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Program Overview

Advanced Welding Technology, Occupational Certificate (O.C.)

After completing the Welding Technology program, you can choose to continue your training with our 750-hour Advanced Welding Technologies course. The advanced course covers all the same welding processes covered in the welding technologies course on schedule 40 and 80 pipes. 

FGC is a Lincoln Electric Education Partner School (LEEPS) and an NC3 Leadership School. All of our students train on the latest welding equipment available in the Lab, including Real Weld Trainer. In the classroom, we have virtual reality welders as well as a Robotic Educational Cell that students utilize to learn robotic programming and operations. Students will complete a resume to utilize for job placement prior to graduation.

Review the guided degree pathway where you will find a detailed plan for your courses and other requirements each semester that prepare you for graduation and your transfer goals.

Welding Technology

Advanced Welding Supply List

Locations

Florida Gateway College (Main Campus, building 19 in room 14)

Testing Entrance Requirements

Students must demonstrate competence in reading, math, or language through placement examination or by passing the appropriate reading, math, or language courses, if not exempt by the state board of education rule 6A-10.0315

Hours

This program is offered either full-time or part-time. Full-time courses are held Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Part-time courses are held Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This program takes 15 months to complete as a full-time student and 30 months to complete as a part-time student.

Costs

  • Tuition: $1,239.84
  • Lab fees: $2,312.45
  • Total: $3,225.29

Financial Aid available!

74%

Completion Rate

94%

Job Placement Rate

96%

AWS Test Rate

FGC Fall 2019FGC Fall 2019FGC Fall 2019

Careers at a Glance

Starting Salaries

Starting salaries range from $28,560 to $51,430, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This range is based on a 40-hour workweek and does not include per diem or overtime.

Welders can earn between $13.73 and $36.00 per hour, with $21.33 per hour as the national average.

Employment Opportunities

Upon completion, students can have a number of career opportunities in many different welding-related industries, such as the production, fabrication, maintenance and repair, building and bridge construction, oil and natural gas pipeline, aeronautical and aerospace, shipyard, and metal sculpture industries.

Expected job growth from 2019 to 2028 is 3% to 11%, depending on the specific industry.

Employers of FGC Graduates

  • New Millennium Building Systems
  • WW Gay
  • Suwannee Ironworks
  • Grizzly Manufacturing
  • Chrom
  • Florida Forest Service
  • Yates Construction
  • Jacksonville plumbers and pipefitter local # 234
  • Suwanee American Cement
  • Comfort Systems USA
  • Northeastern Construction
  • Haeco
  • Anderson Columbia
  • Jones Sign
  • Load King Manufacturing
  • BAE Systems

Program Details

Admission Requirements

Students must pass the TABE with a minimum score of 576 for reading, 596 for math, and 584 for language. Students may be exempt from the TABE test based on the completion of college-level courses in Math and English with a grade of C or better. Students who are exempt from developmental education based on Senate Bill 1720, identified by a test code of SBEX on their test score record, are also exempt from TABE requirements.

Program Notes
  • AWS qualification testing is available for both the Welding Technologies and the Advanced Welding Technologies course.
    • There are two available for the Welding Technologies course: 1. SMAW (stick) limited thickness on 3/8 plate in the 3G (vertical) and 4G (overhead) positions. 2. FCAW-G (gas-shielded) unlimited thickness test on a one-inch plate in the 3G (vertical) and 4G (overhead) positions.
    • There are two available for the Advanced Welding Technologies course: 1. SMAW (stick) on schedule 40 or 80 pipes in the 6G inclined multiple positions. 2. GTAW (tig) and SMAW (stick) on schedule 40 or 80 pipes in the 6G inclined multiple positions.
    • The cost of each AWS test is $400.00. FGC refunds the cost of each test that is passed.
Learning Outcomes
  • Demonstrate proper selection and use personal protective equipment for this specific task.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of material handling techniques to safely move materials.
  • Perform external inspections of equipment and accessories. Make minor repairs as needed.
  • Demonstrate a neutral, carburizing, and oxidizing flame. Perform work in a proper sequence.
  • Use oxy-fuel equipment to make cuts, holes, slots, and bevels on 1/4 “to 1” plate +/- 1/16 in size and
    shape. No notching exceeding 1/16 deep of base metal.
  • Demonstrate the ability to perform work in the proper sequence.
  • Properly cut metal to the required dimensions. Align and tack metal to required specifications.
  • Perform external inspections of SMAW equipment and accessories. Make minor repairs as needed.
  • Demonstrate proper SMAW welding techniques and procedures in the vertical (3G) and overhead
    (4G) groove positions on the 3/8” plate.
  • Demonstrate visual inspection to determine flaws. Destructively test acceptable welds by bending,
    to determine the soundness of the welds.
  • Perform external inspections of GMAW and FCAW equipment and accessories. Make minor repairs
    as needed.
  • Demonstrate proper GMAW and FCAW welding techniques and procedures in the vertical (3G) and
    overhead (4G) groove positions on 3/8” and one-inch plate.
  • Demonstrate proper SMAW welding techniques and procedures in the 45 degrees inclined (6G)
    position on schedule 40 and 80 pipes.
  • Perform external inspections of GTAW and SMAW equipment and accessories. Make minor repairs
    as needed.
  • Demonstrate proper GTAW and SMAW welding techniques and procedures in the 45 degrees inclined.
    (6G) multiple positions on schedule 40 and 80 pipes.
  • Perform external inspections of Plasma arc cutting equipment and accessories. Make minor repairs
    as needed.
  • Use Plasma arc cutting equipment to make cuts, holes, slots, and bevels on 1/4 “to 1” plate +/- 1/16
    in size and shape. No notching exceeding 1/16 deep of base metal.
  • Create a resume for use in securing a welding position for employment.
Book List & Materials

No books are required. Welding courses utilize Lincoln Electric’s online U-LINC curriculum that is paid for by the program.