Learn how to join or sever metals, make parts used in construction and manufacturing plants and create fabricate parts, tools, machines and equipment. Instructed by licensed Journeyperson faculty and industry experts, you will gain hands-on skills in the industry while earning your education as a Welder.
This three year program consists of eight weeks each year of classroom instruction, and a minimum of 1,560 hours of on-the-job training per period of classroom instruction. You will learn welding processes such as: Electric Arc, Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas/ Arc Welding (TIG) and Gas Welding (Oxy-Acetylene).
This is a designated trade with restricted activities.
This is a Red Seal trade. Apprentices who have obtained Journeyperson certification are encouraged to write the national standard exam. The Red Seal, when affixed to a provincial or territorial trade certificate, indicates that a tradesperson has demonstrated the knowledge required for the national standard in that trade. The Red Seal endorsement promotes excellence to employers, instills pride in skilled workers, and facilitates labour mobility.
When you graduate from your apprenticeship education program, you will earn an Diploma. A credential in a designated trade also qualifies you for an Alberta Journeyperson Certificate, which authorizes you to work unsupervised in your trade. You'll receive both at the same time.
Please visit Alberta’s Apprenticeship & Industry Training website to Begin an Apprenticeship.
Please refer to the current Fee Schedule for complete details.
Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training – Welder
First Period Training Topics include: Workplace safety and tools; oxyacetylene cutting; plasma arc cutting and gouging; welding technology fundamentals and properties of metals; wire feed welding, gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux cored arc welding (FCAW), metal-cored arc welding (MCAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW); and trade math.
Second Period Training Topics include: Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) I and II; gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW); and pattern development and estimating.
Third Period Training Topics include: SMAW III; welds on mild steel plate and pipe; drawing interpretation; and trade science (testing, metallurgy, codes).
Welders are employed in a variety of industries including vessel or structural steel assembly, pipeline construction, commercial construction, industrial construction, steel fabrication and heavy equipment repair. Employment prospects for welders change with seasonal and economic climates and can vary greatly with geographic location.
Visit ALIS to find Occupational Profiles with current wages, industry trends and more!
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
The following items are required:
Safety Regulations: Wearing safety equipment and abiding by industry safety standards is mandatory within our program.
Apprenticeship ILMs: We use the Apprenticeship ILMs (Individual Learning Modules) as our reference material. These modules take the place of textbooks and are available at the Olds College Campus Store at 1.800.661.6537 or 403.556.4630. They are packaged by classroom instruction period.
Employment Insurance: Information on applying for Employment Insurance benefits is provided in your MyTradesecrets account
"I was a little apprehensive about attending school to pursue a welding trade. My hesitations were soon erased as I discovered a great mix of all ages, genders, and experiences, in a class shop that promoted a superior learning environment. I am fortunate to have been guided by some of the best instructors I have ever encountered."
George McManus, Class of 2010
Olds College Continuing Education offers Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Weld Testing (CSA 47.1) for Journeyperson Welders.
Journeyperson Welders who are interested in pursuing pressure certification or examiner certification are encouraged to contact the Alberta Boilers Safety Association (ABSA) for training and testing opportunities.
