Alaska Vocational Technical Center

The future for welding careers looks bright. Certified, skilled welders continue to be in demand in the construction industry and in all petroleum-related and heavy equipment industries. Graduates of AVTEC's Combination Welding Program hold good jobs in a wide variety of working settings. In short, Alaskan employers are always looking for highly trained welders–especially for those who are willing to work under occasionally adverse conditions. Certified pipe welders continue to be in demand in the petroleum industry. Not only do pipes transport commodities in Alaska, they are also used to build structures, affording pipe welders the opportunity to apply their skills in a variety of work settings. With the Alaska Gas Pipeline on the horizon, trained welders will be in even greater demand. The Combination Welding Program emphasizes steel welding; however, all students are expected to become proficient welders on nonferrous materials such as aluminum. Primary focus is on stick electrode welding: students train on S.M.A.W. (stick electrode), G.M.A.W. and F.C.A.W. (wire feed processes), G.T.A.W. (TIG), plasma arc and air arc cutting, oxyacetylene welding, and cutting machines. Destructive tests are performed on groove welds in both the stick and wire feed processes. The AVTEC Welding shops are equipped with state-of-the-art cutting and welding equipment, including computerized plasma cutting machines for plate and pipe.
Earn University of Alaska Credit While Attending AVTEC Welding Technology graduates may earn up to 24 University of Alaska college credits (depending on coursework completed) while attending AVTEC.
Program Content       Structural Section Hours  Related Studies 75  O.A.W. – Oxyacetylene Welding 40  S.M.A.W. – Stick Electrode 385  G.M.A.W. – MIG 40  F.C.A.W. – Flux Core 40  G.T.A.W. – TIG 50 Pipe Welding Section Hours  O.A.W. – As Pertains to Pipe 25  S.M.A.W. – Pipe Welding 425

Structural Section

Occupational levels of Structural Welder, Structural Welder SMAW, and Structural Welder Helper will be assigned upon successful completion of this section of the program. To advance to the Pipe section of the program students must earn the Structural Welder certificate level.

To achieve a Structural Welding certificate, students must complete the following requirements: Related Studies,      O.A.W. - Oxyacetylene Welding, S.M.A.W. - Stick Electrode, G.M.A.W. - MIG, F.C.A.W - Flux Core, and G.T.A.W. - TIG. This is a total of 630 contact hours.

Related Studies
Contact Hours: 75
Participate in school safety orientation, complete achievement tests, obtain First Aid & CPR card, complete Welders Math, participate in resume writing and job search training, and in interview and communications training.
Return to Program Content Requirements

O.A.W. – Oxyacetylene Welding
Contact Hours: 40
Show knowledge of safety and operation of oxyacetylene welding and cutting equipment; describe and identify physical and mechanical properties as they relate to the weldability of metals; identify, demonstrate proper care of, and correctly use common and specific tools used in the welding trades; identify and describe various AWS weld symbols.
Return to Program Content Requirements

S.M.A.W. – Stick Electrode
Contact Hours: 385
Demonstrate proficiency in stick electrode welding to the American Welding Society D1.1 standard; describe and demonstrate air carbon arc cutting and gouging; identify hard surfacing electrodes and produce acceptable welds in three positions using proper technique.
Return to Program Content Requirements

G.M.A.W. – MIG
Contact Hours: 40
Demonstrate basic skills in MIG welding technique.
Return to Program Content Requirements

F.C.A.W. – Flux Core
Contact Hours: 40
Demonstrate basic skills in flux cored arc welding technique.
Return to Program Content Requirements

G.T.A.W. – TIG
Contact Hours: 50
Demonstrate basic skills in TIG welding technique.
Return to Program Content Requirements

Pipe Welding Section

Occupational level of Certified Combination Welder will be assigned upon successful completion of this section of the program. If all of the Pipe Welding Section requirements are not completed, then a Combination Entry Level Welder Certificate will be earned. Emphasis is on making X-ray quality welds. Pipe welding students spend 90 percent of the day in welding lab and 10 percent in classroom instruction.

To achieve a Pipe Welding certificate, students must complete the following requirements: O.A.W. - as Pertains to Pipe, and S.M.A.W. - Pipe Welding. This is a total of 450 contact hours.