Apprenticeship Welder

We make sure you are industry ready!

This short apprenticeship training is sure to spark a bright future. You'll learn GMAW, SMAW, FCAW and GTAW welding techniques to fuse and repair metal components used in construction and manufacturing.

Apply here.

For more information about getting registered as an apprentice, check tradesecrets.alberta.ca.

Portage College is also an approved test centre for the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).


Tristan came to Portage College from the nation’s capital after hearing about the program from a friend with an Alberta connection.

Portage College offers all three periods of Apprenticeship Welder training at the Lac La Biche Campus. Each training period is eight weeks. As a pre-requisite, students must be registered as an apprentice with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT).

Unfortunately, at this point in time, this program is not available to international students. Please click the link to view all of our international students programs.

Tristan Patterson - Period 3 Welding

“I took a welding course in Ottawa but I learned a lot at Portage College - solidifying my own skills in the processes: MIG, TIG, Flex and Metal Core, Arc, Stick and a whole lot more.”

Apprenticeship Welding Students

Listen to what these students have to say about their experience when taking apprenticeship welding with us.

Portage YouTube

Career Potential

Employment as an Apprentice Welder. Higher levels of apprenticeship create opportunities such as advancement in the field, enhanced skills and responsibilities, higher pay and increased job opportunities. Each level is another step to fulfilling the requirements to obtain a journeyman ticket.

Admission Requirements

Period 1

Students must be a registered apprentice with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) and be eligible for identified period training.


Period 2
Successful completion of Period 1

Period 3
Successful completion of Period 2

Transferability

The technical training is the standard through the Province; therefore apprentices may take their training at Portage College or any college or technical institute in Alberta offering Welder Apprenticeship training.

Program Start/End Dates

Period 3: August 19, 2024
Period 1: October 21, 2024
Period 2: March 3, 2025

Application Deadlines
Period 3:  August 5, 2024

Period 1:  October 7, 2024

Period 2: February 18, 2025

Location
Lac La Biche Campus

Apprenticeship Welder Period 1

Tuition $1044.00
Student Association $68.95
Recreation Fee $23.54
Total $1,136.49

Visit  Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies

Apprenticeship Welder Period 2

Tuition $1044.00
Student Association $68.95
Recreation Fee $23.54
Total $1,136.49

Visit  Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies

Apprenticeship Welder Period 3

Tuition $1044.00
Student Association $68.95
Recreation Fee $23.54
Total $1,136.49

Visit  Portage Bookstore for textbooks and supplies

Fee Explanations

Technology Fee This is a mandatory fee assessed to students enrolling in any credit course (except for apprenticeship programs) at Portage College. The fee supports the on-going maintenance and upgrades to administrative systems that support the entire College infrastructure.

As such, it is considered a “mandatory non-instructional fee” and, therefore, is subject to Alberta Advanced Education Public Post-Secondary Institutions’ Tuition Fees Regulations. Visa students are charged the same rate as Canadian residents for this fee.

Athletics & Recreation fees are collected to provide recreation and leisure opportunities that promote students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being, whether online or through in person facilities. Check out your +region in the link, to see what is offered at your campus or online.

Students’ Association Fees These fees are authorized by student referendum and the Board of Governors. They are collected by the College on behalf of the Students’ Association in accordance with the Post Secondary Learning Act.

Other purchases may be necessary in order for students to complete their courses/program.

Apprenticeship Welder

  • WELDING TECHNOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF METAL

    Course ID: WELD160

    Name: WELDING TECHNOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF METAL

    Hours: 48

    Credits: 0

    Students fabricate a variety of projects using their acquired skills. They also have the opportunity to work in industry under the supervision of a journeyman welder.

  • CUTTING LAB

    Course ID: WELD161

    Name: CUTTING LAB

    Hours: 23

    Credits: 0

    Students develop skills using GMAW and FCAW welding processes on a variety of joint designs.

  • FCAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD162

    Name: FCAW LAB

    Hours: 29

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge about gas metal arc welding, flux cored arc welding, submerged arc welding relating to welding equipment, safety, filler metals, shielding gases and trouble shooting.

