Welding

Welding is critical to many industries in our region, and demand for new welders is very strong. Students in the welding program at Clatsop Community College prepare to meet the American Welding Society’s Entry Level Welding Certification while learning the design, math and workplace success skills needed to succeed in industry. This one year program prepares students to show their competency in:

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW or stick welding)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW or MIG welding)
• Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW or TIG welding)

Using the latest welding technology, our students also learn oxy-fuel cutting, material preparation, grinding and finishing and construction layout. Students have the opportunity to use a CNC plasma cutter and virtual reality welding simulator.

Setting Clatsop’s welding program apart is our focus on real-world projects. In the past year, students built mounts for oceanfloor monitoring equipment and training equipment for regional fire departments. This year, our students will be restoring a ship’s wheelhouse for use as a damage control simulator for our maritime and fire science departments.

Average wages in this field range from $15 to $22 per hour in the region. Wages are higher for graduates who work in specialized welding trades like shipyards, ironwork and mechanical construction.

Contact Admissions for more information: admissions@clatsopcc.edu