Minneapolis Community and Technical College offers a certificate program in welding and metal fabrication. This certificate program offers students a hands-on environment to learn basic information about the process of metal fabrication, welding equipment, shop safety, applied math and blueprint reading. In order to be successful in the welding program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, students must be able to lift at least 50 pounds, be in good health and have good dexterity. The welding certificate program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College takes two semesters to complete. If students wish, they can transfer their welding certificate to Saint Paul College to continue their education.
Saint Paul College offers a certificate program in both welding and welding metal fabrication. For students looking for more training, Saint Paul College also offers a welding fabrication diploma program. Both certificates take 30 credit hours to complete with courses that include a business course, an applied math course and ten different welding courses. The welding fabrication diploma takes 62 credit hours to complete. Courses needed for the diploma include business, math, welding, robotics, layout design, as well as grinding and finishing. Advanced welding skills are taught in the welding fabrication diploma program that can advance a student's welding career more than either certificate program, helping him qualify for more technical jobs and make more money.
The welding technology program at Alexandria Technical College concentrates on welding used in three different career areas: construction, manufacturing and repair. Shielded metal arc, pulse arc and wire feed welding skills are concentrated on in this program. In order to work professionally, welders must meet, and be certified in, American Welding Society codes and standards. The welding technology program at Alexandria Technical College helps students qualify and test for these codes and standards. Qualifications for the welding technology program include being in good health and having good eye sight. Prior knowledge of welding developed through prior education or shop experience is not required to be admitted into the program but are desired.
The welding program at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis is part of the Robotics and Manufacturing department. The welding certificate program takes three quarters to complete. Required courses for the welding certificate include math, welding, science, communications and sociology. If students have prior welding training, students can take select courses to complete the certificate program. In addition to basic training in welding, students will gain industry experience through projects in which pricing, profit margins and labor will be configured.