Welding Programs

Schedule

Next Full-Day Program Begins:
May 1, 2023 to July 26, 2023
Monday through Thursday
8:00 am to 4:30 p.m.
Workforce Development Center | 1526 Walden Avenue, Suite 200 | Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Next Evening Program Begins:
February 21, 2023 to November 16, 2023
Tuesdays and Thursdays
5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Workforce Development Center | 1526 Walden Avenue, Suite 200 | Cheektowaga, NY 14225

Program Overview

• This program is 324 hours in length and can be completed in less than one year.
• Program includes five courses:
  • Shop Math and Blueprint Reading (36 hours)
  • Welding 1: Essential Skills (72 hours)
  • Welding 2: Advanced SMAW Stick Welding (72 hours)
  • Welding 3: MIG and Fluxcore Welding (72 hours)
  • Welding 4: TIG Welding (72 hours)
• Following the completion of Welding 3 and Welding 4, students have the option to take the American Welding Society (AWS) Welder's Qualification Exam (D1.1). (Additional $200 fee applies.)

We apologize but we are no longer offering individual course offerings at this time. Welding is now a full program that includes all five courses.

Tuition

Tuition $4,850
Financial assistance may be available through ACCES-VR, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, BETC/ECC One Stop or other sources.
A $300 deposit is required to reserve your spot in this class.

• Tuition does not include welding helmet or steel toe work boots. These are the responsibility of the student to get before the program begins.

Admission Requirements

• A TABE score of 9.0 in reading and 8.0 in math*.
• A personal interview will be conducted.
• A valid high school diploma or equivalency.
• A valid NYS Driver’s License.

*Exceptions to admission scores may be considered based on work history, prior education, personal interview, and employer recommendations.

Course Sequence and Descriptions

Shop Math/Blueprint Reading (36 Hours)
The need for highly skilled welders is currently in demand. To meet the expectations of industry students will learn: basic line views, dimensions, views, structural shapes, sections symbols, joints, fillet grooves, backing, surface, spot plug, scan, structural and edge welds. This program will also cover whole numbers fractions, decimals, percentages, metric and geometric measurements and angles. Students must bring a calculator to class.

Welding 1: Essential Skills (72 Hours)
This section of the program includes basic welding theory, safety in welding, introduction to oxygen and plasma cutting theory and practice and basic weld symbols for blueprint reading. SMAW (Stick) welding is covered with a variety of electrodes in the flat and horizontal fillet positions. Upon satisfactory completion of Course 1, the student should be able to perform stringer beads with various electrodes in the flat and horizontal fillet positions on mild steel plate. They should also be able to operate both oxyfuel and plasma equipment with some degree of proficiency. They should also be able to properly adjust the equipment they are using and visually identify some basic weld symbols and rods.

Welding 2: Advanced SMAW Stick Welding (72 Hours)
This section of the program expands on the fundamentals of stick welding, learned in Welding 1, with multiple positions (horizontal, vertical and overhead), open root passes and other more complicated fit up situations as well as rod diameter and material thickness variations. Students will further develop their bead control, weld machine setup skills and the ability to identify weld issues such as porosity, undercut and incomplete penetration.

Welding 3: MIG and Fluxcore (72 Hours)
This section of the program includes hands-on training for short arc welding in all positions on mild steel plates and sheet metal. Flat, vertical, up and down as well as overhead are covered in this course. The course also includes short arc spray and Fluxcore theory and practice. Aluminum MIG welding is also covered. Review of shop safety practices, shop math, weld symbols and some blueprint reading are also covered. Upon satisfactory completion of Course 3, the student should be able to set up the equipment for a specified process, weld with some proficiency, recite shop safety practices, recognize weld symbols and have a basic understanding of shop related math and blueprint reading.

Welding 4: TIG (72 Hours)
This section of the program includes TIG weld theory, equipment set-up and operation. Hands-on practices of TIG welding on mild stainless steel plates and aluminum in the flat and horizontal positions, safety, electrode and filler. Metal identification is also included. Upon satisfactory completion of Course 4, the student should be able to perform the welding in flat and horizontal fillet position with proficiency. The student should also be able to identify the proper electrode for each material being welded and the filler metal needed. The student will also be able to properly set-up the equipment and set the machine correctly.

Employment Outlook
Skilled welders/fabricators are highly sought after by manufacturers, construction companies and other specialized firms such as sign companies. While many welding jobs are in manufacturing or fabricating facilities, there are also a lot of welders who work on construction sites or in the field as repair technicians. Entry-level welders can expect to earn on average $20 to $22 per hour. Some of the companies our graduates have worked for include Mono-Systems, Hohl Industrial Services, HDM Hydraulics and Parker Hannifin.
Erie 1 BOCES also provides services such as placement assistance, resume writing and interview skills to help students in their search for a career as an entry level welder/fabricator.