(CIP: 48.0508)

The Oil & Gas Pipe Welding program is designed to prepare an individual with the advanced skills needed for the ever changing job market. Graduating students will have the skills necessary to find work as a construction pipe welder, pipeline welder, or facility maintenance welder, in a variety of settings. Students in the program will weld pipe utilizing Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) in all positions to ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and APT (American Petroleum Institute) standards. All technical courses in the program provide extensive hands-on experiences.

The Oil & Gas 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 advanced standing and should confer with program faculty and/or advisors about processes to obtain advanced standing.

In addition to General Education Outcomes, upon completion of this program, graduates 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 how to read and identify drawings, prints and symbols.
• Demonstrate the ability to layout and cut pipe manually for branch and butt joints.

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 oil & gas pipe welder. Career opportunities are available in a number of industries including manufacturing, fabrication, oil and gas, construction, and equipment maintenance and repair.