Welding

Nationally top-ranked vocational program. A student welding and sparks flying

Welding

Technical Diploma

32 Credits | 1 Year

Financial Aid-Eligible

Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake, Superior

Career Cluster: Manufacturing

Learn the latest skills from experienced instructors who will provide you with plenty of hands-on training. Northwood Tech follows the American Welding Society Skill Standards to provide you with knowledge and skills in welding theory, fabrication, layout, print reading, welding symbols, math and welding codes.  

Program Overview

The Welding program teaches safety during all aspects of welding and cutting. Safety is the most important aspect of proper workmanship. Next, you will be taught the science and art of cutting, fabricating and welding using the latest equipment and technologies. Most entry-level welders can expect to be employed full time with full fringe benefits. Their duties can include fabricating parts and assemblies by reading blueprints, codes, specifications, weld symbols and drawings. Beginners can assist with material preparation, tack up, fitting and finally welding when you prove your ability in the workplace. The work can be physically demanding. Welding requires good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Other essential employability skills include paying attention to details, working well with others in teams, having good communication skills, a positive attitude, excellent attendance and punctuality, and a good work ethic. Manual, semi-automatic and robotic welding will all continue to enjoy strong demand for the foreseeable future. 

Program Outcomes

Welding graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate industry-recognized safety practices
  • Interpret welding drawings
  • Produce shielded metal arc welds (SMAW)
  • Produce gas metal arc welds (GMAW)
  • Produce flux core welds
  • Produce gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW)
  • Perform cutting operations

Technical Standards

In this program, students should be able to meet specific technical standards, which are the essential skills and abilities needed to be successful in a program, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is important to review and understand these standards before applying to the program. 

Learn More About Technical Standards for this Program

You will spend a majority of your time in the lab practicing different welding and cutting processes along with fabricating a number of different projects. Northwood Tech's welding labs are equipped with the latest welding technology. You will learn to use a CNC plasma cutter, robotic welder, weld simulator along with SMAW, GMAW, FCAW and GTAW welding machines. 

A student practicing welding skills

Learn by doing.

The welding lab on campus

Highly skilled.

A student practicing welding skills

Current technology. 


Academics

Welding program graduates will demonstrate industry-recognized safety practices, interpret welding drawings, produce shielded metal arc welds (SMAW), produce gas metal arc welds (GMAW), produce flux core welds, produce gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW) and perform cutting operations. 

Hearing protection is required in all Northwood Tech welding labs. 

Experienced Instructors

Northwood Tech's welding instructors have extensive occupational experience and education. They bring real-world knowledge to the classroom to ensure that graduates leave with a solid foundation to start their career in the welding industry. 

Convenient Learning

For your convenience, you can take Welding at any one of Northwood Tech's four locations. The New Richmond campus offers both a daytime and evening option for the Welding program. 

AWS Standards

Students are taught welding skills and theory, fabrication, layout, print reading, welding symbols, math and welding codes based on the American Welding Society Skill Standards. 


Required Courses

Program-specific subjects covered include shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, flux-cored arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding as well as printing reading and fabrication. Oxy/Fuel cutting and plasma cutting are also an important part of the welding required courses.  Robotic welding and CNC plasma cutting are incorporated in Fabrication and Print Reading course work.   

Explore the Required Courses

Featured Welding Courses

31442375
|
UGRD
| 2 CR
This course introduces the student to an advanced level of SMAW welding. It includes the study of the type of metals and equipment utilized in SMAW welding. The instruction emphasizes accepted applications in butting and joining metals utilizing standard welding techniques. COREQUISITE: 31442374 Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2.
31442325
|
UGRD
| 3 CR
This course introduces the student to the basics of metal fabrication including the use of layout tools and principles, and blueprint interpretation. Also, weldment fit-up, tacking, distortion, and flame straightening are covered. The use of shears, drilling, taping, painting, and CNC cutting equipment for fabrication purposes is also covered. PREREQUISITES: 31442321 Print Reading - Welding Trades, 31442370 Gas Metal Arc Welding 1, 31442373 Shielded Metal Arc Welding 1, 31442374 Shielded Metal Arc Welding 2, 31442376 Oxyfuel & Arc Cutting Processes, and COREQUISITE: 31442375 Shielded Metal Arc Welding 3.
31442379
|
UGRD
| 2 CR
This course introduces the student to the basics of GTAW welding operations. It includes the study of the type of metals and equipment utilized in welding. The instruction emphasizes accepted applications in butting and joining metals utilizing standard industry techniques. COREQUISITE: 31442380 Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 2.

