Certified Welder Certificate

Program Details Page Certified Welder Certificate

Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Certified Welder Certificate program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information may be subject to change at any time without notice, please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.

Bookstore Information

a picture of an open bookInformation regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore Links to an external site.. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!

The bookstore has what you need in regards to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!

General Overview

When can I start? Fall (September), Winter (January), or Spring (March)

How long is the program? 5 quarters (up to 17 months) with 80 total credits

When do classes meet? Monday through Friday, five days per week. We offer welding classes in two time slots:

  • Daytime: 8 A.M. to 1 P.M.
  • Afternoon and Evenings: 3 P.M. to 8 P.M.

This certificate is the third out of four in welding. As a Certified Welder, you are skilled in all of the following:

  • basic welding techniques
  • Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
  • Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) on steel
  • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), also called MIG, on both aluminum and steel 

The program includes the multiple opportunities to earn certifications from WABO (Washington Association of Builders), which you will see in many welding job ads. You also complete career and academic support classes to give you all of the skills that employers want.

What does a welder do?

What is the average salary?

$58,010 annually (Links to an external site.) in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most welders earn at least $43,250; there is a wide salary range.

 

Who can I contact with questions?

 (Links to an external site.)

Overall Materials Needed:

  1. Access to a functioning laptop or computer (you may use computers on the RTC campus)
  2. Working internet connection
  3. Tools and materials ($850 plus cost of FCAW and GMAW supplies)

Minimum grades or course GPA:

You need to earn a grade of 2.0 or better in every class for the Certified Welder Certificate.

Materials Warning

Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class.  If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!

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Fall 2023 start

Quarter 1

 [Fall 2023] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,583
You will learn welding fundamentals: different cuts and different joints on mild steel. You also learn shop safety, effective teamwork and problem-solving on the job.
It's time to apply for graduation! You finish your Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
WELD 101 Thermal Cutting YES 3
WELD 102 Oxyacetylene Welding & Brazing YES 7
WTD 109 Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification NO 3
WTD 168 Math for the Trades NO 4

Quarter 2

[Winter 2024] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,311
You will start SMAW techniques and welds, and you will learn how to interpret blueprints and create welded products based on drawings and instructions. You will practice electrode welding processes and complete your applied mathematics class.
It's time to apply for graduation! You finish the Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 105 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I YES 7
WELD 130 Blueprint Reading (only offered in winter) NO 3
WELD 135 Welding Processes and Application (only offered in winter) YES 3
WTD 180 Human Relations for the Trades NO 2

Quarter 3

[Spring 2024] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,685
You continue developing SMAW skills with different welding rods, and you begin learning FCAW fillet welds. In metallurgy, you study the properties of steel and potential weaknesses in plate or welds.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 106 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II YES 7
WELD 110 Flux Cored Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 136 Welding Metallurgy (only offered in spring) YES 3
WTD 175 Communication for the Trades NO 1

Quarter 4

[Summer 2024] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,238
You are introduced to GMAW, and you show all of your SMAW skills in a professional certification exam. There is an exam fee.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 111 Gas Metal Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 138 Certification SMAW (repeatable as needed if trying to acquire WABO cert) YES 7

Quarter 5

[Fall 2024] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,253
You will reinforce your knowledge of safe arc welding, continue developing your GMAW skills on aluminum, and take your next set of WABO certification exams.  There is an exam fee.
It's time to apply for graduation!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 104 Intro to Arc Welding (only offered fall) YES 3
WELD 120 MIG Aluminum YES 5
WELD 140 Certification GMAW/FCAW YES 6

Grand Total Estimate for Certified Welder Certificate: $12,919 plus costs for GMAW/FCAW supplies and exam fees

Winter 2024 start

Quarter 1

 [Winter] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,583
You will learn welding fundamentals: different cuts and different joints on mild steel. You also learn shop safety and effective teamwork.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
WELD 101 Thermal Cutting YES 3
WELD 102 Oxyacetylene Welding & Brazing YES 7
WTD 109 Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification NO 3
WTD 168 Math for the Trades NO 4

