Welding Technology

Who can apply

Welding Technology is an impacted program with limited seats; applicants are placed on a program list and admitted as space allows. Before acceptance you must complete the prerequisites:

• WLD 20 (Beginning Welding) and WLD 21 (Intermediate Welding), including all Welding Level 1 projects, plus WLD 150 and WLD 152 — a minimum of 340 hours.

There are four ways to meet the prerequisites:

1. High school 2+2 articulated welding courses (verification required).
2. Butte College WLD 20 and WLD 21.
3. Equivalent welding courses from another college (requires Welding Department Chair approval).
4. Welding certifications or work experience (requires Welding Department Chair clearance).

Considerations

Complete a Career and Academic Profile and clear college orientation before registering. Welding uses a significant amount of trade math and the ability to read technical drawings, so brushing up on math and reading is helpful. Hand-eye coordination experience is a plus.

How to apply

1. Obtain a Butte College student ID number (apply to the college if you are new).
2. Read "Things for You to Know and Things You Need to Do."
3. Submit the Welding Technology Application — you may apply before finishing the prerequisites.
4. Complete a 45-minute meeting with the Welding Department Chair. Students taking WLD 20/21 at Butte College complete this in class; students articulating in arrange it separately.
5. Complete Butte College Orientation.

Apply to Butte College Welding Technology Application

Staying on the program list

Acceptance is based on available seats and your place on the program list. You will be asked to reaffirm your interest periodically — keep your contact information current and check your Butte College email, or your name may be removed from the list.

Estimated cost

The average cost is $5,800 to $6,500, which includes registration fees ($46 per unit for California residents plus service fees), books, and welding tools and gear (about $3,500 to $4,500). You must have your tools by the third day of class. Certification tests are about $40 each (students typically earn three to five certifications). The California College Promise Grant can reduce registration fees by roughly $1,978 for eligible students. Costs are approximate and subject to change and do not include living expenses.

See the Welding Technology handout for the full cost and tool breakdown.

Financial Aid Office Veterans Services Office

Where

The program is held on the Butte College main campus, 3536 Butte Campus Drive, Oroville, CA (Welding office WM 107).

Time commitment

Welding Technology is a full-time commitment — roughly 40 or more hours of in-class time plus about 16 hours of homework each week. Classes meet Monday through Saturday and start at 7:30 a.m. A cohort of 46 students begins each Fall and 23 each Spring. The Certificate of Achievement (a minimum of 1,590 hours) can be completed in one year; the Associate degree takes about two.

More than 24 hours of absence in a semester may result in being dropped from the program.

Industry certifications

The program trains to AWS, API, and ASME codes across the major welding processes (SMAW, FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, OAW, OFC, PAC, and AAC) in all positions, and certifies 96% of finishing students. Credentials stack from the Level I and Level II certificates to the Certificate of Achievement and the Associate degree.

PG&E PowerPathway gas-pipeline option

Qualified students can add the PG&E PowerPathway gas-pipeline welding option — an eight-week summer session (about 323 hours) that prepares you for potential apprentice welding positions with PG&E. Talk with the Welding Department about eligibility.