Welding

About the Program

From cars to bridges to buildings, welding is a part of everyday life and there’s a booming demand for skilled welders in New Mexico as well as across the country. SFCC’s Welding Program gives you the tools to work as a welder in an array of industries: pipelines, engine parts, heavy equipment, manufacturing and small and large-scale construction. Coursework covers the welding basics, safety, quality and testing methods as well as focus on Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Tungsten Gas Arc Welding (TGAW), Oxy Acetylene Welding and Cutting (OAW, OAC) and allied processes. Qualified, experienced instructors train students on the most current welding techniques to meet certification requirements in the college’s state-of-the-art Trades and Advanced Technology Center.

SFCC’s Welding Program courses are set by the American Welding Society standards in both classroom and laboratory work. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nationally there were 337,300 jobs for welders, cutters, solderers and brass workers in 2010. By 2020 that number is expected to have grown 15%.

This program is possible in large part due to the support of Los Alamos National Security, LLC, which anticipates the need for welders for construction projects planned for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) over the next 15 years. The program has placed several graduates at LANL. Students who complete the AAS in Welding have direct entry into the Union (United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 412) and 1.5 year credited towards their Apprenticeship.

Students in the program are encouraged to participate in the SkillsUSA (http://www.skillsusa.org/) competition.