Welding is Part of a Career Pathway

As a Welding student at Northwood Tech, you can earn credentials each step of the way!

These technical diplomas are embedded in the Welding program.

Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW)

Technical Diploma
7 Credits / Less Than 1 Year Part Time
Potential Careers
Production Welding, Welder Helper
Arrow pointing down

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)

Technical Diploma
7 Credits / Less Than 1 Year Part Time
Potential Careers
Production Welder, Welder Helper
Arrow pointing down

Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

Technical Diploma
6 Credits / Less than 1 Year Part Time
Potential Careers
Production Welder, Welder Helper
Arrow pointing down

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)

Technical Diploma
8 Credits / Less than 1 Year Part Time
Potential Careers
Production Welder, Welder Helper
Arrow pointing down

Welding/Maintenance and Fabrication

Technical Diploma
14 Credits / Less Than 1 Year Part Time
Potential Careers
Production Welding, Welder / Fitter, Flame Cutter / Machine Operator
Arrow pointing down

This is the program you’re looking at.

Technical Diploma
32 Credits / 1 Year Full Time
Potential Careers
Production Welder, Construction Welder, Maintenance Welder, Welding Machine Operator, Welder/Fitter, Welder Helper, Flame Cutter/Machine Operator
Arrow pointing down

Continue your education to earn your bachelor's degree.


Admissions and Tuition

Northwood Tech has an easy admission process that can be completed in one visit. Please see the details under the "Requirements and Application" section to get started.

Requirements and Application

Tuition and Fees

Northwood Tech breaks down the cost of education, so you'll have a good idea of how much your education will cost.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to help you pay for your education. It can come in the form of grants, loans, federal work-study, military and veterans benefits, division of vocational rehabilitation benefits, and scholarships. 

Learn More About Paying for College

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the costs that you may incur while attending Northwood Technical College.

Learn More About Cost of Attendance

Estimated Total Program Tuition 2024-25*

Welding

32 Credits | 1 Year

$6,850

Plus $550 for tools, supplies and uniforms


*Tuition is an estimate and does not include any miscellaneous fees for various courses, tools, books, supplies or uniforms. Program book costs are in addition to tuition and fees and vary depending on course selection and where the books are purchased or rented. 


After the Northwood Tech Welding Program

Upon completion of the program, you will earn technical diplomas in Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), Welding/Maintenance and Fabrication, and Welding. 

Student studying at a computer

Transfer Center

Transfer your Northwood Tech credits to a four-year college to earn your bachelor's degree and beyond. 

View Transfer Center

 

Career Outlooks

Northwood Tech's graduates experience success. Learn more about the types of careers you can get after graduation.

View Career Options

Student studying at laptop

Contact

Choose a campus to view contact information, or for general assistance, please contact us.

Rice Lake Admissions Contact

Nicole Messicci

Admissions Advisor

715.788.7144

Contact

Ashland Admissions Contact

Jennifer Bednarik

Admissions Advisor

715.685.3039

Contact

New Richmond Admissions Contact

Sherry Rehnelt

Admissions Advisor

715.752.8136

Contact

Superior Admissions Contact

Anna Kalin

Admissions Advisor

715.319.7331

Contact

students walking on a trail by campus

Get the Northwood Tech experience

Attend an event or schedule a campus tour/program shadow.

Visit Campus

Find a program icon

Finding the class you want to take has never been easier. 

Find a Class

Take the Next Step

Are you ready to experience success? Northwood Tech staff are standing by to support you in reaching your educational and career goals, so do it. Take the leap.