Welding

GHC’s Welding Technology degree provides foundational skills in welding, cutting, gouging, blueprint reading, welding symbols, layout, measuring, fabrication, and applied math.  Appropriate work habits and work ethic are highly emphasized.

We offer three Associate in Technology - Welding Technology degree emphasis options:  Structural Welding, Construction Welding, and Pipe Welding. 

The 7-quarter, 133 credit, Structural option is our base multi-process program.  It contains a mixture of the most common welding, cutting, and gouging processes including: 

• Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) with F1, F2, F3, and F4 group electrodes
• Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) in spray transfer mode
• Gas Metal Arc Welding in Short circuit transfer mode (GMAW-S)
• Gas Metal Arc Welding in Pulsed spray transfer mode (GMAW-P)
• Alternating Current Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) including advanced controls
• Direct Current Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) with and without an Argon purge, and also using Solar Flux
• Flux Cored Arc Welding Gas-shielded (FCAW-G)
• Flux Cored Arc Welding Self-shielded (FCAW-S) with E71T-8 and E71T-11 electrodes
• Oxygen Fuel Cutting (OFC) with multiple fuel gases
• Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC)
• Air Carbon Arc Cutting (CAC-A)

Welding, cutting, and gouging are conducted in all positions:  flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead.  Pipe is welded in the 2G, 5G, and 6G positions.  Base metals types are steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.  Material shapes are sheet, plate, angle, round tubing, square tubing, and pipe.  Machinery and some of the tools used include overhead crane, horizontal and vertical band saws, abrasive / chop saw, cold saw, belt sander, tubing notcher, drill press, sheet metal shear, press brake, pan brake, mechanical and thermal pipe beveling machines, track cutter, porta-band saws, circular saws, angle grinders, die grinders, pneumatic chisels, and thread taps.

The base program contains a substantial amount of destructive testing:

• Fillet weld break tests
• Tensile pull tests
• Side bend tests
• Lengthwise weld metal burn testing

The last quarter includes certification testing.  Plate is tested in the vertical and overhead positions, pipe is tested in the 6G position.

The 8-quarter, 149 credit, Construction option is identical to the Structural curriculum but adds one additional quarter dedicated exclusively to the self-shielded (gasless) Flux Cored Arc Welding process (FCAW-S), using E71T-8 electrode.  It also adds full penetration, back-gouged and back-welded beam to beam and beam to plate connections, as well as pipe column connections using steel backing rings.  Students who want to be eligible for an “A” will perform beam welding 17’ off the ground, while using fall protection.  The FCAW-S welding process is used extensively in the construction of buildings and bridges.  This process is very demanding skill wise, and the acceptance criteria for field welds with it are stringent. 

While some FCAW-S is included in the Structural curriculum, due to the high skill requirement, an average person who intends to make a living using this process doing evaluated code work, and/or who hopes to qualify through testing as a Seismic Restricted Access Welder, will want to opt for the extra training that is in the Construction option. 

The 9-quarter, 165 credit, Pipe option is identical to the Structural curriculum but adds two additional quarters that are dedicated exclusively to pipe welding.  Also, the last quarter, which is qualification / certification testing, is conducted on pipe in the 6G position.  In addition to more hours of open-root pipe welding and socket welding, some of the unique tasks these two additional quarters of pipe welding add to the base program are face and root bend destructive testing, use of a pipe rotator, welding stainless steel to carbon steel, and pipe welding using the Gas Metal Arc Welding process in the modified short circuit transfer, spray transfer, and pulsed spray transfer modes.  There are assignments with restricted access as well.   

Like code welding with FCAW-S, pipe welding demands a very high skill level.  The acceptance criteria for it too is quite demanding.  While a fair bit of pipe welding is included in the basic Structural curriculum, an average person hoping to make a living welding pipe, doing evaluated code work will want the extra training that is in the Pipe option. 

For all options, in addition to a 5,250 square foot main shop area equipped with large welding booths (9’x8’ and 6’x6’), realism is added to training with a 3,000 square foot covered but open-air welding area.  Much of this training area is serviced by an overhead crane.  This allows students to perform material handling, working with up to 21’ sections of materials, rather than just working with the traditional small pieces of metal or “coupons” that are typically used for welder training.  This open area also allows for learning to perform welding operations in the cold, wind, mist, etc. 

GHC Welding is a Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) approved Welder Qualifying Agency. Certification testing is proctored by an American Welding Society Certified Welding Inspector and WABO approved Welder Examiner. 

With 133 credits in the Structural option, 149 credits in the Construction option, and 165 credits in the Pipe option, GHC offers one of the most thorough associate degree programs in welding available.  Training is geared to provide the skill base, knowledge, and professional attitude required to eventually become a journey-level combination welder. 

The GHC welding program offers several different certificates as well.  The degree and most certificate programs are offered during daytime hours, Monday through Friday.

Beginning level night courses are also offered.  Each includes multiple welding processes.  They are intended primarily as support courses for our Auto, Carpentry, and Diesel program students, although enrollment is open to the general public as well.  They can be a great choice for those that may be on the Waiting List to begin the high-demand daytime degree program, and that want to get a head start on their skill building.  However, being only 6 credits each rather than 16 credits like the daytime welding degree courses, a night course will not substitute for a day course in the degree program.  These beginning level night courses also do not include or lead to certification testing.

Additional Funding Available

GHC Welding Shop Walkthrough

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4

Employment Resources

• WorkSource Washington

Career Examples

• Journeyman Welder
• Pipefitter
• Boilermaker
• Ironworker
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Fabricator

Andrew Benson - GHC Class of 2024

Harley Figueroa - GHC Class of 2023

"I attended Grays Harbor College in 2021-2023. I studied Welding Tech and during my tenure I learned many skills and earned various certifications which have greatly helped me post-graduation in the workforce. I am pursuing a career with the Local 26 Plumbers and Pipefitters as a pipe welder/pipefitter. I would highly recommend this program as it emulates a real work environment and challenges you every day. If you can endure these challenges, you will graduate with all the skills you need to be successful in your chosen career."

Cristal Venegas, GHC Class of 2023

Jessie Olson - GHC Class of 2023

"I achieved my associates in Welding Tech during 2021-2023 and in that time I learned more than what I thought I was going to. I am thankful everyday when I am in the field that I went through the program that Rod McDonald has intricately constructed over the last 25 years to prepare students for the industry. I graduated with multiple certifications and have gone on to achieve more in the field. I am currently pursuing a career with the Local 26 Plumbers and Pipe fitters as a Pipe Welder/Pipe Fitter. Going through the program was the hardest, most rewarding and beneficial thing to I did for my career choice and I wouldn’t change the knowledge I have for anything."