Program Overview
The Fabrication (Welding) program at the Career and Technology Centre offers students the opportunity to earn credit toward both their high-school diploma and their first year Journeyman Welder credential. The welding shop is a leading edge facility and the equipment is compatible with post secondary institutions in Alberta. Fabrication provides a personalized program of study with self-paced progress and completion of credits. Students enter the program with varying levels of experience. The program is delivered by industry experienced Journeyman Welders who are Alberta Education certificated teachers. The coursework required for the first period Welder apprenticeship technical and practical training, recognized by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT), is a combination of classroom, shop, and online learning.
This “Credential Pathway” positions students competitively to pursue careers in the welding trade and gain skills and experience useful in various related fields; Sheet Metal, Autobody, Welding Engineering Technology and Engineering. Students may challenge the first year technical and practical exams of the Welder apprenticeship administered by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. Students may also receive hours towards their first year of apprenticeship.
Read about the Fabrication (Welding) Program:
Program Delivery
Fabrication (Welding) is a combination of shop, classroom instruction, and online learning theory. Students develop core skills in metal handling that enable and expand their personal and career interests while completing a series of single credit courses. High interest projects enable students to develop the hand skills necessary to be successful in the welding trade.
The personalized nature of this program allows for self-paced progress and credit collection. Students will typically move from the traditional high school project based welding credits to the advanced Welding Apprenticeship coursework.
Students from home schools that do not currently offer Fabrication courses will begin at an introductory level and proceed to pre-apprenticeship courses when they are ready. Students with previous experience have the opportunity to enter at a higher level and will proceed to apprenticeship courses at an accelerated pace.
Students can typically expect to attend the Centre half-days for a semester in Grade 11 and Grade 12, earning on average 10 credits per semester. New exploratory (Grade 10) courses at the Centre are anticipated, and may be available during the school day, evenings and weekends in the near future.
Course Information
Please follow the links to view current course offerings:
- Introductory Fabrication
- Intermediate Fabrication
- Advanced Fabrication:
- Welder Apprentice
Also see a detailed description of the first period Welder pre-Apprenticeship program and how it links to Alberta’s high-school Career and Technology Studies program.
Student Expectations
Students are being prepared for future entry into industry with an advanced standing in the apprenticeship stream. Classroom and shop expectations are closely aligned with those current in industry.
Some basic expectations include the following:
- Positive attitudes towards peers, instructors, and the program of study.
- Strict adherence to safe working practices and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the shop environment (e.g., steel toe safety boots, face shields as required, safety glasses at all times).
- Regular punctual attendance.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- CSA approved steel toe safety boots boots must be purchased by student)
- CSA safety glasses (can be purchased from CTC)
- Approved coveralls (provided by CTC)
- Welder's leather "gauntlet" style gloves (can be purchased from CTC)
- Hearing protection (provided by CTC)
- Respirators (can be purchased from CTC)
Student Profile
Typically students with the following interests tend to be successful in a shop environment:
- Welcomes the challenge of building and learning in a dynamic noisy environment
- Intrigued by tools and equipment
- Team player
- Innovative
- Creative and artistic
- Patient and precise
- Self motivated and energetic
See also the Pathway Map.
