Welding Applied Technology - Del Mar College

Welding Applied Technology from Del Mar College is a Campus Certificate Engineering General degree that prepares you for a Engineering career. The Welding curriculum offers skill development in oxy-acetylene and electric welding of plate and pipe. Students have the opportunity to develop skills and understanding of related and technical information associated with welding so that they can qualify to pass entry-level certification tests required by industry. What does a welder do? Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts. Heating is applied to the pieces to be joined, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond. Because of its strength, welding is used to construct and repair parts of ships, automobiles, spacecraft, and thousands of other manufactured products. Welding is used to join beams when constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures, and pipes in nuclear power plants and refineries. Welders use all types of welding equipment in a variety of positions, such as a flat, vertical, horizontal, and overhead. They generally plan work from drawings or specifications or by analyzing damaged metal, using their knowledge of welding and metals. They select and set up welding equipment and may examine welds to ensure they meet standards or specifications. Welders need manual dexterity, good eyesight, and good hand-eye coordination. They should be able to concentrate on detailed work for long periods and be able to bend, stoop, and work in awkward positions. They use protective clothing, safety shoes, goggles, helmets with protective lenses, and other devices to prevent burns and eye injuries. Some welders become certified, a process whereby the employer sends a worker to an institution, such as an independent testing lab or technical school, to weld a test specimen to specific codes and standards required by the employer. The testing procedures are usually based on the standards and codes set by one of several industry associations the employer may be affiliated with. If the welding inspector at the examining institution determines that the worker has performed according to the employer's guidelines, he or she then certifies that the welder being tested is able to work with a particular welding procedure. Career Opportunities The level of construction is expected to expand, as in the number of metal products needing repair, increasing the need for welding and cutting. Certified welders, especially those certified in more than one process, will have much better employment opportunities than non-certified welders . Salary can range from $281 to $786 per week based on experience and certification. * Certification is the key to job mobility for welders. View more details on Del Mar College . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Engineering General courses.