  • SAFTY, TOOLS, WELD FAULTS & OAW THEORY

    Course ID: WELD170

    Name: SAFTY, TOOLS, WELD FAULTS & OAW THEORY

    Hours: 23

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge about safety guidelines, welding safety, hand tools, power tools, weld faults, oxy-fuel equipment, brazing, cutting and material handling.

  • WELD TRADE MATH

    Course ID: WELD172

    Name: WELD TRADE MATH

    Hours: 29

    Credits: 0

    This course will focus on mathematical concepts such as decimals, fractions, ratios and percentages, formulas and metric and imperial measures.

  • GMAW, FCAW, SAW THEORY

    Course ID: WELD177

    Name: GMAW, FCAW, SAW THEORY

    Hours: 59

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge about the welding industry relating to safety, shop equipment, and a wide variety of welding.

  • GMAW, FCAW, SAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD178

    Name: GMAW, FCAW, SAW LAB

    Hours: 29

    Credits: 0

    Students develop skills using a variety of electrodes on several joint designs. They are tested to provincial standards, using Electrode E6010 or E6011 on a vertical lap, flat lap and flat butt joint.

  • SMAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD265

    Name: SMAW LAB

    Hours: 50

    Credits: 0

    Students develop skills using a variety of electrodes on several joint designs.

  • SMAW ONE

    Course ID: WELD270

    Name: SMAW ONE

    Hours: 31

    Credits: 0

    Students will acquire knowledge about SMAW as it applies to groove welds on grey cast iron, production of metals, properties of metals, carbon steel, alloy steels, alloy steel filler metals, metal identification, distortion and hard facing.

  • GTAW ONE

    Course ID: WELD271

    Name: GTAW ONE

    Hours: 33

    Credits: 0

    Students will acquire knowledge about GTAW and FCAW as it applies to electrodes, filler metals, shielding gases, equipment maintenance, trouble shooting, aluminum and stainless steel.

  • SMAW TWO

    Course ID: WELD274

    Name: SMAW TWO

    Hours: 33

    Credits: 0

    WELD274

  • GTAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD275

    Name: GTAW LAB

    Hours: 50

    Credits: 0

    Students develop skills welding on mild steel, aluminum and stainless steel using a variety of filler metals and joint designs.

  • PATTERN DEVELOPMENT AND ESTIMATING

    Course ID: WELD278

    Name: PATTERN DEVELOPMENT AND ESTIMATING

    Hours: 43

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge and skills as it applies to pattern development, geometric construction, isometric drawings, oblique drawings, basic fabrication layout practice, plate layout, pipe layout, welding symbols and estimating.

  • CUT PROJECT

    Course ID: WELD365

    Name: CUT PROJECT

    Hours: 2

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire skills in oxy-fuel cutting on mild steel.

  • WELDS ON MILD STEEL PLATE AND PIPE

    Course ID: WELD366

    Name: WELDS ON MILD STEEL PLATE AND PIPE

    Hours: 20

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire skills using GTAW on mild steel plate and pipe.

  • SMAW THREE

    Course ID: WELD370

    Name: SMAW THREE

    Hours: 36

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge as it applies to stainless steel, nickel alloys and clad steels.

  • TRADE SCIENCE

    Course ID: WELD373

    Name: TRADE SCIENCE

    Hours: 24

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge as it applies to non-destructive testing, destructive testing, metallurgy, heat treatment, codes and standards.

  • SMAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD374

    Name: SMAW LAB

    Hours: 96

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire skills using SMAW on mild steel plate and pipe.

  • GTAW LAB

    Course ID: WELD375

    Name: GTAW LAB

    Hours: 22

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge as it applies to GTAW on mild steel plate and pipe.

  • DRAWING INTERPRETATION

    Course ID: WELD376

    Name: DRAWING INTERPRETATION

    Hours: 40

    Credits: 0

    Students acquire knowledge as it applies to drawing interpretation, structural drawings, piping drawings and pressure vessel drawings.

We acknowledge that Portage College’s service region is on the traditional lands of First Nation Peoples, the owners of Treaty 6, 8 and 10, which are also homelands to the Métis people. We honour the history and culture of all people who first lived and gathered in these lands.
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