Welder (Apprenticeship) | Full-time | Ontario College Certificate

Please note:

Prospective students must be registered apprentices with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). For more information on apprenticeship training contact your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship office.

Program description

The Welding Techniques - Apprenticeship program is delivered at Conestoga's Cambridge campus and provides the theoretical knowledge of all aspects of the regulated and non-regulated welding trade together with the practical training necessary to complement the apprentice's on-the-job training with an employer using highly flexible delivery modes. Upon completion, this program, confers the graduate an Ontario College Certificate titled Welding Techniques - Apprenticeship.

For more information contact the Program Coordinator at metalfab@conestogac.on.ca.

Program details

Code: 1163

Delivery: Apprenticeship

Length: 720 hours

Start: Varies

Campus: Cambridge (Fountain Street)

Credential: Ontario College Certificate

Program contact

welding@conestogac.on.ca

Academic school

Engineering & Technology

Fees & payment

Fees are set by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development as per the Offer of Classroom Training.
Books, safety equipment, tools, and parking fees are additional. For details, visit Orientation & support.
Applicants are registered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Awards & scholarships

Conestoga College's Student Financial Services administers many awards, bursaries, scholarships and academic grants. Information and application forms for numerous awards, bursaries and scholarships are administered by Student Financial Services.

Many program-specific awards are administered by individual programs. Students should speak to their faculty or program coordinators about additional awards available in their program specific areas.

Courses

Level 1

Course details

Engineering Drawings I
DRWG1702

Semi-Automatic Welding Processes I
WELD1270

Shielded Metal Arc Welding I
WELD1280

Thermal Cutting
WELD1292

Trade Practices
WELD1305

Welding & Fabrication Quality I
WELD1310

Welding Theory I
WELD1320

Level 2

Course details

Engineering Drawings II
DRWG2125

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I
WELD2270

Semi-Automatic Welding II
WELD2285

Shielded Metal Arc Welding II
WELD2295

Welding Theory II
WELD2305

Metal Fabrication Applications I
WELD2560

Level 3

Course details

Welding Theory III
WELD3005

Metal Fabrication Applications II
WELD3015

Automatic and Semi-Automatic Welding
WELD3112

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II
WELD3127

Metal Fabrication Theory
WELD3137

Shielded Metal Arc Welding III
WELD3145

Welding & Fabrication Quality II
WELD3150

Please note:

Estimated required text and/or learning resource costs are based on the most recent available data through the Conestoga Campus Store.

Program outcomes

Perform work responsibly and in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Interpret engineering drawings to select, cut and form metal shapes for fabrication and to perform welding joint preparation and procedures as required by welding symbols.
Use layout and fabrication processes typical to the industry to determine correct form with. accuracy
Select appropriate tools and devices to perform mathematical calculations and technical measurements for successful completion of a project
Perform welding to meet the quality requirements of the CSA Structural Welding Standard W59.03 using the Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding processes.
Create high quality welds on various types of materials and create joints in the flat, horizontal, vertical and overhead positions
Identify defect in welds, demonstrate how to prevent them and define procedures for correction of defective weld quality
Select appropriate Thermal Cutting processes in terms of Oxy-Fuel Cutting, Plasma Arc Cutting and Air Carbon Arc Gouging processes in accordance with government safety regulations, manufacturers’ recommendations and approved industry standards

Program handbook

Graduate opportunities

Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Graduates are employed in construction, manufacturing and repair welding sectors as MIG, stick or TIG process welders. Some graduates will also perform basic metal fabrication operations.

For more details on related occupations, job market information and career opportunities, see the Government of Canada website: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

Program device & software requirements

This program requires you to have a device that meets certain specifications. For most students, this cost is in addition to the tuition & fees listed above.

view device requirements

Which welding program is right for you?

Conestoga College has the most comprehensive program offering in the high-demand field of welding, metal fabrication, and welding engineering technology in Ontario. The number of programs can make it difficult to determine which one is right for you. This guide will assist you in understanding the key differences between programs.

