Pathway
Welding
Welding youth apprentices practice welding fabrication processes in various industry environments. Apprentices must adhere to industry safety and security standards.
Length of Apprenticeship: One or two years
Job Competencies
Welding youth apprentices must complete a total of 25 competencies. All 7 Manufacturing Fundamentals Competencies must be complete. No substitutions to this list. Seventeen of the 18 Welding competencies listed below must be complete. Employers can substitute up to 1 competency with another occupationally appropriate skill. Substitutions must be added to the competency list for assessment. Note that where necessary, skills can be simulated.
NOTE: Students completing a 2-year welding youth apprenticeship must select different welding processes than the first year.
***Students who completed a previous Manufacturing YA program do not need to repeat the Manufacturing Fundamentals Competencies.
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Manufacturing Fundamentals Competencies
- Focus on customer needs
- Use various instruments
- Operate tools and equipment safely
- Practice quality assurance principles
- Follow personal safety requirements
- Maintain a safe work environment
- Demonstrate professional role to be used in an emergency
Welding Competencies
- Read welding technical drawings and work orders
- Interpret welding symbols and procedures
- Layout and plan work
- Perform safety checks
- Prepare base metal
- Set up to fabricate base metal
- Set up welding job
- Fabricate base metal
- Cut metal thermally/chemically
- Tack work pieces
- Weld metal
- Monitor product and process
- Assist inspection of completed metal piece
- Process production documents
- Clean up
- Monitor equipment for correct operation
- Perform routine preventive maintenance (PM)
- Document equipment use, PM, and/or operational problems
Related Instruction
Students must enroll in 1 High School Credit or 3 College Credits of related instruction each year they participate in the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Purpose of Related Instruction
The purpose of choosing a related instruction course is to ensure students are learning technical and academic skills that support the student's ability to perform their work tasks. This should be done concurrently with on-the-job training to make relevant connections between learning competencies and work.
Choosing Related Instruction
You will collaborate with your YA Coordinator and School Counselor to determine the most appropriate option for related instruction. A course within your high school directly related to the career pathway is ideal, especially if dual credits and/or hours related to a potential registered apprenticeship are offered.
If there is not a directly related course in your school district, related instruction in the same career cluster is also acceptable.
If there is not a course within that career cluster in your school district, you may request to register for a college course through the Start College Now program with a local technical college, Early College Credit from a local university, or from an alternative provider such as Destinations Career Academy.
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- Welding
- Metal Fabrication
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- Welding Intro
- Intro to SafetyWeld/MetalFab
- GMAW Techniques
- SMAW Techniques
- GTAW
- Weld Symbols and Print Reading
- Welding Hand and Power Tools
- Technical College Math
Post Secondary
There are numerous opportunities to continue your education after completing the Youth Apprenticeship program.
Registered Apprenticeships
The Welding pathway can bridge into a registered apprenticeship as Welding Fabricator, Industrial Manufacturing Technician.