Certified Welder

Program Description

This is a full day, seven (7) month program of study for adults with sessions beginning in July, March, or October, occurring over a two year rotation. (*See the Program News box above for the current session being offered) The 900-hour class meets Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 2:30PM.

It is designed to assist students in building a knowledge and technical skills base in multiple aspects of Welding.  Upon successful completion, students will be career ready for entry level positions in the Welding Field.

Topics covered in the program include, but are not limited to:

• Fundamentals of Welding
• Thermal Cutting Operations
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding
• Gas Metal Arc Welding
• Flux Cored Arc Welding
• Blueprint Reading and Metallurgy
• Destructive and Non-destructive Testing
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
• Fabrication Math

Instruction will take place in a comprehensive classroom and state-of-the-art lab.  Successful students may have the opportunity to take up to eight West Virginia Department of Education Welding certification tests and an OSHA 10 certification.

Program Entrance Requirements:

• Ben Franklin Career Center Adult Application
• Valid Driver’s License/Government Issued Identification
• 18 Years of Age Prior to End of Program
• High School Diploma or High School Equivalency Test Certificate (GED, TASC , etc.)
• Score 8 or Above in both Areas of the Entrance Exam (Reading and Mathematics)
• Payment Arrangements
• Basic Reading and Shop Math Skills
• Able to lift 75 pounds

Adult Programs Application

2025-26 Programs Online Application- FOR PROGRAMS THAT START AFTER JULY 2025- (Oct. 2025 class)

For Program Specific Questions, Please Contact Mr. Spitzer At: [email protected]

Program Certificate Requirements:

“C” (70%) or better Overall Grade Average

No more than 10% of scheduled hours in Absences

Pass One Documented Drug Screenings

Employment Opportunities

Assemblers and Fabricators

Boilermakers

Pipeline Welders/Helpers, and Metal Workers

Machinists, Tool, and Die Makers

Sheet Metal Workers

Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Metal and Plastic Machine Workers

Program Courses

Course Name/Course Number 

Flux-cored Arc Welding (FCAW) - Plate         (9313)

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) - Pipe  (9315)

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) - Pipe    (9316)

Flux-cored Arc Welding (FCAW) - Pipe  (9317)

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) - Pipe     (9318)

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) - Plate  (9242)

Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) - Plate         (9321)

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) - Plate (9321)

  Total Hours   900

 Program Textbooks

Hobart -Welding Student Workbooks:

Program Cost

$ 6448.00