Gas Metal Arc and Flux Core Arc Welding: Certificate (Locally Approved Certificate)

Description

Gas Metal Arc and Flux Core Arc Welding is both stand-alone occupational training as a Certificate and part of Taft College’s degree program, Welding Technology Associate in Science in Welding Technology. The Gas Metal Arc and Flux Core Arc Welding Program is designed to teach welding students the principles and practices of gas metal arc and flux cored arc welding to prepare for entry into the welding fields in manufacturing, construction, transportation and maintenance.  The required courses for this Certificate are listed below.

The Welding Technology Program is designed to provide comprehensive occupational training in common types of welding methods as related to today’s welding industries. This program provides students with manipulative skills and technical knowledge required to perform in a variety of entry to mid-level welding careers in manufacturing, petroleum, fabrication, and others.

The courses and training prepare students to take the necessary code tests required in several occupational fields for employment. The Welding Technology program offers five certificate options and an Associate in Science degree.

  • Structural Code Welding: Certificate of Achievement
  • Pipe Code Welding: Certificate of Achievement
  • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding: Certificate (Locally Approved Certificate)
  • Gas Metal Arc and Flux Core Arc Welding: Certificate (Locally Approved Certificate)
  • Welding Assistant/Helper: Certificate (Locally Approved Certificate)

Earnings Potential

An associate degree in Welding offers you the salary potential of $39,694 two years after graduation from Taft College, with expected increases to $51,140 by five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges. These do not reflect salaries with a four-year degree.1

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers is projected to grow two percent from 2021 to 2031, with about 47,600 job openings each year in the next decade.2

1 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 19 April 2023.

2 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 8 Sept. 2022. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 19 April 2023.

Certificate Program Requirements

Gas Metal Arc and Flux Core Arc Welding Certificate (Locally Approved Certificate) course requirements link. Please note: This link and all links for courses, below, go to the Taft College Catalog, an external website. Plan to return to the Taft College website.

Required Courses

Course Number   Course Name Credit Hours
WELD 1500 Welding Processes 3.0
WELD 1520 Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) and Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) 3.0
INTC 1000 Career Readiness in Industrial Technology 3.0
    Total Credit Hours: 9.0

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