Program details	Key features	Career & pathways
Program details: Production GMAW Welder #1337 Certificate \| 12 weeks \| Brantford	Key features: Acquire GMAW practical skills and theory	Career & pathways: Production welder in a manufacturing environment May be eligible to take the CWB welder tests Certificate + Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) credential upon successful completion of the CWB weld skills test
Program details: Welding Techniques #1193 Certificate \| 30 weeks \| Cambridge	Key features: Pre-apprenticeship program covering the in-school training of the Welder and Metal Fabricator (Fitter) trades Great starting point to gain skills in all aspects of welding No welding skills necessary to apply Develop welding skills such as Shielded Metal Arc welding, Gas Metal Arc welding, Flux Cored Arc welding, and Gas Tungsten Arc welding	Career & pathways: Follows the curriculum of the provincial trades Welder (456A) and Metal Fabricator Fitter (437A) Opportunity to apply for an exemption from the Level 1 apprenticeship in-school component Common first year with Welding and Fabrication Technician #0046 May be eligible to take the CWB welder tests Ladders into Welding Engineering Technician - Robotics (Optional Co-op) #1502, Welding Engineering Technology - Inspection #0043 and Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Welding and Robotics #1079
Program details: Welding and Fabrication Technician #0046 Diploma \| 2 years \| Cambridge	Key features: Pre-apprenticeship program covering the in-school training of the Welder and Metal Fabricator (Fitter) trades Develop the knowledge and skills required for the layout, preparation, forming, fitting, joining and inspection of welded fabrications Develop welding skills such as Shielded Metal Arc welding, Gas Metal Arc welding, Flux Cored Arc welding, and Gas Tungsten Arc welding	Career & pathways: First year courses are common to the Welding Engineering Technician – Robotics program #1502 allowing movement between the two programs after year one Opportunity to apply for an exemption from the Level 1 & 2 apprenticeship in-school component May be eligible to take the CWB welder tests Ladders into Welding Eng. Technology – Inspection #0043 and Manufacturing Eng. Technology – Welding & Robotics #1079
Program details: Welding Engineering Technician – Robotics (Optional Co-op) #1502 Diploma \| 2 years \| Cambridge	Key features: Learn to operate and troubleshoot robotic welding systems while having maintenance, welding, and robotic programming knowledge Create and read blueprints and gain an understanding of metals and their characteristics, complemented by solid welding automation knowledge and welding robot programming Optional paid co-op work term	Career & pathways: First year courses are common to the Welding and Fabrication Technician program #0046 allowing movement between the two programs after year one May be eligible to take the CWB welder tests Ladders into Welding Eng. Technology – Inspection #0043 and Manufacturing Eng. Technology – Welding & Robotics #1079
Program details: Manufacturing Engineering Technology - Welding and Robotics (Optional Co-op) #1079 Advanced Diploma \| 3 years \| Cambridge	Key features: Benefit from extensive hands-on work with welding automation and robotics systems including: GMAW (MIG) and spot-welding applications, CAD/CAM applications with CNC thermal cutting, and off-line robotic simulation programming applications Optional co-op stream includes four consecutive 4-month paid work terms	Career & pathways: Laddering opportunity from Welding Techniques #1193 The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) conditionally recognizes this program as meeting all the academic requirements for certification in the Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) category
Program details: Welding Engineering Technology – Inspection (Optional Co-op) #0043 Advanced Diploma \| 3 years \| Cambridge	Key features: Prepares you to work in the demanding and rewarding field of welding inspection and quality assurance through metallurgical analysis, destructive testing of welds and non-destructive evaluation methods for quality control and assurance Optional co-op stream includes four consecutive 4-month paid work terms	Career & pathways: Laddering opportunity from Welding Techniques #1193 The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) conditionally recognizes this program as meeting all the academic requirements for certification in the Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) category Opportunity to challenge CWB Level 1 Visual Weld Inspection exam

Programs with a welding component

Program	Key features	Career & pathways
Program details: Electro Mechanical and Automation Maintenance (Optional Co-op) #1318 Diploma \| 2 years \| Cambridge	Key features: Focuses on the field of Mechatronics from an industrial maintenance perspective and includes two courses in welding Develop welding skills such as Shielded Metal Arc welding, Gas Metal Arc welding and Gas Tungsten Arc welding Optional paid co-op work term	Career & pathways: Covers the learning outcomes for Levels 1 and 2 of the Electrician and Millwright apprenticeship programs in Ontario. If you pursue an apprenticeship in either trade, you may be exempt from these levels of in-school training.
Program details: Construction Techniques (Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC and Welding) #07161 Certificate \| 30 weeks \| Waterloo	Key features: Introduction to a variety of skills in the construction trade including carpentry, electrical, HVAC and welding allowing you to narrow your field of interest	Career & pathways: Pursue an entry-level position in the construction trades that may lead to an apprenticeship
Program details: Construction Techniques (Welding, HVAC, Plumbing, and Masonry) #07163 Certificate \| 30 weeks \| Waterloo	Key features: Introduction to a variety of skills in the construction trade including HVAC, welding, plumbing and masonry allowing you to narrow your field of interest	Career & pathways: Pursue an entry-level position in the construction trades that may lead to an apprenticeship

Traditional apprenticeship

These programs require an employer sponsor and a number of hours on the job before an offer of classroom training is sent.

Program	Key features
Program details: Welder Apprenticeship #1163 Certificate \| 3 years	Key features: In-class component of apprenticeship training that complements the apprentice’s on-the-job training provided by an employer Acquire theoretical knowledge of all aspects of the regulated and non-regulated welding trade An employer sponsor is required prior to registration
Program details: Welding Techniques – Metal Fabrication Apprenticeship #1173 Certificate \| 3 years	Key features: In-class component of apprenticeship training that complements the apprentice’s on-the-job training provided by an employer Acquire theoretical knowledge of all aspects of metal fabrication. Metal fabricators produce, assemble, fit and install steel or other metal components for building, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other similar structures and products. An employer sponsor is required prior to registration

Program

Key features

Welder Apprenticeship #1163
Certificate | 3 years

In-class component of apprenticeship training that complements the apprentice’s on-the-job training provided by an employer
Acquire theoretical knowledge of all aspects of the regulated and non-regulated welding trade
An employer sponsor is required prior to registration

Welding Techniques – Metal Fabrication Apprenticeship #1173
Certificate | 3 years

In-class component of apprenticeship training that complements the apprentice’s on-the-job training provided by an employer
Acquire theoretical knowledge of all aspects of metal fabrication. Metal fabricators produce, assemble, fit and install steel or other metal components for building, bridges, tanks, towers, boilers, pressure vessels and other similar structures and products.
An employer sponsor is required prior to registration

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