Harper College

Basic Welding Certificate

Spark a path forward to a career in welding.

Program Facts Liberal Arts icon


  • Credit hours: 17
  • Stackable to degree: Yes
  • Potential job outcomes: Welder

Develop basic welding skills with this 17-credit-hour certificate program that emphasizes welding safety, extensive practice in the major arc welding process and out-of-position and multi-pass arc welding, including GMAW, SMAW and GTAW. You’ll get hands-on experience working with mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum.

Additionally, you’ll practice the welding skills needed to pass welder qualification tests. Upon completion of this program, you’ll meet the American Welding Society (AWS) Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education (SENSE) training standards for certification as an AWS Level 1 - Entry Welder.

Credit earned for this program can be applied to the Welding Technology AAS Degree.

Certificate program requirements

This 17 credit-hour certificate program is designed to give students entry-level skills in welding. The program of study will emphasize welding safety, extensive practice in the major arc welding process, and out-of-position and multi-pass arc welding including GMAW, SMAW, and GTAW. Students will work with mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum. Students will work on the welding skills necessary to pass welder qualification tests. Students will meet the AWS (American Welding Society) SENSE (Schools Excelling through National Skill Standards Education) training standards for certification in AWS Level 1 - Entry Welder.

All WLD courses are offered in an 8-week scheduling format.

Required:

Number Course Title Credits
MFT 134 3

Description:  Provides students in the machine trades the basic skills required for visualizing and interpreting industrial prints. Emphasizes orthographic projection techniques of top, front, side, and section views, tolerancing, geometric dimensioning and the impact of computer drafting as related to the machine trades.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WLD 110 3

Description:  Covers fundamentals of oxyacetylene welding theory and practices and beginning electric welding. Includes arc welding and gas welding, brazing and cutting in the horizontal position.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WLD 210 3

Description:  Covers advanced welding theory and practice in arc welding. Provides experience in MIG and TIG (Heliarc) techniques. Includes an introduction to strength of weld testing.

Prerequisite: WLD 110 with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WLD 211 4

Description:  Covers advanced welding theory and extensive practice in major arc welding process. Provides experience in advanced GMAW (gas metal arc welding), FCAW (flux cored arc welding), GTAW (gas tungsten arc welding) and other arc welding techniques. Plasma arc and air carbon arc cutting will be included.

Prerequisite: WLD 210 with a grade of C or better, or consent of program coordinator.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WLD 212 4

Description:  Covers advanced out-of-position and multi-pass arc welding including GMAW (gas metal arc welding), SMAW (shielded metal arc welding) and GTAW (gas tungsten arc welding). Emphasizes working from blueprints and development of welding skills necessary to pass welder qualification tests. Students must pass guided bend tests to become “certified welders” in accordance with the AWS (American Welding Society) D1.1 Structural Welding Code.

Prerequisite: WLD 211 with a grade of C or better, or consent of program coordinator.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

Related programs

Students interested in welding technology may also be interested in:

Next steps

For more information about welding/fabrication courses, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.

Last Updated: 11/15/24