arc Welding operations on plain carbon steel and aluminum. 2. Demonstrate proficiency in fillet and groove welds, all positions, on plain carbon steel. 3. Successfully perform 1F – 2F and 1G welds on aluminum.
Oxyfuel Gas Welding and Thermal Cutting Operations Manual Oxyfuel Gas Cutting (OFC): 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for manual oxyfuel gas cutting operations on plain carbon steel. 2. Demonstrate proficiency in straight, shape, and bevel cutting operations on plain carbon steel. Machine Oxyfuel Gas Cutting Operations (OFC)- [Track Burner] 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for machine oxyfuel gas cutting (track burner) operations on plain carbon steel. 2. Perform straight and bevel cutting operations on plain carbon steel.
Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A): 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for manual air carbon arc gouging and cutting operations on plain carbon steel. 2. Perform metal removal operations on plain carbon steel. Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) 1. Demonstrate competency in setting up and operating equipment for manual plasma arc cutting operations on plain carbon steel. 2. Perform shape cutting operations on plain carbon steel.
Drawing and Welding Symbol Interpretation: 1. Interpret basic elements of a drawing or sketch. 2. Interpret welding symbol information.

Objectives

To develop in each student, the attitude of safe work practices and a cooperative attitude toward skill development and fellow workers.
To develop the critical thinking skills and academic knowledge concerning welding processes.
To provide the opportunity to learn and develop welding skills under a structured environment.
To develop an interest in life-long learning in the welding industry.
To develop the skill of working efficiently and the attitude or resourcefulness.

Curriculum

Welding Technology, AAS

Welding Technology Diploma

Welding Technology Certificates

Career Opportunities

This WNCC program offers you the training you need to enter directly into the workforce as a professional welder. As many of today’s welders are retiring without an influx of new welders to take their place, the job opportunities for welders are abundant and starting wages are high.

As a welder, your options are quite expansive, from working underwater to working in space. On land, welders are often hired as independent contractors by companies around the country to work what are called Industry Shutdowns. This is where companies hire welders to help keep their manufacturing plants running their best. Welders who work on Shutdowns find themselves traveling approximately six month of the year to different companies near and far, and are often able to afford not to work the other six months, if they so choose. Welders can also have established positions, such as with a metal fabrication company, oil and gas company, advanced manufacturer, commercial mining operation, power plant, refinery, construction company, and many more!

For more information on any of these career options, contact Career Pathways & Advising at pathways@wncc.edu .

Program Contact Information

Russell Pontarolo

Welding Technology Instructor

Accredited Test Facility Coordinator
Certified Welding Inspector (CWI)
Certified Welding Educator (CWE)
308.635.6083
weld@wncc.edu

Accreditation Information

WNCC is an American Welding Society (AWS) Accredited test facility, and also has on-site mobile welding training and testing. There are many opportunities for students to become certified welders in various processes and positions by meeting the AWS guidelines and test criteria throughout the coursework. For more information on the test facility or the overall program, please contact Russell Pontarolo at pontaror@wncc.edu, weld@wncc.edu, or 308.635.6083.

AWS Testing Facilities | AWS Certifications