Central Arizona College’s welding program has been named a Welding Equipment Manufacturers Committee 2021 Excellence in Welding award recipient.

Each year, in partnership with the American Welding Society Foundation, WEMCO recognizes those who are instrumental in strengthening the industry and promoting the image of welding in their communities.

Since the early 1970s, CAC’s welding department has trained students for employment opportunities in mining, steel fabrication, steel erection, aerospace, manufacturing, and other industries.

The diversified offerings for students include four certificates:

• Advanced structural welding and fabrication;
• Fundamentals of pipe welding;
• Fundamentals of structural welding; and
• Pipefitting/pipe welding.

Students may also pursue an associate of applied science in pipe welding or structural welding technology. Additionally, students have the opportunity to obtain industry welding certifications and industry training certifications through NCCER.

Students are trained in a job-site setting using specialized pipefitting tools and equipment, allowing them to duplicate work done in a real world environment. Instructors often blend project-based learning with community engagement, so students develop teamwork, management skills, and interpersonal skills.

The CAC welding program has seen extraordinary growth over the past decade, with the introduction of a pipe-welding program and providing welding courses to local high school students. Today, more than 100 high school students participate in dual-enrollment opportunities.

CAC instructors are certified welding inspectors, as well as certified welding educators through the American Welding Society with years of welding industry experience to bring top of the line learning to students.

For more information about welding at CAC, go to centralaz.edu/welding.

Editor’s note: Angela Askey is Central Arizona College’s executive director of public relations and marketing.