Quarter 2

[Spring] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,050
  You will start SMAW techniques and welds. In metallurgy, you study the properties of steel and potential weaknesses in plate or welds. Finally, you complete your applied mathematics and communication classes.
It's time to apply for graduation! You finish the Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 105
 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I YES 7
WELD 136 Wielding Metallurgy (only offered in spring) YES 3
WTD 175 Communication for the Trades NO 1
WTD 180 Human Relations for the Trades NO 2

 Quarter 3

[Summer] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,238
You continue developing SMAW skills with different welding rods, and you are introduced to GMAW techniques.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 106 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II YES 7
WELD 111 Gas Metal Arc Welding YES 7

Quarter 4

[Fall] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,592
You begin learning FCAW fillet welds, and you show all of your SMAW skills in a professional certification exam. There is an exam fee.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 104 Intro to Arc Welding (only offered fall) YES 3
WELD 110 Flux Cored Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 138 Certification SMAW (you can repeat this class if necessary) YES 7

Quarter 5

[Winter] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,607
You will learn how to interpret blueprints and create welded products based on drawings and instructions. You will practice electrode welding processes, continue developing your GMAW skills on aluminum, and take your next set of WABO certification exams. There is an exam fee.
It's time to apply for graduation!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 130 Blueprint Reading (only offered in winter) NO 3
WELD 135 Welding Processes and Application (only offered in winter) YES 3
WELD 120 MIG Aluminum YES 5
WELD 140 Certification GMAW/FCAW YES 6

Grand Total Estimate for Certified Welder Certificate: $12,919 plus costs for GMAW/FCAW supplies and exam fees

Fall 2022 start

Quarter 1

 [Fall] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,519
You will learn welding fundamentals: different cuts and different joints on mild steel. You also learn shop safety, effective teamwork and problem-solving on the job.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
WELD 101 Thermal Cutting YES 3
WELD 102 Oxyacetylene Welding & Brazing YES 7
WTD 109 Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification NO 3
WTD 175 Communication for the Trades NO 1
WTD 180 Human Relations for the Trades NO 2

Quarter 2

[Winter] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2.393
You will start SMAW techniques and welds, and you will learn how to interpret blueprints and create welded products based on drawings and instructions. You will practice electrode welding processes and complete your applied mathematics class.
It's time to apply for graduation! You finish the Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 105
 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I YES 7
WELD 130 Blueprint Reading (only offered in winter) NO 3
WELD 135 Welding Processes and Application (only offered in winter) YES 3
WTD 168 Math for the Trades NO 4

 Quarter 3

[Spring] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,338
You continue developing SMAW skills with different welding rods, and you begin learning FCAW fillet welds. In metallurgy, you study the properties of steel and potential weaknesses in plate or welds.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 106 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II YES 7
WELD 110 Flux Cored Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 136 Welding Metallurgy (only offered in spring) YES 3

Quarter 4

[Summer] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,095
You are introduced to GMAW, and you show all of your SMAW skills in a professional certification exam. There is an exam fee.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 111 Gas Metal Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 138 Certification SMAW (repeatable as needed if trying to acquire WABO cert) YES 7

Quarter 5

[Fall] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,110
You will reinforce your knowledge of safe arc welding, continue developing your GMAW skills on aluminum, and take your next set of WABO certification exams.  There is an exam fee.
It's time to apply for graduation!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 104 Intro to Arc Welding (only offered fall) YES 3
WELD 120 MIG Aluminum YES 5
WELD 140 Certification GMAW/FCAW YES 6

Grand Total Estimate for Certified Welder Certificate: $12,505 plus costs for GMAW/FCAW supplies and exam fees

Winter 2023 start

Quarter 1

 [Winter] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,418
You will learn welding fundamentals: different cuts and different joints on mild steel. You also learn shop safety and effective teamwork.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
WELD 101 Thermal Cutting YES 3
WELD 102 Oxyacetylene Welding & Brazing YES 7
WTD 109 Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification NO 3
WTD 180 Human Relations for the Trades NO 2

