Certificate in Welding Techniques
George Brown College
Key Information
Campus location
Toronto, Canada
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
CAD 17,666 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
May 2024
* most programs fill quickly, so we strongly recommend that you apply at least six months in advance
** for international students. All fees are subject to change, without notice
Introduction
Welding is a high-demand trade, one that is critical for the success of many major development projects in every province across the country. The Welding Techniques program prepares students with practical, hands-on experience that applies the technical theory and elements of the welding field. Our state-of-the-art welding lab includes 26 individual stations that allow students to train in a controlled environment, as well as our virtual welding stations that offer students the opportunity to practice using realistic simulations. The Smart Welding Lab also provides a monitor and specialized infrared camera that lets instructors demonstrate and digitally document welding techniques.
Employment opportunities in the welding trade span several industries, including transportation, petrochemical, oil and gas, aerospace, fabrication, manufacturing, pipelines, mining, and construction.
George Brown’s Welding Techniques program prepares students with practical, hands-on experience that applies the technical theory and elements of the welding field. Students articulate their technical and essential employability skills through an e-portfolio, based on skill development throughout the program.
At the end of this intense, two-semester program, students will have the opportunity to challenge the shielded metal arc weld test, in accordance with CSA W47.1/W59 standards, in a position(s) of their choosing through the Canadian Welders Bureau. (This test will be voluntary and at an extra cost to the student.)
This experiential program will provide you with the skills to master five of the most common types of welding processes:
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW): This process uses a consumable electrode covered with flux. It is the primary type of welding used in the maintenance and repair industry. Arc welding is usually used to weld iron and steel, although it can also be used for alloys (aluminum, nickel, etc.).
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW): This welding process uses electricity to melt and join pieces of metal together. It is generally regarded as one of the easiest types of welding to learn. It is also called Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). It can be used to weld a variety of metals such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, magnesium, copper, bronze, etc.
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW): The process uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode that delivers the current to the welding arc. The tungsten and weld puddle are protected and cooled with inert gas, typically argon or helium. It is most commonly used for welding stainless steel and non-ferrous metals like aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys.
- Plasma Arc and Oxyfuel Cutting: This process utilizes an electrode and compressed gas, forced at high speeds through a nozzle, usually copper, to cut metal, primarily mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Oxyfuel cutting uses fuel gases combined with oxygen to cut metals, usually steel.
- Fabrication: Metal fabrication is the building of metal structures by cutting, bending, and assembling processes. It is a value-added process that involves the construction of machines and structures from various raw materials.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Scholarships for international students at George Brown College are generally in-program awards based on students’ academic performance (and other criteria) at George Brown College after the beginning of the academic program.
Curriculum
Required Courses
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
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Program Outcome
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Perform work responsibly and in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and industry processes and procedures, including demonstrating learned knowledge of WHMIS.
- Interpret engineering drawings and blueprints to produce basic graphics and welding projects as required by industry.
- Select, plan and demonstrate sustainable metal fabrication operations using industrial metal fabrication machinery and emerging technologies.
- Perform basic technical measurements and welding functions accurately, using appropriate equipment and welding techniques.
- Create welds on various types of materials and joints in the major welding positions to industrial standards and codes.
- Use shop tools and equipment to manufacture, assemble, maintain and repair components according to required specifications and industry standards.
- Interact effectively and professionally in shop environments, both independently and with fellow workers and other tradespeople.
- Assess weld quality and implement corrective action where required to follow quality control and quality assurance procedures and meet organizational standards and requirements.
- Create a professional development plan that addresses one’s strengths and areas for growth in the greater context of the welder profession.
Career Opportunities
Your Career
Graduates of the program bring a wide range of welding skills to future employers. This program increases your marketability and knowledge of the welding trade and provides a good understanding of the safety practices relevant to the work performed. Welders are always going to be in demand in the manufacturing industry of Ontario because of how important they are to the manufacturing process. Most of the basic welding skills are the same across all industries, so welders are able to shift from one industry to the next – meaning that there is always a constant supply of work.
Industry
Welding is a high-demand trade, one that is critical for the success of many major development projects in every province across the country. Employment opportunities span several industries including:
- Transportation
- Petrochemical
- Oil and gas
- Aerospace
- fabrication
- Manufacturing
- Pipelines
- Mining
- Construction
The Bureau of Labour Statistics paints a very bright future for welding careers in Ontario. Between 2010 and 2025, the industry is expected to see around 15 percent growth, which is higher than the rate of growth for most other occupations. Welding positions are going to be incredibly important to both the provincial and national economies over the course of the next decade.