Is This Program for You?

Do you enjoy building things? Are you mechanically inclined, with strong math skills? Does a job working independently appeal to you? Welding may be a great career choice.

Students entering the Welding program should:

• Enjoy building things.
• Have good math skills.
• Have manual dexterity.
• Be able to work with little direction or supervision.
• Have good vision (glasses are acceptable).
• Have good hand-eye coordination.
• Be able to concentrate with patience on detailed work.

Program Basics

• Technical diploma, requiring a minimum of nine months to complete.
• High school articulation courses accepted.
• Financial aid available.

Cost of Attendance (COA) 24-25

Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

Based on Wisconsin Residents.

Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

Admission and Program Requirements

• Submit Application
• To make sure your classes are the right fit, we consider any previous college credit you've earned, Accuplacer or ACT scores, high school GPA, or an assessment at your registration session. Submit High School Transcripts, College Transcripts, and Test Scores to: Southwest Tech, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• Admissions Preference Policy

  Priority for program acceptance will be given in this order until May 1, 2024:

  1. Southwest Wisconsin Technical College District Residents (permanent address is in one of Southwest Tech’s 30 school districts the College serves) Southwest Tech District Information
  2. Non-District State Residents
  3. Out-of-State Residents

Helpful Academic Background

• Math
• Communication
• Technical education courses
• Youth Apprenticeship

Program Fees

• This program is eligible for Financial Aid.
• Estimated cost for each semester can be found under the Curriculum tab. Please note that costs are approximate and are based on the current academic year.
• Please discuss additional fee questions with the program advisor or instructor.

Additional requirements

Students must have eye wear protection (safety glasses with side shields or wrap around safety glasses over prescription glasses) and must meet OSHA Z87.1 or greater while they are conducting operations that are deemed hazardous in nature. These glasses can be purchased at the College Bookstore.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate industry-recognized safety practices
• Interpret welding drawings
• Produce shielded metal arc welds (SMAW)
• Produce gas metal arc welds (GMAW)
• Produce flux core welds
• Produce gas tungsten arc welds (GTAW)
• Perform cutting operations
• Produce Oxyfuel welds

Technical Skill Attainment (TSA)

This TSA scoring guide will be used to document your attainment of technical program outcomes for the Welding Degree. To meet the requirements on the scoring guide, you will be asked to draw upon the skills and concepts that have been developed throughout the program and are necessary for successful employment in your field. Results will be used to inspire continual improvement of teaching and learning in Wisconsin Technical College System. In addition, this assessment will provide feedback to you about your performance.

Welding is the most common way of permanently joining metal parts, so welders are employed in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction jobs, including automotive and equipment manufacturing, structural building, maintenance, and repair. Welders may work on land or underwater, inside and outside.

• Welding Technicians, Supervisors, Inspectors, Instructors, Repair Shop Owners
• Pipe Layers, Plumbers, Pipe Fitters and Steam Fitters
• Aircraft Body and Bonded Structure Repairers
• Aircraft Structure Assemblers
• Welder-Fitters
• Weld Fabricators
• Iron Workers
• Ship Building Workers
• Bridge Construction Workers

Southwest Tech's Career Connections Center offers Services to assist students looking for job placement.

Credit for Prior Learning

Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

At any time, you may Request Credit for Prior Learning.

Welding Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
31-442-311	Oxyfuel Gas Cutting & Gouging
31-442-312	Arc Cutting & Gouging
31-442-313	Plasma Cutting & Gouging
31-442-314	Oxyfuel Equipment
31-442-315	Oxyfuel Brazing & Welding-Carbon Steel
31-442-316	Oxyfuel Brazing & Welding-Stainless Steel
31-442-320	SMAW - Equipment
31-442-323	GTAW - Equipment
31-442-324	GTAW - Carbon Steel
31-442-325	GTAW - Aluminum
31-442-326	GTAW - Stainless Steel
31-442-327	GMAW - Equipment
31-442-328	GMAW - Carbon Steel (S Process)
31-442-329	GMAW - Aluminum
31-442-330	GMAW - Stainless Steel
31-442-331	GMAW - Carbon Steel (Spray Transfer)
31-442-332	FCAW - Equipment
31-442-333	FCAW - Carbon Steel (Gas Shielded)
31-457-317	Forming & Folding Metal
31-457-318	Fabricating
31-457-334	Fabrication Planning & Drawing
31-804-305	Applied Mathematics
	College Mathematics CLEP Test would also be accepted.
32-442-308	Blueprint Reading-Welding 1
32-442-309	Blueprint Reading-Welding 2

The Welding curriculum was developed in part through a Department of Labor TAACCCT Grant. This is an equal opportunity program. Veterans and TAA eligible populations are encouraged to participate.

Accreditation Status

The Southwest Tech Welding program is accredited by the American Welding Society, 8669 NW 36 Street, #130, Miami, Florida 33166. 305-443-9353 / 800-443-9353 (voice) 305-443-7559 (Fax).