Quarter 2

[Spring] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,251
  You will start SMAW techniques and welds. In metallurgy, you study the properties of steel and potential weaknesses in plate or welds. Finally, you complete your applied mathematics and communication classes.
It's time to apply for graduation! You finish the Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 105
 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I YES 7
WELD 136 Wielding Metallurgy (only offered in spring) YES 3
WTD 175 Communication for the Trades NO 1
WTD 168 Math for the Trades NO 4

 Quarter 3

[Summer] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,095
You continue developing SMAW skills with different welding rods, and you are introduced to GMAW techniques.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 111 Gas Metal Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 106 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II YES 7

Quarter 4

[Fall] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,338
You begin learning FCAW fillet welds, and you show all of your SMAW skills in a professional certification exam. There is an exam fee.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 104 Intro to Arc Welding (only offered fall) YES 3
WELD 110 Flux Cored Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 138 Certification SMAW (you can repeat this class if necessary) YES 7

Quarter 5

[Winter] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,353
You will learn how to interpret blueprints and create welded products based on drawings and instructions. You will practice electrode welding processes, continue developing your GMAW skills on aluminum, and take your next set of WABO certification exams. There is an exam fee.
It's time to apply for graduation!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 130 Blueprint Reading (only offered in winter) NO 3
WELD 135 Welding Processes and Application (only offered in winter) YES 3
WELD 120 MIG Aluminum YES 5
WELD 140 Certification GMAW/FCAW YES 6

Grand Total Estimate for Certified Welder Certificate: $12,505 plus costs for GMAW/FCAW supplies and exam fees

Spring 2023 start

Quarter 1

 [Spring] Quarter 1 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,332
 You will learn welding fundamentals: different cuts and different joints on mild steel. You also learn shop safety and problem-solving.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
COL 101 College Success NO 2
WELD 101 Thermal Cutting YES 3
WELD 102 Oxyacetylene Welding & Brazing YES 7
WTD 109 Safety, Tool, and Equipment Certification NO 3
WTD 175 Communication for the Trades NO 1

Quarter 2

[Summer] Quarter 2 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,095
 You will start  techniques and welds for both SMAW and FCAW.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 105
 Shielded Metal Arc Welding I YES 7
WELD 110 Flux Cored Arc Welding YES 7

Quarter 3

[Fall] Quarter 3 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,337
You continue developing SMAW skills with different welding rods. You learn about effective teamwork and complete your applied mathematics class.
 It's time to apply for graduation! You finish the Welder Helper certificate this quarter.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 104 Intro to Arc Welding (only offered in fall) YES 3
WELD 106 Shielded Metal Arc Welding II YES 7
WTD 168 Math for the Trades NO 4
WTD 180 Human Relations for the Trades NO 2

 Quarter 4

[Winter] Quarter 4 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,677
You will learn how to interpret blueprints and create welded products based on drawings and instructions. You are introduced to GMAW, and you show all of your SMAW skills in a professional certification exam. There is an exam fee.
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 111 Gas Metal Arc Welding YES 7
WELD 130 Blueprint Reading (only offered in winter) YES 3
WELD 135 Welding Processes and Application YES 3
WELD 138 Certification SMAW (repeatable as needed if trying to acquire WABO certificate) YES 7

Quarter 5

[Spring] Quarter 5 Course Information
Estimated Tuition and Fees: $2,110
In metallurgy, you study the properties of steel and potential weaknesses in plate or welds.  You continue developing your GMAW skills on aluminum and take your next set of WABO certification exams. There is an exam fee.
It's time to apply for graduation!
Course ID
Course Name
Materials
Credits
WELD 136 Welding Metallurgy (only offered in spring) YES 3
WELD 120 MIG Aluminum YES 5
WELD 140 Certification GMAW/FCAW YES 6

Grand Total Estimate for Certified Welder Certificate: $12,601 plus costs for GMAW/FCAW supplies and exam fees

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