Structural Steel & Pipe Welding Course

Our recent graduates are making $2,000 – $3,500 per week including overtime and per diem.   

Begin a rewarding career as a Structural Steel or Pipe Welder to increase your earning potential and open new doors of opportunity.

Pipe Welding Industry Overview

In this increasingly competitive job market, companies demand the most talented and skilled workers. Pipe welders who have truly honed their craft are a rare commodity.

The Black River Technical College Advanced Pipe Welding Program will teach you the skills you need to get on the job quickly and start gaining the experience that will help to refine your skills and become one of the specialists companies are seeking. The American Welding Society reported in Spring 2011 a shortfall of nearly 200,000 entry level welders and these numbers are expected to continue to grow. Becoming a pipe welder can yield many benefits including travel, independence, a good paycheck, and job security.  Our graduates who have worked hard in class, sought jobs immediately after program completion.

Overview of the Pipe Welding Program & Classroom 

The program starts with fundamentals and ends with advanced concepts. Thus, the program can serve both beginners and individuals with welding experience who want to improve skills and pay-grade. 

The daily classroom curriculum will be structured as follows:

• Orientation
• Welding and construction safety
• Structural and pipe welding theory
• Blue print reading
• Employment training techniques

Each day will be composed of a hour classroom lecture and 5 hours of hands-on training in the lab.  The classroom is a state-of-the-art facility. The equipment used is green conscious and environmentally friendly. A specialized filtering system with extraction arms insures the release of hazardous fumes and vapors are a minimal risk to the student and the environment.

 Participants will attend class every day (Monday-Friday) for a total of 30 classroom hours per week for 18 weeks. There may be occasions when class will be rescheduled to a different day or time in order to optimize use of equipment.

Welding processes covered in the program:

• Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW or stick)
• Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW or TIG)
• Gas Metal arc welding (GMAW or MIG)
• Flux core arc welding (FCAW or flux core)

Tuition & Fees

$7,900 – Includes gear, supplies, books, & lab fees. Sallie Mae loans available to qualified applicants based on your credit score Payment plan available – Must be paid in full 6 weeks before class starts. Dept. of Workforce presently funding to qualified individuals for TAA.

Who should attend

Anyone who is interested in working in the pipe welding field. No welding experience necessary.

Brief Course Outline

This program is broken into six, progressive, 3-week phases that build upon each other. You must pass all portions of each phase in order to move on to the next phase.

• Phase I: T-Plate (7018) flat, vertical, and overhead positions.
• Phase II: Beveled plate, open butt (6010/7018) horizontal, vertical and overhead positions.
• Phase III: Pipe, open butt (6010/7018) 2G, 5G, 6G
• Phase IV: Pipe, open butt (TIG/7018) 2G, 5G, 6G
• Phase V: MIG/flux core t-plate, bevel plate with backing
• Phase VI: TIG/7018 small bore pipe/tubing

Class Dates:
Orientation January 10, 2020
Class Dates:  January 13- May 15, 2020  (M-F)
3:00 pm - 9:00 pm 

Space is limited to 10 people

For more information stop by the Continuing Education Department on the Paragould Campus to pick up a program packet or call 870-239-0969 ext 5201.  This course requires an application and interview process. Please call to set an appointment for your interview.

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