Course of Studies

Apprenticeship Stream

Graduates of the Welder Foundation program earn advance credit for Levels 1 and 2 of the Technical Training component of the Welder Apprenticeship. Additionally, they earn 300 hours credit towards the Workplace-Based Training component of their apprenticeship. After completion of the program, it’s recommended that students gain another 2,700 hours of hands-on field experience before returning to school for Level 3 Technical Training.

Levels 1 (8 weeks) and Level 2 (8 weeks) Technical Training in the apprenticeship stream covers similar topics as in the Foundation program.  The apprenticeship stream assumes that the apprentice is receiving training on the job so the in-school portion of their training is shorter.  

Level 3 Welding is an 10-week program for indentured apprentices who have 3,000 hours or more of Workplace-Based Training. Content is similar to Welder B.  The apprenticeship stream assumes apprentices are receiving focused training on the job and so the in-school technical training is only 10 weeks long.  Upon completion of Level 3 Welding, students write the Inter-Provincial (Red Seal) Welder exam. Those with a passing grade on the Red Seal exam and 4,500 hours of Workplace-Based Training earn the Welder Certificate of Qualification as well as the Inter-Provincial (IP) Red Seal Standard.

Level 1 (Apprenticeship) 8 Weeks

• Occupational Skills
• Cutting and Gouging Processes
• Fusion and Braze Welding (TB) Using the Oxy Fuel
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Semi-Automatic and Automatic Welding
• Welding Drawings, Layout and Fabrication

Level 3 (Apprenticeship) 10 Weeks

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• Semi-Automatic and Automatic Welding
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
• Basic Metallurgy
• Welding Drawings, Layout & Fabrication
• Quality Control & Inspection
• Standards, Codes, Specs & Welder Qualifications