Welding Foundation - Certificate
Overview
Skilled Trades BC currently recognizes and supports two streams for welder training, Modular and Apprenticeship. The Modular stream is for welders who do not have an employer sponsor and consists of the Foundation program (28 weeks), the Welder B program (16 weeks) and the Welder A program (8 weeks).
Welder Foundation
Regardless of the training model or stream that you want to follow, you can start with Welder Foundation and eventually achieve Inter-Provincial (Red Seal) Welder certification. Welder Foundation graduates will receive 300 hours of credit towards the work based experience that is required for certification in either the Modular or the Apprentice stream. Those following the Apprenticeship stream will receive credit for Level 1 and Level 2 apprentice technical training and return to school as a Level 3 apprentice.
Welder Foundation is a 28-week introductory program that prepares learners for entry level positions as apprentice welders in most sectors of the economy including manufacturing, construction, transportation, resource extraction, and resource development.
Students engage in a variety of classroom and shop activities. In the classroom, they learn theoretical principals of welding. Shop sessions provide the opportunity to learn processes and master practical welding skills. Students engage in a variety of classroom and shop activities. They will learn basic welding procedures including Oxy-fuel Gas Cutting, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Metal Arc Welding/Flux Cored Arc Welding, basic Blueprint Reading and basic Metallurgy.
The Apprenticeship stream is for those who are indentured by an employer sponsor. The apprenticeship consists of Levels 1, 2 and 3 technical training and a fourth level called Multi-Process Alloy Welding (MPAW).
Modular Stream
Multi-Process Alloy Welding (MPAW)
Youth Train in Trades
The Youth Train in Trades program is designed to help secondary school students get a head start on careers in the trades while earning credit towards their high school graduation. Learn more online at Skilled Trades BC.
For more information, speak with your high school guidance counsellor or get in touch with Selkirk College’s Industry and Trades administrative assistant.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, learners will be able to:
- Describe welder apprenticeship and the scope of the trade in BC
- Describe safe working practices
- Perform basic trade-related mathematical calculations
- Use and maintain measuring and layout tools
- Use and maintain hand tools
- Use and maintain power tools (electric and pneumatic)
- Describe shop materials
- Apply lifting, hoisting and rigging procedures
- Describe and use cutting and gouging processes
- Describe and perform fusion and braze welding (TB) using the oxy-fuel (OFW) process
- Describe and use the shielded metal arc-welding (SMAW) process
- Describe and use semi-automatic and automatic welding
- Describe the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process and use it for ferrous metals and stainless steel
- Describe production processes for manufacturing metals
- Describe mechanical and physical properties of ferrous and non-ferrous metals
- Describe common ferrous, non-ferrous and reactive metals and their weldability
- Identify common welding symbols and bolted connections
- Read and interpret drawings
- Perform basic drafting
- Interpret and apply mechanical drawings and layout components
- Fabricate weldments
- Perform costing and estimating functions
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements to Selkirk College, the applicant must meet the following Welding Program requirements to be considered fully-qualified:
- Graduation from a British Columbia Senior Secondary School or equivalent
- Workplace Math 11, or Selkirk AUD Math 46, with minimum of 60% or better
- Consideration will be given to mature individuals (19 years or older) who are not senior secondary school graduates, provided they are working to complete the recommended education:
- Grade 10 or equivalent including English 10, Mathematics 10
- Grade 12 preferred
- All applicants are required to complete a computerized placement test using the College Readiness Tool (CRT) in reading, writing and mathematics once they have submitted their application.
- Employers may require higher level of Math as part of their hiring policies
- Physically fit, (mobility/lifting) good manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, balance, work at heights and in adverse weather.
- Students must supply some hand tools, safety boots, leather wear and purchase module texts at a cost of approximately $600.
- A refundable tool deposit of $100 will be required at the start of the program.
1. General
a) Welder Level B applicants must possess a Welder Level C Certificate of Qualification. Welder Level A applicants must possess a Welder Level B Certificate of Qualification or Interprovincial Red Seal.
b) Applicants must submit a completed admission application form and other required documents (i.e. secondary school and any post-secondary transcripts) to the admissions office, Selkirk College.
c) Welder Level C applicants, except Metal Fabricator graduates, are required to complete pre- admission College Readiness Tool for reading, writing and mathematics.
d) Consideration will be given to mature students (see below).
2. Mature Student (see 8611 Admissions)
a) A "mature student" is at least 19 years and has been out of the school system for at least one year on or before the first day of classes of the program.
b) A mature student with reasonable potential for success on the basis of work experience or other criteria may be admitted, notwithstanding some deficiency in prior formal education.
c) A mature student shall normally meet the specific program or course prerequisites.
B. SELECTION
Applications will be separated into two levels as identified in Selkirk College Policy 8611 (Admission), namely "fully qualified" and "partially qualified".
1. Fully Qualified
The applicant meets all of the requirements stated in Part I, A, above.
2. Partially Qualified
The applicant is deficient in meeting some or all of the admission requirements stated in Part I, A, above.
3. Order of Selection
Selection and acceptance of applicants will proceed in the following order:
a) Within the fully qualified level, preference shall be given to those with earlier-completed applications.
b) Within the partially qualified level, preference shall be given to those considered best qualified.
C. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. Before an applicant's file is considered to be complete, the following must have been received by the Admissions office:
a) Completed application form.
b) Official transcripts of high school grades (an interim statement of grades is acceptable if applicant is currently a student).
c) Official transcripts of all post-secondary education grades.
d) The results of College Readiness Tool (Welder C Level only).
2. Applications for admission will be received until program is full.
3. An interview (in person or by telephone) with the School Chair or designate may be required before entry to the program. Interview results are not used as criteria for admission.
In order to receive your credential in your program, you must maintain a minimum of 70% average.
PROMOTION
Students should keep records of their grades and strive to maintain a Progress Grade of 70% or better. Students should be aware of their Progress Grade at all times.
NOTE: Selkirk College Welding Program graduates must complete substantial hands-on field experience to earn official BC Industry Trade Authority (ITA) Certificate of Qualification as C, B, or A Welders and Interprovincial Red Seal Qualification, where applicable.
NOTE: Courses of study, course content, course weightings, and learning outcomes for all Welding courses and modules are prescribed by the BC Industry Training Authority (ITA) and/or the Canadian Welding Bureau and/or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and are subject to change without notice.
Tuition & Fees
All amounts are estimates and are subject to change. Tuition amounts are based on a full-time course load. Please note that many programs have additional costs beyond those listed here. For more information, please visit Tuition & Fees.
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