Available Intakes
Overview
Learn how to join or sever metals in beams, girders, vessels, piping and other metal components, make metal parts used in construction and manufacturing plants, and weld parts, tools, machines and equipment.
If you desire a career where you work independently, build things by joining metal and working with your hands, then you will enjoy working as a welder.
During your career, you'll apply heat to metal pieces to melt and fuse them together. The different types of welding include:
- electric arc welding: heat is created as an electric current flow through an arc between the tip of the welding electrode and the metal
- gas welding: such as oxy-acetylene welding, the flame from the combustion of burning gases melts the metal
- resistance welding: the metal piece itself is melted as current flows through it, and no filler is added.
You'll use different welding processes and fillers depending upon the type of metal, its size and shape and requirements for finished product strength.
For a typical welding project, you'll:
- develop patterns for projects or follow directions given in layouts, blueprints and work orders
- clean
- check for defects and shape component parts, sometimes using a cutting torch
- weld parts together.
You may also build up worn parts by welding layers of high-strength hard-metal alloys onto them.
This is a compulsory trade - to work in this trade you need to hold a recognized trade certificate or be a registered apprentice.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who have the following characteristics see greater success in the welding trade:
- good eye-hand coordination, spatial and form perception, good eyesight, strength and stamina to carry heavy tools and manual dexterity
- the ability to visualize a finished product from a document
- the ability to concentrate on detailed work
- patience, dependability and accuracy
- the ability to work in a construction or shop environment
- a commitment to safe working conditions
Credentials
Upon successfully completing the required working hours and apprenticeship education periods, graduates will be awarded journeyperson status by Alberta’s Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Welders are a Red Seal Endorsed trade – a recognizable standard that allows tradespeople to work across Canada.
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Career opportunities
Start your career by finding an employer who is willing to indenture you as an apprentice or gain experience with our Pre-Employment Welding or Welding Technician programs.
As a welder, you will be employed in a variety of industries including vessel or structural steel assembly, pipeline construction, commercial construction, industrial construction, steel fabrication and heavy equipment repair. Employment prospects for welders change with seasonal and economic climates.
After becoming a journeyperson, you may advance to specialists in design and layout work or in estimating the cost of installations or supervisory positions. Some journeypersons go on to run their own businesses – we can help you build your business with our Blue Seal business certificate.
Admission and completion
To enter an apprenticeship, you must have the educational qualifications required or recommended education for the trade to which you apply.
Entrance requirements are monitored and set by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Minimum requirements
Successful completion of the following courses:
- English 10-2
- Math 10-3
OR
A pass mark in all five Canadian General Educational Development (GED) tests
OR
Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Entrance Exam
Recommended path
Apprentices with an Alberta High School Diploma that includes the following courses:
- English 30-2
- Math 30-3
- Physics 20 OR Chemistry 20 OR Science 20
- Related career and technology studies (CTS) courses
How to register
Registration for apprenticeship education is run through Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Learn how you can register for your next intake.
Apprenticeship and Industry Training Client Services
1.800.248.4823
tradesecrets.alberta.ca
Suite 200 Willow Park Centre
10325 Bonaventure DR. SE
Calgary, AB
After you register
Email is the primary source of communication after you have registered for your intake. Please ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
Training
The term of apprenticeship for a welder is 3 years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of apprenticeship education each year.
apprenticeship education performance
To be successful in apprenticeship education, an apprentice must pass each section of the course and pass the AIT exam. The passing grade for each section in the course is a 65%. A passing mark on each provincial exam Exam and the Interprovincial Qualification (or Red Seal Exam) is 70%.
Costs 2022/23
Tuition and fees*
| Period | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
| 2 | $960 | $231 | $72 | $1,263 |
SAIT fees
Campus recreation fee: $49
Lab and material fee: $82
Student support fee: $50
Student technology fee: $50
Books and supplies*
- Books or modules along with other items for class average out to $600 per period.
- It is recommended that you do not purchase books or modules ahead of time as they might be outdated by the time you attend classes and they cannot be returned to the bookstore.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be required for the program, which may be an additional cost to apprentices.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
