The Department of Manufacturing Technology at Fletcher Technical Community College offers a welding technical diploma, certificate of welding studies, certificate of technical studies in welding and a certificate of competency area in welding program, all of which qualify graduates to take the American Welding Society entry-level test. To graduate, students must earn a 100 percent score in occupational orientation and safety, shop orientation and safety and oxyfuel systems and a C or better in the program's other classes. The basic curriculum has 1,125 clock hours of laboratory practice and classroom instruction. The program's 19 related courses include topics such as cutting, analyzing drawings and basic fillet, groove and v-groove welding techniques. Students may apply credits earned in any welding program toward an Associate in Applied Science degree with a welding concentration.
Fletcher Technical Community College
310 St. Charles St.
Houma, LA 70360
985-857-3655
ftcc.edu
Sowela Technical Community College offers a 60-credit-hour diploma program in welding that prepares students to take the AWS entry-level examination. The curriculum builds skills to work with basic ARC cutting and welding, structural welding, pipe welding and combination welding. Students learn to read blueprints to perform job tasks and attend a career preparation course in the final semester of studies. Students may complete three optional special projects for college credit and apply diploma credits toward obtaining an associate degree.
Sowela Technical Community College
3820 Sen. J. Bennett Johnston Ave.
Lake Charles, LA 70615
337-491-2698
800-256-0483
sowela.edu
SPARX Welding & Technology Institute offers career-specific training programs to prepare students to work as welders or welding inspectors. The institute offers testing and certification programs in welder qualification, procedure qualification, destructive and non-destructive welding certification and level two and three inspector certifications. The school offers three levels of seven-week welder training programs: entry-level, advanced and expert. The program curriculum follows guidelines established by Schools Excelling through National Skills Education. Courses begin weekly and run weekdays. Students can take certification examinations for AWS upon completion since the institute also operates as a certified AWS testing facility.
SPARX Welding & Technology Institute
280 A Equity Blvd.
Houma, LA 70360
985-655-7779
sparxwelding.net