Welding and Joining Technology Diploma Program Fact Sheet

What is a Welder?	A welder joins metal parts through coalescence (melting base metal); fills seams and holes of metal components; follows sketches, blueprints and specifications; follows and maintains knowledge of safety protocol; lays out, fits and fabricates metal components to assemble structural forms using knowledge of welding techniques, metallurgy, and engineering requirements. Some welders analyze engineering drawings and specifications to plan welding operations where procedural information is unavailable.
Diploma and Certificates	Welding and Joining Technology, Diploma Advanced Shielded Metal Arc Welder, Certificate Flux Cored Arc Welder, Certificate Gas Metal Arc Welder, Certificate Gas Tungsten Arc Welder, Certificate
Prerequisite Courses	Students can be provisionally accepted to the Welding diploma program, but must complete all learning support courses before taking the diploma level General Education courses required to graduate from this diploma program. For specific prerequisites please refer to the course descriptions in the online catalog. FYES 1000 WELD 1000
Length of Program	Diploma: 5 semesters 53 Credit hours
Semester Program Begins	Fall and spring semesters
Application Process	Applicants to the Welding and Joining Technology diploma program must meet all Admission requirements; complete an application and pay the application fee. Individuals apply to Gwinnett Technical College at GwinnettTech.edu, submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required.
Program Deadlines	You may enter in the fall or spring terms.
For more information, contact:	Steve Jessup, program director, SJessup@GwinnettTech.edu, 678.226.6763.
For admission and enrollment, contact:	Enrollment Support Center in Building 100 at the Lawrenceville campus, or Building A at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus, or email ACTTeam@GwinnettTech.edu.

Quick Facts

(This data was compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

2016 Median pay	$39,390
Entry level education	Associate degree, diploma, certificate
Number of jobs, 2016	4,550
Job growth, 2010 - 2020	44%