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Welding

Welding Technology at OCCC

Earn a Welding Certificate and Jumpstart Your Career

Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC) and Lincoln County School District (LCSD) have partnered with the Port of Toledo to create a state of the art Welding Training Lab at the Port of Toledo Shipyard. Additionally, a smaller facility has been developed at Taft High School in Lincoln City to serve students in the northern portion of the county.

Our welding faculty are dedicated teachers with real-world experience. Together you will learn in facilities developed to teach you the hands-on skills employers seek.

Currently, the OCCC Welding program offers students the ability to register for a one-year certificate program completing three courses per term (two hands-on and one lecture). Students wanting to complete in one year will enroll full time for Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. Re-entry, part-time students and students wanting to start in a term other than fall will have limited course options. Work with a Success Coach to develop a plan.

Oregon Coast Community College offers a Shipbuilding & Repair certificate. The certificate is comprised of four individual stepped certificates that culminate in one 48 credit hour certificate.

Introduction to Shipbuilding & Repair Certificate

Not Financial Aid Eligible

This 12-credit hour certificate introduces students to basic stick (SMAW) and Flux Core (FCAW) welding and is intended for students who do not intend to complete the larger Shipbuilding and Repair Level II Certificate.

Program Costs

Program Costs for the 2023-24 Academic Year.
Please also see Cost of Attendance for more information on Financial Aid.

Consult the Tuition & Fees Page to find the current tuition- and fees-per-credit to apply to  the credits indicated below. 

Note that Welding Lab Fees ($50/credit) also apply, in addition to tuition. 

Ship Building and Repair Level II (Financial Aid Eligible)

This 48-credit certificate is composed of the Foundational Welding Skills (12 credits), Shielded Metal Arc Welding Level I (12 credits), Shielded Metal Arc Welding Level II (12 credits), and Wire Feed Welding (12 Credits) Certificates

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Level I (NOT Financial Aid Eligible): 12 Credits

Shielded Metal Arc Welding Level II (NOT Financial Aid Eligible): 12 Credits

Wire Feed Welding Level I (NOT Financial Aid Eligible): 12 Credits

Ship Building and Repair Level I (NOT Financial Aid Eligible) – Not included in the Ship Building and Repair Level II Certificate: 12 Credits

Shipbuilding & Repair Certificate (48 credits)

Financial Aid Eligible

Shipbuilding & Repair Level II is a one-year certificate of completion. This program is financial aid eligible. 
 
Students will complete three Career Pathways Certificates of Completion (12 credits) that comprise the one-year certificate. These shorter certificates can be awarded if students have completed the appropriate coursework and leave the one-year program before completing all 48 credits. Career Pathways Certificates of Completion are not eligible for financial aid unless earned while pursuing the one-year certificate.


Career Pathways Certificates of Completion:


Credit for Prior Learning:

Students can be granted credit for HE 112 – Standard First Aid and Emergency Care if they have a current Red Cross or American Heart Association certification. Contact the Registrar regarding how to complete the credit for prior learning process. The Ship Building and Repair Level II Certificate allows students to develop entry-level skills in stick (SMAW) and wire feed (GMAW/FCAW) welding. SMAW is used in construction and manufacturing in environments ranging from indoors to ships out at sea. GMAW has a variety of applications ranging from small shops to major production facilities. FCAW is high-speed, portable, and well-suited to outdoor applications. All three forms of welding are suitable for applications in shipbuilding and repair.

Job Openings

Many trades employ welding skills. Employment prospects in the Northwest Oregon area (which includes Lincoln County) are moderate. The Oregon Employment Department forecasts 20 welding job openings per year through 2031.

Salary

The Oregon Employment Department reports that Northwest Oregon area (which includes Lincoln County) workers earn between $18.69 to $26.37 per hour. The average annual salary is $54,848.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Only the Ship Building and Repair Level II Certificate is eligible for Federal and State aid.

Admissions Process

This is a limited entry program, and students are admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. New students should complete the OCCC application and meet their Student Success Coach

Required Materials

(Tool Bag = $485; Fitted Clothing Voucher = $320) Items cannot be bought separately. This equipment package is the minimum required for welders at most job sites. Students may not use their personal tools.

Tool Bag Items
Safety Glasses x2, Automatic Weld Hood, P100 Respirator Filter x2, Headgear, Face Shield, Silver Pencils, Paint Pen, 16″ Combination Square, 16′ Tape Measure, Slag Hammer, Wire Brush, 11″ C Clamp, Welpers, Flint Striker, 12″ Crescent Wrench, Angle Grinder, Wire Wheel x5, 1/4″ Grinding Disc x10, 36Grit Flap Disc x5, Duffel Bag  

Fitted Clothing Voucher Items
Welding jacket, mig gloves,  respirator, steel-toe boots:  Students are to purchase a tool kit with initial supplies and a clothing voucher from the OCCC College Bookstore. The clothing voucher is used when the clothing vendor visits during the first class of fall term to properly fit safety clothing and boots. All tools and clothing are the students to maintain and use after the program. Personal clothing may be used with instructor permission. Use of personal clothing items does not reduce cost of the voucher. 

Textbook
Students must purchase the Welding Principles and Applications by Larry Jeffus, 7th edition or newer. The most recent edition will be available through the College Bookstore. The textbook is used for each class each term.

HOW | Your Path Forward

How Do You Get Started?

Paying for School — You Have Options

Cost should never be the reason you don’t pursue a welding certificate. Your Student Success Coach can tell you about OCCC’s Financial Aid options. Schedule your meeting, below!

Your Next Steps

Your degree is waiting. Let’s not waste a moment!

Ready to start? Here’s what to do today:

1Schedule an in-person or Zoom advising appointment with a Student Success Coach. 

4Apply for admission and register for classes

Additional Information

Disabilities

Oregon Coast Community College is committed to providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities throughout the College community. Students with documented disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Our philosophy is to maximize your independence and self-reliance, providing a variety of support options to assist you in achieving your educational and/or vocational objectives. To receive services, you must submit documentation of your disabling condition(s) to the Vice President for Student Affairs. To initiate support services, please contact the Vice President for Student Affairs at 541-867-8511. Students are responsible for requesting, in a timely manner, accommodation and documenting the nature and extent of their disability.

Equal Opportunity and Non-Discrimination

The College prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity or operation of the College. The College also prohibits retaliation against an individual for engaging in activity protected under this policy, and interfering with rights or privileges granted under anti-discrimination laws. In addition, the College complies with applicable provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), related Executive Orders 11246 and 11375, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA’), and all local and state civil rights laws. Under this policy, equal opportunity for employment, admission, and participation in the College’s programs, services, and activities will be extended to all persons, and the College will promote equal opportunity and treatment through application of this policy and other College efforts designed for that purpose.

Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should contact either: 

Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Kristina Holton
or
Director of Human Resources, Joy Gutknecht

Questions can also be mailed to their attention at 400 SE College Way, Newport, OR 97366.