Many once profitable careers are now obsolete. Welding, however, is one field that continues to expand and adapt to new technologies and business/industry requirements.
As a result, this high-skill, high-demand trade continues to grow with many job opportunities and job growth in Southside Virginia.
Welders have traditionally joined metals by heating or melting metallic surfaces using a number of different processes.
However, welders are also developing the methods used to adhere and bond the new plastics resulting
in continuous expansion while other industries are contracting. The result of this expansion is a high demand for certified welders, increased career opportunities for job growth and better than average pay scales.
Welding skills are used in many trades including:
Welder
Welding Technician
Robotics Technician
Machine Operator
Sheet Metal Worker
Business Owner
Sales Person
Structural Iron Worker
Boilermaker
Underwater Welder
Welding Instructor
Pipefitter
Home Hobbyist
Diesel Mechanics
Electricians
Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technicians
Electronics Technicians
Industrial Service Technologist
Automotive Service
Many businesses and industries in the Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) Area employ welders and the demand for welders with basic welding skills is expected to continue to grow due to new business growth and the retirement of welders in existing businesses. In the SVCC Area, welders’ entry-level pay runs between $11.00 and $18.00 an hour, plus benefits, but varies with training and skill/certification levels and from employer to employer.
DESCRIPTION
The SVCC Career Studies Certificate Program is designed to prepare students for entry level welding certification testing which is usually done by the employer. Consisting of 16 credits hours, the program follows the guidelines developed by the American Welding Society. It is designed to teach basic welding and safety skills in such welding processes such as fusion/non-fusion, shielded metal arc welding, inert gas welding and reading and interpretation of welding drawings. Program participants will also have an opportunity to pursue more advanced techniques/projects of particular interest to them.
The three basic welding processes taught at SVCC are:
STICK Welding Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as STICK Welding, is an arc welding process using a coated electrode typically applied manually. It produces a high quality weld and can be used on different types of metals of varying thicknesses with excellent uniformity. It has a wide range of applications in industry.
MIG Welding Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as MIG Welding, is an arc welding process using a continuous feed filler wire and is used widely in the sheet metal industry as it is both fast and economical. A variation on this is Flux Core Arc Welding.
TIG Welding Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as TIG, is an arc welding process using a nonconsumed tungsten electrode with filler wire fed manually. This process produces high quality welds, can be used on almost any metal and is used for more precise welding requirements.
In addition to preparing individuals for entry level welding jobs, many of the welding skills developed in this program (and some of the credits) can be transferred to other high skill/high wage workforce training programs offered at SVCC such as:
Depending on individual program requirements, some of the welding program course credits will transfer into the above programs. In most cases the program course requirements for a Career Study Certificate in Welding Technology can be completed in one year or less attending evening classes.
LOCATION
SVCC currently runs two state-of-the-art welding training facilities:
SVCC Daniel Campus
200 Daniel Road
Keysville, VA
(434) 736-2135
Lake Country Advanced Knowledge Center
118 East Danville Street
South Hill, VA
(434) 955-2252
COST
Total In-State Tuition Cost - 16 Credits - $1,314.40 ($82.15 per credit hour)
Total Out-of-State Tuition Cost - 16 Credits - $4,116.80 ($257.30 per credit hour)
Most materials are provided by Southside Virginia Community College. However some instructional materials may have to be purchased by the student.
INSTRUCTORS
• Jeff Grant Grant has 34 years of welding experience and is employed by the American Buildings Company. Trained in the U. S. Navy, he was certified by the Navy as a General Maintenance Welder, High Pressure Plate and Pipe Welder, Nuclear Power Components Welder and as a Submarine Repair Welder. Grant currently holds certifications in AWS , 3G, SMAW, 7018 , Plate and ABC, 1G , GMAW 70S3, Plate.
