Welding

 The majority of welding employers are looking for prospective employees who have graduated from a trade school with structured technical training that has taught them foundational skills, like how to read blueprints, mechanical drawing, and shop mathematics. 

To enter the Welding technical program at Summit College Santa Ana, you need to: 

• Be 18 years or older 
• Provide an acceptable high school diploma, GED, or equivalent 
• Complete an interview with an Admissions Advisor 
• Meet the required level of proficiency with speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English 

Once you’ve successfully graduated, you’re in a good position to apply for entry-level welding jobs, although you should expect that the first few months on the job will include additional supervised training.  

If you’ve looked into welding training, you’ve likely seen programs talk about TIG versus MIG versus SMAW and been confused about just what exactly all of it means. Here’s a quick breakdown on some of the common terms: 

• Arc welding — A process that joins metal to metal by using electricity to create enough heat to melt the metals, which then join as they cool. 
• TIG welding — Also known as gas tungsten arc welding or GTAW. An arc welding process that uses tungsten electrode to produce the weld. It offers greater control, but can be more complex and difficult to master. 
• MIG welding — Also known as gas metal arc welding or GMAW. MIG stands for metal inert gas. An arc welding process that creates an electric arc between a MIG wire electrode and the metal. 
• SMAW welding — Also known as stick welding for shielded metal arc welding. An arc welding process that uses a consumable electrode covered with a flux to lay the weld. One of the world’s first and most popular welding processes. 

California itself does not have a state-issued license to work as a welder so long as your employer holds a C-60 Welding Contractor license:  

A welding contractor causes metals to become permanently attached, joined and fabricated by the use of gases and electrical energy, which creates temperatures of sufficient heat to perform this work. 

But similarly to how employers are looking for trade school graduates, they also show a preference for job candidates who hold professional certifications from the American Welding Society. Some of the certifications that AWS offers includes: 

• Certified Welder 
• Certified Robotic Arc Welding 
• Certified Welding Engineer 
• Certified Resistance Welding Technician 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration also requires that welders complete training on electrical safety. 

For our Santa Ana Welding program, you can go from first class to successful graduate in under a year because we recognize that career training is a significant investment of both time and money. Many people can’t afford to spend a year or more in a community college or similar program before they get out into the workforce. 

Many people think postsecondary training is not something they can afford, especially with traditional California colleges costing upwards of $40,000 per year. By offering focused career training programs that take under a year, Summit College Santa Ana can prepare students for a new, in-demand career for less money than you might think. Our financial aid options can also help support you in paying for your education.