(CIP: 48.0508)

The Combination Pipe Welding Advanced Skills Set Program is designed to prepare individuals with advanced welding skills that make them ideal candidates for employment for a wide range of industrial settings. Students in the program will weld pipe in various processes in all positions to ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and API (American Petroleum Institute) standards. All technical courses in the program provide extensive hands-on experiences. Students will have a broad based foundation in welding that includes Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW).

The Combination Pipe Welding Program has been designed as an integrated program of study with secondary (high school) programs in the College’s service area in West Virginia. Students completing a secondary program may be eligible for advance standing and should confer with program faculty and/or advisors about processed to obtain advanced standing.

In addition to General Education Outcomes, upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate safe practices in all welding activities.
• Demonstrate ability to weld pipe in all positions using SMAW to ASME & API standards.
• Demonstrate ability to weld fillet and butt welds in all positions on both plate and pipe, utilizing GTAW to AWS and ASME standards.

The employment outlook is currently above average at the regional, state, and national levels. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report an average annual salary of $40,000 to $80,000 for Combination Pipe Welder. Career opportunities are available in a number of industries including manufacturing, fabrication, oil and gas, construction, and equipment maintenance and repair.