• James Scott (Scott) Parks Parks has 18 years of welding experience, holds a Teaching License in Precision Machinery and Welding from the Virginia Department of Education and is currently employed as a Welding Instructor for the Virginia Department of Corrections. Parks is also certified as a Welding Instructor through the National Center for Construction Education and Research and is currently completing the requirements for certification as a Welding Educator through the American Welding Society. james.parks@southside.edu
• Mike Raney
Raney has a BS Degree in Industrial Arts from Virginia Tech, is certified as a Welding Instructor by the State of Virginia and has taught welding at Brunswick High School for 31 years. Mike is currently completing the requirements for certification as a Welding Educator through the American Welding Society. mike.raney@southside.edu
• Hamden Seay Seay is employed by Dominion Virginia Power and has 32 years of welding experience. He completed the Virginia Power Nuclear Welding Development Program in 1977 and was a Journeyman Boilermaker/welder from 1978-1980. Seay holds certifications in SMAW, GTAW, GMAW processes for carbon, steel, chrome moly, stainless and inconel alloys. He is also certified in MIG, TIG and brazing processes. Seay has completed the requirements for certification as a Welding Educator through the American Welding Society. Hamden.seay@southside.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Career Studies Certificate Program in Welding Technology
WEL 120 - Introduction to Welding (3 CR)
Introduces history of welding processes. Covers types of equipment and assembly of units. Stresses welding procedures such as fusion, non-fusion, and cutting oxyacetylene. Introduces arc welding. Emphasizes procedures in the use of tools and equipment.
WEL 123 - Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Basic) (4CR)
Teaches operation of AC and DC power sources, welding polarities, heats and electrodes for use in joining various metal alloys by the arc welding process. Deals with running beads, butt, and fillet welds in all positions. Emphasizes safety procedures.
WEL 150 - Welding Drawing and Interpretation (3 CR)
Teaches fundamentals required for successful drafting as applied to the welding industry. Includes blueprint reading, geometric principles of drafting and freehand sketching, basic principles of orthographic projection, preparation of drawings and interpretation of symbols.
WEL 130 - Inert Gas Welding (4 CR)
Introduces practical operations in the uses of inert-gas- shield arc welding. Discusses equipment, safety operations, welding practice in the various positions, process applications, and manual and semi-automatic welding.
WEL 195 - Topics In (2-5 CR)
Provides the opportunity to prepare for national welding certification based on a student’s occupational interests or to explore special areas of interest. Variable credit hours.
Southside Virginia Community College is dedicated to the belief that all citizens should be given an opportunity to acquire an educational foundation that develops and extends their skills and knowledge. The college’s goal is to provide diverse instructional programs ranging from developmental studies to associate degree curricula in academic, technical / vocational, lifelong education, and workforce development. Through various activities, to include distance learning, students will also have the opportunity to develop their roles and responsibilities as participants in a changing society. Privacy
Many businesses and industries in the Southside Virginia Community College (SVCC) Area employ welders and the demand for welders with basic welding skills is expected to continue to grow due to new business growth and the retirement of welders in existing businesses. In the SVCC Area, welders’ entry-level pay runs between $11.00 and $18.00 an hour, plus benefits, but varies with training and skill/certification levels and from employer to employer.
entry level welding certification testing which is usually done by the employer. Consisting of 16 credits hours, the program follows the guidelines developed by the 
STICK Welding
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), also known as STICK Welding, is an arc welding process using a coated electrode typically applied manually. It produces a high quality weld and can be used on different types of metals of varying thicknesses with excellent uniformity. It has a wide range of applications in industry.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also known as MIG Welding, is an arc welding process using a continuous feed filler wire and is used widely in the sheet metal industry as it is both fast and economical. A variation on this is Flux Core Arc Welding.
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as TIG, is an arc welding process using a nonconsumed tungsten electrode with filler wire fed manually. This process produces high quality welds, can be used on almost any metal and is used for more precise welding requirements.
credits will transfer into the above programs. In most cases the program course requirements for a Career Study Certificate in Welding Technology can be completed in one year or less attending evening classes.
