Welder Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship training is for people who are currently working in industry and who are sponsored by an employer and registered with SkilledTradesBC. Apprenticeship programs combine work-based training (typically 80-85%) and technical training (15-20%) taken in a classroom and shop setting.

The length of an apprenticeship can range from one to five years, but most require four years to complete.

College of the Rockies offers all levels of Welder technical training, including Modular A, Modular B, and MPAW. Start dates for these programs vary. For program information please contact the Trades Program Admission Coordinator.

Test Dates for Class “A” Requalification (pressure welds) Pre-Qualified Welding Procedures (PWPs) and Interprovincial Practical Challenge Test

January 17,2024
February 21,2024
April 17,2024
May 15, 2024

June 19,2024
September 19,2024
October 17, 2024
November 21,2024

Welder Level 1 Harmonized

Length of program:

8 Weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Oxy fuel cutting and gouging (OFC), carbon arc cutting and gouging (CAC-A), plasma arc cutting and gouging (PAC), shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and flux core arc welding (FCAW).

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: Welder Apprenticeship Level 1

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$897.92
Application Fee:	$30.00
Student Association Fee:	$18.40
Total	$946.32

Additional Student Costs:

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference Manuals
Personal half mask respirator
P100 particulate filters (3 or 4 sets)

Welder Level 2 Harmonized

Length of Program:

8 weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and flux core arc welding as well as gas metal arc welding (PULSED) GMAW-P metal core arc welding (MCAW) and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: Welder Apprenticeship Level 2

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$897.92
Application Fee:	$30.00
Student Association Fee:	$18.40
Total	$946.32

Additional Student Costs:

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference Manuals
Personal half mask respirator
P100 particulate filters (3 or 4 sets)

Welder Level 3 Harmonized

Length of program:

10 weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) on low carbon steel plate and pipe, Semi Automatic and Automatic Welding (GMAW, GMAW-P), using combined GMAW, MCAW, and FCAW processes, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) for ferrous metals and aluminum. Students also cover basic metallurgy related to ferrous, non-ferrous, and reactive metals, and aluminum and aluminum alloys and will learn how to interpret welding drawings and fabricate weldments. Quality control and inspection requirements and welding standards, codes, specifications, and welder jurisdictional bodies are also covered within the program. Safe work practices related to the welder trade are reinforced throughout the program.

Additional Student Costs:

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: Welder Apprenticeship Level 3

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$1,122.40
Application Fee:	$30.00
Student Association Fee:	$23.00
Total	$1,175.40

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference Manuals

MPAW (Multi-Process Alloy Welding)

Length of program:

5 weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Multi-process allow welding techniques. This program is an optional endorsement over and above completion of Welder Level 3 with Red Seal Endorsement.

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: MPAW Program Outline

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$561.20
Application Fee:	$30.00
Student Association Fee:	$11.50
Total	$602.70

Additional Student Costs:

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference Manuals

Welder Modular B

Length of program:

16 weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Welding (GMAW, GMAW-P), using combined GMAW, MCAW, and FCAW processes, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) on ferrous metals and aluminum. Students also cover basic metallurgy related to ferrous, non-ferrous, and reactive metals, and aluminum and aluminum alloys and will learn how to interpret welding drawings and fabricate weldments. Quality control and inspection requirements and welding standards, codes, specifications, and welder jurisdictional bodies are also covered within the program. Safe work practices related to the welder trade are reinforced throughout the program.

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: Welder Modular B Program Outline

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$1,795.84
Application Fee:	$30.00
Toolbox Fee:	$250.00
Student Association Fee:	$36.80
Bus Pass Fee:	$44.40
Total	$2,157.04

Additional Student Costs:

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference manuals

Welder Modular A

Length of program:

8 weeks

This program offers technical and practical training related to:

Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) on stainless steel and low carbon steel plate and pipe, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) for stainless steel, specialized processes, basic metallurgy, and how to interpret welding drawings and fabricate weldments. Quality control and inspection requirements and welding standards, codes, specifications,
and welder jurisdictional bodies are also covered within the program. Safe work practices related to the welder trade are reinforced throughout the program.

For a complete program description, including prerequisite details and technical training content about each level of training, see: Welder Modular A Program Outline

Tuition and Fees:

Tuition:	$897.92
Application Fee:	$30.00
Toolbox Fee:	$250.00
Student Association Fee:	$18.40
Total	$1,196.32

Additional Student Costs:

Steel-toed leather work boots
Safety glasses
Welding gloves
Flame retardant work clothes (cotton or wool)
Leather welding jacket
Welding helmet (#11 lens)
Welding goggles (#5 lens)
Reference Manuals

Additional Info

Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG)

When you complete your Red Seal program, you can apply for the one-time taxable cash Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG) of $2,000.00 after you have been certified in your trade. See: Grants for Apprentices registered in Red Seal Trades.

Career Options

According to WorkBC, journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $15.00 to $39.83 an hour plus benefits.

After graduating from the Welder program, you can explore a career in a wide variety of industries:

Contractors
Welding Fabrication Shops
Machines Shops
Aircraft Manufacturers
Ship Manufacturers
Oil and Gas Pipelines

Experienced welders may choose to seek management positions or even open their own business.

Welder Apprenticeship/Modular Training Schedule

Program	Level	Starts	Ends	Length
*Welder	1	April 8, 2024	May 31, 2024	8 Weeks
*Welder	2	April 8, 2024	May 31, 2024	8 Weeks
*Welder	3	October 10, 2023	December 15, 2023	10 Weeks
*Welder	3	October 7, 2024	December 13, 2024	10 Weeks
*Welder	MPAW	October 7, 2024	November 8, 2024	5 Weeks
Welder Modular A	Mod A	October 10, 2023	December 1, 2023	8 Weeks
Welder Modular A	Mod A	October 7, 2024	November 29, 2024	8 Weeks
Welder Modular B	Mod B	October 10 ,2023	February 9, 2024	16 Weeks
Welder Modular B	Mod B	October 7, 2024	February 14, 2025	16 Weeks